Othello essay: soliloquies

Many people also argue that the theatre in Elizabethan England was for people of different age groups and backgrounds and that in the modern society, theatres are only for the intelligent and less broad people who will respond to the dramas and enjoy coming to the theatre.

Some people believe that soliloquies force audience into being complicit with a character. For example, Iago. The audience will be uncomfortable with his intentions and his plotting of evil.

However, I disagree and believe that soliloquies help to gain intimacy with the charchters and thus make the play more successful. We see this with the character of Iago. In the first part of the play most of the soliloquies are his and are involved with his plotting and evil. In his first soliloquy at the end of act one scene one Iago declares that he “hates the moor” and says that Othello “twixt his sheets”. Here Iago suspects that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia and uses it as an excuse to get revenge on Othello. Iago tells the audience that because of Othello’s trusting personality and his “free and open nature”; he will easily deceive him like an “ass” into thinking Cassio slept with his wife and thus bring about his destruction. Iago’s soliloquy is successful in that that audience are engaged with his plans and this builds up dramatic tension as the audience will be anticipating whether or not Iago’s plans succeed.

In Iago’s second soliloquy at the end of act two scene one, he once again explains quite clearly what he intends to do. He says that he will setup Desdemona with Cassio and thus put Othello “into a jealousy so strong, judgment cannot cure”. In this soliloquy Iago outlines again the reasons for his motives. He says that he fears “Cassio with his night cap too” and he also has lust for Desdemona, “now I do love her too”. This soliloquy again builds up dramatic tension as the audience want to know whether his plans work out. This makes the audience complicit with his plans. Although Iago’s plans are evil and makes the audience uncomfortable, it makes the audience explore the evil that is within all of use through Iago. To do this the audience is successfully engaged with the play and consequently makes his soliloquies successful.

The soliloquies also encourage the audience to explore the theme of appearance vs. reality. Iago is thought by many of the other characters as being “honest”, yet he clearly tells the audience that “I am not what I am”. He also constantly reminds Othello that he “loves” him, yet in his soliloquies he tells the audience that “he hates the moor”. Iago deceives all of the characters and makes us, the audience realise that characters need to be explored from different perspectives. Again, to have this affect on the audience shows the importance of the soliloquies and how effective they are.

Iago’s soliloquies also reveal a lot about his character. He admits that he is villainous when he says “when devils will the blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with heavenly shows, as I do now”. He also admits to being false “I am not what I am”. Iago shows his power and control in his soliloquy in act two scene one. He goes through everything that happens later on in the play. He says he will frame Cassio with Desdemona, “put the moor into jealousy”, and make him “thank me, love and reward me”. The rhyming couplet at the end of the scene again shows Iago’s control.

It is very clear that soliloquies are important dramatic devices as they keep the audience thoroughly engaged with the play. As well as making the audience more knowledgeable about the plot and being informative, it also makes the audience think and reflect on the themes and issues addressed in the play.