I also agree with Bradley that as well of the play being about the tragedy of Othello it also could be connected to the tragedy of Iago. There is no reference in the play of Iago ever being in serious trouble before he commits the giant crime. So therefore makes it almost sad when he does commit the crime as it shows his rapid down fall. This relates to the first point of view that I questioned that Iago it frustrated because of his social class and evidently it drove him into committing the crime against Othello. There are moments when the two Critics that I am looking at are in conflict towards the character of Iago. Wilson knight paints a strong picture of Iago that I do disagree with to some extent. Wilson knights makes out that Iago is ‘utterly devilish’ we obviously as a reader cannot condone Iago’s actions but I think to describe him as utterly devilish is a bit extreme. Wilson unlike Knight seems just to paint one picture of the character without exploring them fully and understand why they act differently in different situations. Wilson states that Iago is ‘not human’ I think this is wrong. No doubt he shows many inhumane qualities but there are signs of humanity in Iago. I feel that Iago the overall feelings that Iago portrays are jealously, bitterness and hate. As he states ‘ I hate the Moor’ these are clearly human emotions that everyone feels at some point in their life. I feel that Iago only enjoys the downfall of people that he truly despises. For example there is no sign of him enjoying the distress of Desdemona. This shows a more humane side to Iago although he shows no sympathy or upset it is still a contrast to him enjoying the downfall of Othello and Cassio. I think another point to consider when analysing Iago’s character and motives is that he is keenly sensitive to anything that touches his pride or self-esteem. Whatever disturbs his sense of superiority irritates him at once and makes him highly competitive. This why I feel why Casio’s appointment provokes him and this how he starts to develop this feeling of jealousy. Iago may not necessarily care for Emilia but the though of another man getting the better of him truly angers him. He also admits to the fact he is jealous of Cassio’s ‘daily beauty’, which we know as much as Iago may try he can never look like Cassio. And compared to Cassio Iago is ugly.
Taking to account the Critics view my overall view on Iago’s character is that he is an ingenious villain. He has elements of evil inside him, which help him to concoct these masterful plans. I think he clearly likes an audience to relate his plans to such as Roderigo he also has another side to him, which is mysterious, especially when he refuses to speak towards the end of the play. ‘ I never will speak word’. Iago I feel is a man who hates anything good. He is also embittered by his social status, which drives him to prove himself and to cause downfall of others. His motives throughout the whole play are jealousy, revenge and hatred. He is an insecure man who is riel in sexual jealousy. As he believes that Othello has ‘twixt my sheets and done my office.’ This plays upon the fact that the thought of competition angers him, and that is why he is clearly a competitive man. He feels that people like Othello and Cassio who seem to have wounded him personally and professionally should suffer and that is another motive that reduces him to inflicting pain upon them. He is a very clever man who is able to play different roles convincingly and is able to adapt to any occasion. He loves having power and being able to control people and he is able to do this very well. I think when taking about Iago’s character there should be a small element of sympathy felt for him. Although his actions were certainly wrong and evil it is sad that he was driven to do this because of his insecurities and frustration. His insecurities to do with his personal self and the frustration of being a clever man not being able to get anywhere because of where he comes from.
As well Iago Desdemona is a complex character. Although she is seen as an innocent creature there is more behind her character than that. There seems to be too sides to her, she is both ‘half the wooer’ (a full accomplished clever attractive female, who can make her own choices) and the weak passive prey. Desdemona is a clear symbol to how a patriarchy society can destroy a women’s life. As her character and reputation is destroyed by four significant men in the play first of all her father, Roderigo, Iago then Othello. Early in the play she is described as ‘jewel/ a maiden never bold.’ This is what Wilson knight perceives her to be ‘ a gentle, kind brave women’. No doubt these perceptions are right but they don’t account for her actions throughout the whole play. Therefore it is a contradiction as Desdemona as well as being the kind women shows many signs or weakness and insecurity. We first see her emersion from her father’s descriptions as an innocent, girlish figure when she runs away to marry Othello and when she pronounces her love for him in senate scene in front of her father and the Duke. She clearly shows her bravery, as she is not afraid to admit her love for Othello. ‘That I did love the moor to live with thee.’ This scene also shows another factor to Desdemona’s character and that is her intellect, her ability to perform an articulate speech without any rehearsal. I do agree with Wilson knight when he says that Desdemona has a ‘domestic feminine charm’ I believe that it is an apt quote for Desdemona as if she had been full of era’s and graces she would have married the ‘ the curled darlings’ and that is why I believe she picked Othello as he was something new fresh and exciting. Desdemona shows signs of bravery when she fights back when Iago is undermining women it also shows another side to her, that she is a bit deceitful as she is hiding the fact that she is all tense about Othello’s arrival back from sea. She was also deceitful when marrying Othello behind her fathers back. This causes part of her downfall as Iago is able to make a great deal out of the fact she deceived her father and it comes back to what Brabantio says which constantly plays on Othello’s mind towards the end of the play. ‘She has deceived her father, and may thee.’ Desdemona is highly regarded as most people speak of her well and seem to respect her. Although Desdemona disobeyed her father, she submits to her husband’s authority. She states this when she says ‘My hearts subdued/ even to the utmost pleasure my lord.’ This is a fatal flaw in Desdemona as she is weak regarding anything to do with Othello.
Her innocence and good kind nature on the surface may be seen as strong good factor to her character but in actual fact they are the cause of her downfall. Although she genuinely tries to help Cassio she does not realise that the more she pushes for Cassio to gain back his position the more she pushes Othello into believing that they are having and affair. A strong part of Desdemona’s character is her love for Othello. Her love for him stays strong until the bitter end. Although she is innocent and kind there are other parts to Desdemona’s character. She lies about the handkerchief, although she feels she is preventing Othello from getting angry by saying she does no know where it is. She actually doesn’t realize that in actual fact she is making the situation worse and if she had admitted to fact that she had lost none of this would never happen. Yet again Desdemona’s naivety could be blamed for this but she still lies and if she were so innocent then surely she would have realized it was wrong to lie. This shows a weakness in Desdemona’s character which is a definite contrast to when we she at the beginning when she is a strong ‘warrior’. Also we see a weak side to her at the end when Othello strikes her publicly. She reproaches him briefly by saying ‘I have not deserved this’ but then she accepts and defends his authority over her. Towards the end when she is dying we see signs of the brave Desdemona coming through as she fights for the right to love but she still fails to blame Othello. ‘Nobody. I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord- O farewell!’ Her last words are somewhat contradictory and there are many ways of interpreting them. Has Desdemona had control of her own fate? Is it that she is trying to protect her husband in death as she sought to defend him in life? Or are these selfless words, which portray Desdemona as the innocent victim. I believe that in a sense she did take control of her own fate as she did certain things in the play to provoke Othello into believing Iago. I do believe that she did things unintentionally and did them so that she would not hurt Othello. I also agree with the second interpretations as I feel that she does what to defend her husband. Desdemona’s love is strong throughout the play and never seems to die or change and I think that no matter what she will always love him and protect him. However one might interpret her final words, we will certainly feel that her self-blame contradicts her earlier assertiveness. I believe that Desdemona has indeed become a sacrifice.
Overall I feel that the Character of Desdemona is one that is genuinely kind and innocent. I believe that her misfortune is because of this naivety that she possesses. Unlike Iago Desdemona does not want to cause upset although in some cases she does, but I never feel that it is intentional. Desdemona’s character contradicts its self as one minute she can be opinionated and strong but then she shows signs of weakness. The one part of her character that remains strong is her love for Othello but it does lead to her downfall. Desdemona is the most genuine character in the play and this is why is makes even more sad when she dies as she was innocent and oblivious to Iago’s masterful plans.