How does Shakespeare present Iago?

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Dan Moss

English

How does Shakespeare present Iago?

        In Shakespeare’s Othello the character Iago is one who has appalled and intrigued audiences for years. His cruel actions have shocked, yet enthralled audiences everywhere. We find ourselves being drawn unwillingly to a character; the audience’s revulsion is blended with fascination at the horrific culmination of his terrible scheme. He is a character whom Shakespeare has constructed as an angry malicious character, and beneath his façade of respectability and affability has a wealth of vindictiveness which he uses against those whom he believes to have wronged him. I intend to explore how it is that such conclusions can be drawn from Iago character and how Shakespeare shows it to us.

        Iago is quick to show his hatred of Othello in the opening scene. ‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’. This suggests that Iago is dedicated to his revenge as he is willing to bide his time. Shakespeare gives Iago bitter, harsh language to reflect his anger and bitterness towards Othello. This harsh aggression is spat out with the brutal ‘t’ sounds; the irregular flow shows the violence and rage that Iago wishes to inflict upon Othello. The fact that other men are ranked above him is a situation that Iago despises and it is because of his subservient role that he lashes out with such ferocity. The natural subservient inferiority of the phrase ‘I serve’ is twisted around completely by the controlling phrase ‘upon him'.  Iago intends to further himself at the expense of Othello and the terms ‘upon him’ and ‘turn’ show how he is prepared to use sex as a weapon as a part of his revenge.

We see the beginnings of Iago’s revenge when we see him taking a disconcerting pleasure in revealing to Brabantio the apparent atrocity of the marriage of his daughter, Desdemona, to Othello. Iago sets out to ‘poison his delight’. Iago is not prepared to reveal himself so as not to lose all that he has strived for and built up over a lifetime – his reputation. The plosive consonant suggests the explosion of anger which his foul images stir within Brabantio. Shakespeare’s choice of; ‘poison’, has a long drawn out ‘oi’ vowel sound emphasising the slow, painful infection which Iago inflicts upon others happiness.

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Iago’s plan is what he inflicts upon Othello, and the storm during the journey to Cyprus as symbolic of Iago’s plan’s ‘monstrous birth’. Birth is usually seen as a painful, yet wonderful experience. This presents Iago as an emotionless shell as he would merely notice the pain and suffering of such an event. Something which we would expect to be positive is, in fact, a terrible aberration like Iago who himself is unnatural.

Shakespeare has Othello become lost in the storm just as he also becomes lost in his own mind when he bends to Iago’s will. ‘They were parted ...

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