"Iago's soliloquy at the end of Act 1; what does his language tell us about his character and motivation? How does it compare with his language in the rest of the act"?

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Hereward Campbell-Anderson

Words:  1227

16th October 2005

“Iago’s soliloquy at the end of Act 1; what does his language tell us about his character and motivation? How does it compare with his language in the rest of the act”?

Iago seems to be presented as a Machiavellian villain; he is cunning and always seems to know what’s going to happen.  In Iago’s soliloquy at the end of Act 1 Scene3, he says of Roderigo “thus do I ever make my fool my purse”.  This conveys Iago’s character as superior and manipulative.  Iago states that Roderigo is a “fool”; a stupid moron.  He also calls him a “snipe” which is a small bird which also is used to mean unintellegent.  Iago refers to Roderigo possessively, referring to him as “my fool” as if the extent of his own influence makes Roderigo his own possession (as with “my purse”; purse being an object that is owned).  By saying “I even make” Iago is implying that manipulating a “fool” for their money is a usual activity for him, as if he always does this.  Iago holds such little respect for Roderigo and feels himself so superior that he “should profane if [he] time expend with such … But for [his] sport and profit”.   He’s claiming that Roderigo is so beneath him that it is only for the money (“profit”) and the game he plays with the characters (“sport”) that he’d ever bother wasting his time with such an idiot. This seems to be revealing of Iago’s attitude toward social classes. Just because another character is richer or has higher social standing this does not mean that he has any extra respect for them. Taking into account that England in the Elizabethan era worked with strict social classes I think that Shakespeare uses Iago’s lack of respect for the system as another way of demonising him. He is the villain because he believes himself to be superior to everyone else.

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Iago is Othello’s ‘ancient’.  However, Iago obviously feels he is superior to his master.  Iago likens Othello to a donkey; a dull, stupid animal.  Iago says Othello will “be led by th’ nose. As asses are”.  Asses, or donkeys, are literally led by the nose with a harness. Might the harness be the society they are both part of? This implies that Othello is not free. It implies that he is tamed, obedient, dependent and without a mind of his own.  It is Iago’s intention to use this harness to lead Othello to his ruin.  

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