Alexandra KimAP English IV

IagoMethods of Characterization Sympathy of the Reader

What Others Say:

“And for I know thou’rt full of love and honesty and weigh’st thy words before thou giv’st them breath.” –Othello (3.3.136-138)

Othello and others, often refer to Iago as Honest Iago, as a sign of respect. Othello, in his nature constantly praises Iago for his love and faithfulness to him. Although characters always have positive remarks about Iago, since we know his true nature, it makes the reader hate him all the more since his deception is so thorough.

What Character Says: “As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound. There is more sense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving. You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser.” (2.3.285-290)

Without knowing his innermost thoughts, Iago would come off as an honest man. Always there to comfort those in despair, like Cassio, Roderigo and Othello and always giving good advice. But every kind word Iago says is calculated and said with a ulterior motive. Knowing this, the kind words Iago utters to other people make him more of a hypocrite in the all-knowing audience and furthers Iago’s villainy.

Actions:

Iago, for the majority of the play uses Roderigo to carry out most of the actions, but towards the climax, Iago, takes part in the ensuing violence.

(Cassio draws, and stabs Roderigo)”O, I am slain!” (Roderigo falls. Iago stabs Cassio in the leg, and exits.)(5.1.28)

(Iago to Roderigo) “O murd’rous slave! O villain!” (He stabs Roderigo) “O damned Iago! O inhuman dog!”(5.1.73-74)

“Are there no stones in heaven but what serves for the thunder? –Precious villain!” (The Moor runs at Iago but is disarmed. Iago kills his wife.) (5. 2.281-282)

I think Iago taking part in violent actions is almost unexpected to the reader because he always seems to play the manipulator, using words to hurt and turn people against each other instead of his own actions. His violent end to his plan adds more depth to Iago’s character and shows just how far he would go to carry out his plan. He seems pretty calm and collected throughout the play with his plans but towards the end he starts to unravel and let violence consume him. Iago, is all around a hated character but he is not a one-dimensional villain he has more sides to him than just treachery.

Inner Thoughts and Feelings:

“Were I the Moor I would not be Iago. In following him, I follow but myself. Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, but seeming so for my peculiar end.” (1.1.63-66)

Iago is almost inhuman seeing his thought processes and his frankness with himself. He is clearly not delusional he knows that what he is doing is wrong and does it deliberately. Iago seems more and more evil as his thoughts and feelings are revealed, unlike other antagonists who may have human and justifiable reasons behind their deeds. Iago deliberately does evil work that he even describes as similar to devils’ work.

Iago’s true feelings toward Othello is introduced clearly towards the beginning of the play, he despises the Moor and tends to serve him for his own purposes.

“I have’t. It is engendered. Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.” (1.3.446-447)

It’s interesting to see how Iago views his own plan. He doesn’t justify his evil plans to be right, he clearly admits it to be a “monstrous birth”.

“How am I then a villain to counsel Cassio to this parallel course directly to his good? Divinity of hell! When devils will the blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with heavenly shows, as I do now.” (2.3.368-373)

In his own musings, Iago questions whether his action of advising Cassio to seek Desdemona’s help was wrong. But he admits that although his action may have been good his intentions and use for the situation is not and likens himself to devils who play around with their victims.

Shakespeare makes it so that this villain cannot be sympathized with, Iago has many dimensions, but each dimension turns out to be darker and more treacherous than the last. Iago deserved his fate at the end of the play having the blood of his wife on his hands and having his thought out plan discovered, although a little too late.