Madison Charles 13LHU
“Iago’s actions are those of a man who has been unjustly wronged.” Bradley. To what extent to you
agree with this literary criticism?
Iago is a duplicitous and manipulative character presented by Shakespeare as the obvious antagonist of
‘Othello’. Although critics like Bradley suggest that “Iago’s actions are those of a man who has been
unjustly wronged”, Iago is a far more complicated character than this critical reading suggests and the
reason for his actions cannot be so clearly explained. Shakespeare rejects the medieval morality play
antagonist and a didactic storyline in favour of presenting Iago as more Machiavellian villain who is
chaotic and evil with no purpose, he is, as Coleridge suggests, “a motiveless malignity”, which in turn,
makes him more unnerving. It is more convincing to view Iago as someone who creates unrest for his
own enjoyment and revels in the misery of others than as someone seeking revenge.
Bradley’s claim that “Iago’s actions are those of a man who has been unjustly wronged” is somewhat
credible as Iago presents several reasons as to why he behaves the way he does. In his soliloquy, a
dramatic device which normally reveals the characters true feelings due to its nature, Iago claims, “I
hate the Moor […] He’s done my office” and earlier in conversation with Roderigo he expressed anger
that Othello had chosen “a great arithmetician, one Michael Cassio” over himself for the position of
officer. Iago’s use of “arithmetician” highlights how Iago feels Cassio to be too inexperienced in war and
battle whereas Iago himself feels more fitting for the job due to his fighting in Rhodes and Cyprus of
which Othello’s “eyes had seen the proof”. To an extent, Iago may feel unjustly wronged by these things,
however, Iago actions are extremely disproportional to the way he feels he has been wronged.
Shakespeare presents this through the contrast of Iago and Cassio. It can be argued that both have been
unjustly wronged, Iago has lost out on a job and Cassio has been fired due to Iago’s manipulation,
however, they both respond in different ways. Cassio attempts to win back his reputation through the
help of Desdemona but Iago, on the other hand, is manipulative and convinces Othello to murder her.
This course of action particularly outweighs the wrongs committed against him not only because it is the
taking of a life, but that Desdemona has in no way wronged Iago and therefore her death is
unwarranted. In addition, Iago completely breaks Othello as a character. Othello’s speech, which was
once profound and in verse and such as essential part of his character that it is what Desdemona fell in
love with, she would “with a greedy ear, devour up [his] discourse” -the gustatory imagery of “greedy”
emphasising the desire she felt for his words- is completely changed by Iago as Othello adopts more of
Iago’s language and mannerisms. The exclamative line “O blood, blood, blood!” characterises Othello’s
loss of integrity as he is unable to form coherent sentences, even Desdemona questions “why do you
speak so startingly and rash?”, evidencing how they are not “well tuned” anymore and no longer
understand each other. In addition, Othello’s behaviour becomes so different to his calm composure
seen earlier that when Desdemona’s cousin Lodovico visits from Venice he proclaims, “is this the noble
Moor whom our full senate call in all sufficient?” evidencing the drastic change that has taken place due
to Iago’s manipulation. Cassio’s actions are that of a man who has been unjustly wronged, he attempts
to reinstate his honour in a logical way. The malicious manipulation of Iago is an action evidently not of a
man who has been “unjustly wronged” as Bradley suggests, instead of an inherently evil and twisted
man. No number of wrongs can justify the brutal and extreme destruction of Othello that Iago performs
and the horrific act of persuading Othello to murder Desdemona.
“Iago’s actions are those of a man who has been unjustly wronged.” Bradley. To what extent to you
agree with this literary criticism?
Iago is a duplicitous and manipulative character presented by Shakespeare as the obvious antagonist of
‘Othello’. Although critics like Bradley suggest that “Iago’s actions are those of a man who has been
unjustly wronged”, Iago is a far more complicated character than this critical reading suggests and the
reason for his actions cannot be so clearly explained. Shakespeare rejects the medieval morality play
antagonist and a didactic storyline in favour of presenting Iago as more Machiavellian villain who is
chaotic and evil with no purpose, he is, as Coleridge suggests, “a motiveless malignity”, which in turn,
makes him more unnerving. It is more convincing to view Iago as someone who creates unrest for his
own enjoyment and revels in the misery of others than as someone seeking revenge.
Bradley’s claim that “Iago’s actions are those of a man who has been unjustly wronged” is somewhat
credible as Iago presents several reasons as to why he behaves the way he does. In his soliloquy, a
dramatic device which normally reveals the characters true feelings due to its nature, Iago claims, “I
hate the Moor […] He’s done my office” and earlier in conversation with Roderigo he expressed anger
that Othello had chosen “a great arithmetician, one Michael Cassio” over himself for the position of
officer. Iago’s use of “arithmetician” highlights how Iago feels Cassio to be too inexperienced in war and
battle whereas Iago himself feels more fitting for the job due to his fighting in Rhodes and Cyprus of
which Othello’s “eyes had seen the proof”. To an extent, Iago may feel unjustly wronged by these things,
however, Iago actions are extremely disproportional to the way he feels he has been wronged.
Shakespeare presents this through the contrast of Iago and Cassio. It can be argued that both have been
unjustly wronged, Iago has lost out on a job and Cassio has been fired due to Iago’s manipulation,
however, they both respond in different ways. Cassio attempts to win back his reputation through the
help of Desdemona but Iago, on the other hand, is manipulative and convinces Othello to murder her.
This course of action particularly outweighs the wrongs committed against him not only because it is the
taking of a life, but that Desdemona has in no way wronged Iago and therefore her death is
unwarranted. In addition, Iago completely breaks Othello as a character. Othello’s speech, which was
once profound and in verse and such as essential part of his character that it is what Desdemona fell in
love with, she would “with a greedy ear, devour up [his] discourse” -the gustatory imagery of “greedy”
emphasising the desire she felt for his words- is completely changed by Iago as Othello adopts more of
Iago’s language and mannerisms. The exclamative line “O blood, blood, blood!” characterises Othello’s
loss of integrity as he is unable to form coherent sentences, even Desdemona questions “why do you
speak so startingly and rash?”, evidencing how they are not “well tuned” anymore and no longer
understand each other. In addition, Othello’s behaviour becomes so different to his calm composure
seen earlier that when Desdemona’s cousin Lodovico visits from Venice he proclaims, “is this the noble
Moor whom our full senate call in all sufficient?” evidencing the drastic change that has taken place due
to Iago’s manipulation. Cassio’s actions are that of a man who has been unjustly wronged, he attempts
to reinstate his honour in a logical way. The malicious manipulation of Iago is an action evidently not of a
man who has been “unjustly wronged” as Bradley suggests, instead of an inherently evil and twisted
man. No number of wrongs can justify the brutal and extreme destruction of Othello that Iago performs
and the horrific act of persuading Othello to murder Desdemona.
