Explore how Shakespeare presents the relationship between
Othello and Iago in the first three Acts. You must relate your
discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your
critical reading.
In his 1604 tragedy Shakespeare explores extremely complex characters,
most notably Othello and Iago. Initially, they could not be presented more
differently. Othello is presented as a tragic hero who is extremely skilled
in rhetoric and is an extremely romantic thinker whereas Iago is presented
as a Machiavellian villain, typical of a Jacobean drama, who manipulates
and deceives Othello. However, their relationship is presented as more
than the classic one between protagonist and antagonist. Due to factors
like race, power and status Iago shapes and changes Othello from the
“honourable Othello” to a man who murders his wife out of sheer jealousy
and rage.
Shakespeare presents Iago as a Machiavellian villain to contrast greatly
against Othello’s virtue and integrity at the beginning of the play. Joan
Kerlin argues that “Iago is the devil, for Iago’s intent to bring evil out of
good”. This is shown most clearly in his second soliloquy when he plots to
turn Desdemona’s “virtue into pitch and use her own goodness to make
the net that shall enmesh them all”. The juxtaposition of virtue and pitch
highlights the extreme lengths Iago will go for his revenge. The fact that
her embroils an innocent person like the “virtuous Desdemona” creates
dislike and distrust in Iago in the audience. The metaphor creates a sense
of entrapment and foreshadows how the characters will be unable to
escape from his insidious plot for revenge. It is significant structurally,
that he states this in a soliloquy as it creates significant dramatic tension
for the audience as they know his true self rather than his “honest Iago”
pretence. Another time when Iago is presented as a Machiavellian villain is
in his first soliloquy when he stats to conjure his plan and exclaims: “it is
engendered. Hell, and night shall bring this monstrous birth to the world
light”. The rhyming couplet and use of figurative imagery creates a sense
of an incantation or magic spell. The quietus metaphor and juxtaposition
of “birth” and “hell” hyperbolises the destructive and devilish nature of
Iago. Shakespeare has done this to instil fear in the audience for Iago and
the horrors he represents in order to highlight humanities atrocities.
However, Andy Kerkin who played Iago at the Royal Exchange Manchester
in 2012 claimed: “he’s not the devil. He’s like you or me with feelings of
jealousy”. Certainly, Iago could be considered a highly jealous character.
He accuses Othello of having “twixt my sheets” and having “done my
office”. He also accuses Cassio also of having “done with my night-cap”.
All are euphemisms for sex and yet seem to be completely base-less. Iago
himself even states “I know not if’t be true”. His justifications seem
comical. However, he is also motivated by nepotism as he believes he was
passed up for a promotion as “preferment goes by letter and affection. I
therefore disagree with Colderige who states Iago has a “motiveless
malignancy” but that does not subtract from his lack of morality or
conscience which is still typical of a Machiavellian Villain.
Othello and Iago in the first three Acts. You must relate your
discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your
critical reading.
In his 1604 tragedy Shakespeare explores extremely complex characters,
most notably Othello and Iago. Initially, they could not be presented more
differently. Othello is presented as a tragic hero who is extremely skilled
in rhetoric and is an extremely romantic thinker whereas Iago is presented
as a Machiavellian villain, typical of a Jacobean drama, who manipulates
and deceives Othello. However, their relationship is presented as more
than the classic one between protagonist and antagonist. Due to factors
like race, power and status Iago shapes and changes Othello from the
“honourable Othello” to a man who murders his wife out of sheer jealousy
and rage.
Shakespeare presents Iago as a Machiavellian villain to contrast greatly
against Othello’s virtue and integrity at the beginning of the play. Joan
Kerlin argues that “Iago is the devil, for Iago’s intent to bring evil out of
good”. This is shown most clearly in his second soliloquy when he plots to
turn Desdemona’s “virtue into pitch and use her own goodness to make
the net that shall enmesh them all”. The juxtaposition of virtue and pitch
highlights the extreme lengths Iago will go for his revenge. The fact that
her embroils an innocent person like the “virtuous Desdemona” creates
dislike and distrust in Iago in the audience. The metaphor creates a sense
of entrapment and foreshadows how the characters will be unable to
escape from his insidious plot for revenge. It is significant structurally,
that he states this in a soliloquy as it creates significant dramatic tension
for the audience as they know his true self rather than his “honest Iago”
pretence. Another time when Iago is presented as a Machiavellian villain is
in his first soliloquy when he stats to conjure his plan and exclaims: “it is
engendered. Hell, and night shall bring this monstrous birth to the world
light”. The rhyming couplet and use of figurative imagery creates a sense
of an incantation or magic spell. The quietus metaphor and juxtaposition
of “birth” and “hell” hyperbolises the destructive and devilish nature of
Iago. Shakespeare has done this to instil fear in the audience for Iago and
the horrors he represents in order to highlight humanities atrocities.
However, Andy Kerkin who played Iago at the Royal Exchange Manchester
in 2012 claimed: “he’s not the devil. He’s like you or me with feelings of
jealousy”. Certainly, Iago could be considered a highly jealous character.
He accuses Othello of having “twixt my sheets” and having “done my
office”. He also accuses Cassio also of having “done with my night-cap”.
All are euphemisms for sex and yet seem to be completely base-less. Iago
himself even states “I know not if’t be true”. His justifications seem
comical. However, he is also motivated by nepotism as he believes he was
passed up for a promotion as “preferment goes by letter and affection. I
therefore disagree with Colderige who states Iago has a “motiveless
malignancy” but that does not subtract from his lack of morality or
conscience which is still typical of a Machiavellian Villain.
