Othello characters and themes
Iago
Iago is surrounded with bitter irony: he is not as he seems, his ambition is
bad for others, people repeatedly rely on him, and he betrays them. He
likes to have others unwittingly working to serve his purposes.
Iago is a man with an obsession for control and power over others who
has let this obsession take over his whole life. Necessity forces his hand,
and, in order to destroy Othello, he must also destroy Roderigo, Emilia,
Desdemona, and ultimately himself.
The reasons Iago uses to justify his plot:
He says that he hates Othello because Othello passed him over for a
promotion to lieutenant, choosing Cassio, who he claims is much less
qualified, instead of him.
He also claims that he suspects that his own wife, Emilia, has cheated on
him with Othello, making him a cuckold.
He also makes reference to his own attraction and lust for Desdemona, as
seen by “I do love her too”.
Unlike the other characters, whose personalities are transformed by the
action – most notably Othello, who goes from being a strong soldier to an
insecure, jealous murderer – the unrepentant and cruel Iago is
unchanged.
His manipulation tactics
It is Iago’s talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those
around him that makes him both a powerful and a compelling figure.
Iago is able to take the handkerchief from Emilia and know that he can
deflect her questions; he is able to tell Othello of the handkerchief and
know that Othello will not doubt him. Though the most inveterate liar,
Iago inspires all of the play’s characters the trait that is most lethal to
Othello: trust.
He has the ability to charm and convince people of his loyalty and
honesty– “Honest Iago,” according to Othello – but the audience is
1
, immediately introduced to his desire for revenge, despite his lack of
proved reason.
Iago’s opinion and treatment of women in the play also contribute to the
audience's perception of him as cruel and unpleasant. Iago treats his wife
Emilia in a very derogatory way: “It is a common thing…To have a foolish
wife”. Even when she pleases, him he calls her “A good wench”.
“Honest Iago”
He interacts as if he is genuinely trying to help Othello but in all reality he
is only helping himself and hoping that everyone else will fail.
These interactions with other characters have led him to be known as
“Honest Iago” even though he has already planted the seed of tragedy in
Othello’s mind.
Iago is a master of abusing people’s trust to gain more power and further
the completion of his goals, and he does this with Othello. He keeps the
characters trusting him and believing that he is there for them and
helping them until it all comes back on him.
Iago’s success lies in his ability to distort and pervert what should be
other characters’ most positive traits: Othello’s passionate honour,
Desdemona’s commitment, Cassio’s courtesy.
This aside also encapsulates his keen sense of irony (‘As honest as I am’).
Iago’s true intentions are never revealed to other characters – it is only
through sneaking asides and hate-filled soliloquies that we are given
access to his plots.
Iago’s character is consumed with hatred and envy…
He claims to be angry at Othello for having passed him over for the position of
1
lieutenant.
2 He thinks Othello may have slept with his wife, Emilia.
He lusts after Desdemona because he wants to get even with Othello, “wife for
3
wife”.
Iago, a powerful and a compelling figure, has very few redeeming qualities:
1 He has the ability to charm and convince people of his loyalty and honesty.
2 He has a strong desire for revenge, despite his lack of proved reasons.
3 He is the most inveterate liar.
4 He represents evil and cruelty for its own sake.
2
, 5 He has an utter lack of convincing motivation for his actions.
He has a talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those around
6
him.
He is willing to take revenge on anyone - Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, Roderigo,
7 even Emilia - at the slightest provocation and enjoys the pain and damage he
causes.
8 He is happy to ruin Desdemona’s happiness just to get revenge on Othello.
Iago double crosses all the characters who consider him a friend. Most shockingly,
9 perhaps, he kills Roderigo, a character with whom he has conspired and been
mostly honest throughout the play.
His scenes with the foolish Roderigo serve as a showcase of his manipulative
10
abilities.
He has a general hatred of women - Iago treats his wife Emilia in a very
11
derogatory way.
He possesses a streak of cowardice, which becomes manifest in the final scene,
12
when he kills his own wife.
TAKE SPECIAL NOTE:
Iago must have considerable intellect to devise and deploy his plans, and to
1
convince the other characters of his various deceptions along the way.
2 The unrepentant and cruel Iago is unchanged for the full duration of the play
Othello
In spite of his elevated status, he is nevertheless easy prey to insecurities
because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his race. He possesses a “free
and open nature,” which his ensign Iago uses to twist his love for his wife,
Desdemona, into a powerful and destructive jealousy.
Othello is an outsider who is intelligent and confident in military matters
but socially insecure. He leads an intense life, swinging between triumph
and dread. He is different from those around him, due to his origins and
his life history.
Othello's insecurities are so close to the surface that a few words of hint
and innuendo from Iago can tear the confident exterior and expose his
fears, desires, and tendency to violence.
Othello cannot stand uncertainty; it drives him to destroy his sanity.
However, once he makes a decision, he is again the military man, decisive
in action. Iago has only to push Othello to the belief that he has been
3
Iago
Iago is surrounded with bitter irony: he is not as he seems, his ambition is
bad for others, people repeatedly rely on him, and he betrays them. He
likes to have others unwittingly working to serve his purposes.
Iago is a man with an obsession for control and power over others who
has let this obsession take over his whole life. Necessity forces his hand,
and, in order to destroy Othello, he must also destroy Roderigo, Emilia,
Desdemona, and ultimately himself.
The reasons Iago uses to justify his plot:
He says that he hates Othello because Othello passed him over for a
promotion to lieutenant, choosing Cassio, who he claims is much less
qualified, instead of him.
He also claims that he suspects that his own wife, Emilia, has cheated on
him with Othello, making him a cuckold.
He also makes reference to his own attraction and lust for Desdemona, as
seen by “I do love her too”.
Unlike the other characters, whose personalities are transformed by the
action – most notably Othello, who goes from being a strong soldier to an
insecure, jealous murderer – the unrepentant and cruel Iago is
unchanged.
His manipulation tactics
It is Iago’s talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those
around him that makes him both a powerful and a compelling figure.
Iago is able to take the handkerchief from Emilia and know that he can
deflect her questions; he is able to tell Othello of the handkerchief and
know that Othello will not doubt him. Though the most inveterate liar,
Iago inspires all of the play’s characters the trait that is most lethal to
Othello: trust.
He has the ability to charm and convince people of his loyalty and
honesty– “Honest Iago,” according to Othello – but the audience is
1
, immediately introduced to his desire for revenge, despite his lack of
proved reason.
Iago’s opinion and treatment of women in the play also contribute to the
audience's perception of him as cruel and unpleasant. Iago treats his wife
Emilia in a very derogatory way: “It is a common thing…To have a foolish
wife”. Even when she pleases, him he calls her “A good wench”.
“Honest Iago”
He interacts as if he is genuinely trying to help Othello but in all reality he
is only helping himself and hoping that everyone else will fail.
These interactions with other characters have led him to be known as
“Honest Iago” even though he has already planted the seed of tragedy in
Othello’s mind.
Iago is a master of abusing people’s trust to gain more power and further
the completion of his goals, and he does this with Othello. He keeps the
characters trusting him and believing that he is there for them and
helping them until it all comes back on him.
Iago’s success lies in his ability to distort and pervert what should be
other characters’ most positive traits: Othello’s passionate honour,
Desdemona’s commitment, Cassio’s courtesy.
This aside also encapsulates his keen sense of irony (‘As honest as I am’).
Iago’s true intentions are never revealed to other characters – it is only
through sneaking asides and hate-filled soliloquies that we are given
access to his plots.
Iago’s character is consumed with hatred and envy…
He claims to be angry at Othello for having passed him over for the position of
1
lieutenant.
2 He thinks Othello may have slept with his wife, Emilia.
He lusts after Desdemona because he wants to get even with Othello, “wife for
3
wife”.
Iago, a powerful and a compelling figure, has very few redeeming qualities:
1 He has the ability to charm and convince people of his loyalty and honesty.
2 He has a strong desire for revenge, despite his lack of proved reasons.
3 He is the most inveterate liar.
4 He represents evil and cruelty for its own sake.
2
, 5 He has an utter lack of convincing motivation for his actions.
He has a talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those around
6
him.
He is willing to take revenge on anyone - Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, Roderigo,
7 even Emilia - at the slightest provocation and enjoys the pain and damage he
causes.
8 He is happy to ruin Desdemona’s happiness just to get revenge on Othello.
Iago double crosses all the characters who consider him a friend. Most shockingly,
9 perhaps, he kills Roderigo, a character with whom he has conspired and been
mostly honest throughout the play.
His scenes with the foolish Roderigo serve as a showcase of his manipulative
10
abilities.
He has a general hatred of women - Iago treats his wife Emilia in a very
11
derogatory way.
He possesses a streak of cowardice, which becomes manifest in the final scene,
12
when he kills his own wife.
TAKE SPECIAL NOTE:
Iago must have considerable intellect to devise and deploy his plans, and to
1
convince the other characters of his various deceptions along the way.
2 The unrepentant and cruel Iago is unchanged for the full duration of the play
Othello
In spite of his elevated status, he is nevertheless easy prey to insecurities
because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his race. He possesses a “free
and open nature,” which his ensign Iago uses to twist his love for his wife,
Desdemona, into a powerful and destructive jealousy.
Othello is an outsider who is intelligent and confident in military matters
but socially insecure. He leads an intense life, swinging between triumph
and dread. He is different from those around him, due to his origins and
his life history.
Othello's insecurities are so close to the surface that a few words of hint
and innuendo from Iago can tear the confident exterior and expose his
fears, desires, and tendency to violence.
Othello cannot stand uncertainty; it drives him to destroy his sanity.
However, once he makes a decision, he is again the military man, decisive
in action. Iago has only to push Othello to the belief that he has been
3
