In a story as well-known as Othello we get to see and understand the dynamics between a complex set of characters. The tragic hero, Othello. Iago, Shakespeare’s classic supervillain. Desdemona, the pure and faithful angelic figure. Roderigo the dumb-witted, love-struck, wealthy socialite. It’s the fundamental interaction between these characters that creates the awestruck, mythical, calamitous world of Shakespeare. Iago is a character that has been analyzed and broken down over the years by so many great minds, just trying to shed some insight on the diabolic nature of this character. One thing that is certain is the diabolical nature of Iago’s character makes for an incredible story of misguided trust, and shows the reader that not all things are always as they seem on the surface.
Very early on in the play we see Iago is not in favor of Cassio becoming Othello’s lenient. He feels like he has had much more military and battle experience and feels betrayed when Cassio is chosen over him. This can be considered the catalyst to Iago’s master plan of revenge on Othello. A few lines later Iago states, “I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly follow’d.” (I, i, 42-44) A mere few lines into the play Iago professes that he is in fact only looking out for himself. As an audience we can suspect that Iago will start to position himself in a way that will benefit himself in the eyes of those that have not given him the level of respect that he feels he deserves.
In order to elaborate on how Iago so delicately poses as an ally to all of his friends but shows the audience his true colors, we must devolve into some of the most personal moments Iago has with the audience in his soliloquies. His first soliloquy at the end of Act 1 starts by mocking his interactions with Rodrigo: “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse”. (I, iii, 383) This shows that Iago is clearly out to profit from Rodrigo’s love for Desdemona. We know that Iago is a ranking officer in the Venetian army so we have to assume that he is not necessarily hurting for money. So why fool Rodrigo into giving him more money? This is a look into Iago’s narcissism. It is like Iago does not care about possibly being caught. When in a time, reputation was such an important part of one’s character it seems irresponsible for Iago to in fact steal from Rodrigo who was rich and may have influence with the very people that Iago would like to trust him enough to appoint him into power in the army.
Shakespeare has a way of invoking characters’ use of words and the way in which they speak in order to portray a certain level of social class and education. With the character Iago, we know that he is a battle tested officer and very familiar with military rhetoric. In the article “Iago’s Art of War”, the author brings up a very interesting point: Iago, arguably Shakespeare’s most accomplished rhetorician, speaks far more “volubly” and disingenuously than Cassio and uses language more deeply imbued with militarism than Othello’s. Iago also proves to be an assiduous student of the military strategy or “bookish theoric” he ostensibly rejects.(Jacobsen, 498)
Interesting that the play would be written so that the supervillain would have the most credibility with the audience when it came to military jargon. Perhaps it is written this way so the audience has a certain level of trust in Iago. He is clearly the villain but being confident in what he is speaking about the audience has the opportunity to believe that maybe he was passed over for the promotion unjustly. This is important to the overall storyline of the play because if the audience can relate to the character Iago it is more feasible for them to follow the thoughts behind his actions.
In this same soliloquy, Iago professes, “I hate the Moor.” (I, iii, 386) The audience has been introduced to a few reasons why Iago would have such hatred for Othello, but it is not until this moment with Iago that we find another reason he is set on revenge: “it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets H’as done my office. I know not if’t be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety.” (I, iii, 387-390) Now we see there is an underling issue; as well as being passed up for a promotion he feels like Othello has slept with his wife. Understanding how important reputation is for a man in this era, it is more feasible to understand why Iago would be on a mission for revenge.
Further into the play we come across a verse where Iago is talking to Cassio right after Cassio has been denounced as Othello’s lieutenant. He says, “As I am an honest man, I had thought you had receiv’d 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.” (II, iii, 211-214) This passage acts as such a window into Iago’s psyche. He starts by saying how honest he is, when he has done nothing but deceive his friends and colleges. He continues by expressing concern for Cassio when it was he who is to blame for the whole event. Here the audience can clearly see how deceptive Iago as a character really is. Yet it isn’t until we watch Iago essentially speak the truth to Cassio’s face that it becomes apparent how conniving he is as well. Iago says reputation is not important because it is often given without merit speaking to Cassio receiving the lieutenant position without deserving it, and lost without deserving, as he is the reason Cassio has been stripped of his position.
Act Three is a pivotal act for both the play and for the unfolding of Iago’s plan. The patchwork has been laid for the audience to have a good idea of who Iago is as a character and why he is driven to revenge. Author of Where Iago Lies has a good point about Iago’s psyche: “Rosenberg turns to contemporary psychology to point to the neurotic type “whose main motivating force in life is his need for vindictive triumph”, who can only prove self-worth to himself “by arrogating to himself extraordinary attributes … determined by his particular needs”, and who having “smothered positive feelings, he can only rely on his intellect for the mastery of life” (154). (Where Iago Lies, 1)
As the article points out Iago is a neurotic type meaning there is something wrong with him psychologically. He is the type of person who is not going to be happy until everyone else is living in the same misery he feels like he is living in. A character like Iago would embody the adage “An eye for an eye”.
Clearly we see Iago is not only deceptive but also cunning and intelligent. He uses his abilities to manipulate people. The author of the article “One unperfectness shows me another” outlines it best: The central scenes—from Act II, iii to Act IV, ii—foreground Iago’s action, his dialectical astuteness, his ability to make his point of view prevail through the use of supposition and by casting aspersions. At the same time, his ironically “honest” diagnosis allows us to perceive the progressive blindness that is slowly taking possession of Othello’s mind. (Othello, 207) It is through the intellect that Iago presents that we are able to see how Othello, a general in the army, a man of great respect and power, is able to be manipulated by Iago.
As everything unfolds one would suspect that Iago has a plan for everything no matter what happens. However, we see a more human side of Iago when we see him doubt the plan. Iago says, “this is the night that either makes me, or fordoes me quite” (IV, I, 128) This statement ties back into the question of Iago’s psyche and his willingness to put it all on the line. He invoked this plan knowing at the end if he did not get what it was he desired he may end up with nothing at all. Yet still Iago moves forward with this plan because he has to fulfill his desires to right the wrongs that have been done to him; it doesn’t matter what the cost might be. This seems like the mark of someone struggling with psychological issues.
Iago, a character developed for enjoyment, based solely on fiction has had an incredible impact in so many ways. Psychiatrists for many years have been analyzing Iago to better explain his motivations and ability to manipulate. Shakespeare enthusiasts have speculated and theorized on the true intent of Iago’s character. Looking at multiple opinions across different types of research, one thing does remain constant: Iago is a character that uses his intelligence for malice. Author of Where Iago Lies sums it up best. The description of the type concludes by looking at a subject’s imagination and “vision of the future. He is and will be infinitely better than ‘they’ [the others] are. He will become great and put them to shame (Where Iago Lies, 154).
He may be a psychopath or a genius; typically there is a very fine line between the two. But one can argue that he may be the most intelligent character, with the most skewed perception. And ultimately Iago’s determination to get revenge is his own demise.
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