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Iago: An Evil In Likeness Or Evil Incarnate?

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Iago: An Evil in Likeness or Evil Incarnate? Othello, one of Shakespeare’s most critically acclaimed plays to date, also referred to as The Moor of Venice. Othello is a tragedy play jam packed with drama derived on the bases of love, jealousy and most importantly deception. In true Shakespearean fashion, there is always a villain or individual of suspicious nature within Shakespeare’s plays. Shakespeare has conjured up the most sinister villain, a character consumed with hatred and jealousy; he is the infamous Iago ensign to the faithful and fearless Lord Othello. The question has been proposed, on multiple occasions especially by critics and scholars of Shakespearean plays on the topic of Iago and whether he is Evil in Likeness or Evil Incarnate. With the use of an objective eye, an extensive look at Iago’s lack of motive and inherent manipulation will support the collusion of him being the essence of evil in the flesh. Immediately at the opening scene of the play, the reader is introduced to Iago professing his hatred for Othello to Roderigo (jealous suitor of Desdemona) because he …show more content…

With Othello, Iago is the honest ensign, to Roderigo he is the friend with the plan to help him win over the beloved fair maiden Desdemona; all of these many personas aided him in the demise of Othello and those that fraternized in close proximity to him. Bradley also makes note of the subtle implication of immortality in the play. Satan, often pictured in several states such as the “under- world” or Hell, it is impossible for him to die if his soul is already dead. Certainly, this is the case for Iago. As it is seen at the conclusion of the play, Iago remains alive in spite of the other characters abrupt deaths. With the presents of immortality, Shakespeare insinuates that evil never dies and that it will forever lurk in the dark corners of our

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Although many may not believe that Satan is a being present in the lives of all, the Bible portrays him as “the father of lies,” and a “thief” whose purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy (King James Version, John 8:44). His purpose is that of pure evil. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago demonstrates similar characteristics. Utterly consumed by his malevolent desire for revenge, he describes how “nothing can, or shall, content my soul,” until he achieves it (Othello 2.1.223).

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When goodness begins to look boring, evil starts to look alluring. In the play Othello, written by William Shakespeare Iago is exceedingly manipulative and is a master of planting seeds in the minds of each individual in the play. He carries out his scheme against Othello cleverly without anyone pointing fingers at him. Iago is captivating for his most awful trademark and qualities that make one villain stand out from another. In the play Othello Iago is a character who should be praised rather than despised.

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Iago’s jealousy and rage of not being chosen for lieutenant is leading him to create a plan for revenge on Othello and the others. Iago is immediately portrayed as an antagonist because when he finds out that Roderigo is upset about Desdemona marrying Othello he uses that vulnerability. He then uses Roderigo to play a role in Othello’s downfall. Omer explains that “In his pain Roderigo cannot but take in avidly Iago’s loving reassurances. Anguish makes one ready to believe” (Omer,99).

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After all that Iago has done for Othello, Iago has been passed over for a younger, inexperienced person. Iago feels that “he has been done a gratuitous injustice” (McCloskey 25). Everyone has experienced some type of injustice, and this fact helps the audience connect to Iago, because both parties have taken matters into their own hands. The critic John C. McCloskey writes, “Iago is a man seeking justice who, having right on his side but no recourse to law… takes affairs into his own hands and devotes his intelligence and efficiency to obtaining for himself what he interprets as justice” (McCloskey 26). However, the audience loses that connection quickly when Iago’s true personality begins to emerge as he delves deeper into the pit of

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The perfect villain often walks the fine line between love and hate, captivating the audience with their cunning machinations, while deftly wreaking havoc in the story. The three-dimensional villain Iago in the poignant tragedy, Othello, by William Shakespeare, encapsulates such facets of a perfect villain as his characterization and actions enthrall not only the characters in the story, but also the viewers in the audience. In the play, the eponymous protagonist Othello and a handful of other main character’s suffer at the grasp of Iago’s manipulation, which causes the untimely deaths of many. Iago is the quintessential villain capable of such feats because of two key abilities that he possesses: his ability to exploit others’ weaknesses to achieve his goals and his ability to act out of pure malice without remorse.

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When Shakespeare wrote this story, I wonder if he was telling this story through some experience that encountered with other people? Are people in the world today really that evil just as Iago was portrayed in this story? He manipulates Roderigo into selling his land, causes Othello to kill his innocent wife, causes Othello to commit suicide, and if that is not enough he kills his own wife in the story because she figures out the truth about his plot against Othello and exposes him. Is he considered to be non-human or simply the devil? Othello stabs him in the stomach that should surely kill him but he does not die; that should open up some questions in people’s minds about who he is.

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“Othello” written by William Shakespeare revolves around this protagonist who is depicted as strong and powerful. To everyone he is known as Othello or the Moor. Throughout the play, Shakespeare portrays numerous counts of jealousy and manipulation around many of the characters. It is mainly illustrated through Iago, the antagonist of the play, who manipulates other to their downfall. Iago who is known for always being true and honest towards others has easily earned the trust of everyone around him, thus giving himself an advantage on his schemes.

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As the villain, Iago brings about the downfall of Othello and several characters in the play. Shakespeare also uses Othello to show the manifestation and destruction of jealousy. Othello and Desdemona’s marriage appears to be one of true love, based on an appreciation of each other and not shadowed by the barriers of race or age. In the beginning, Othello is described as having “a constant, loving, noble nature”, but by the end, he refers to himself as an “honorable murderer” and a “fool”. Othello is manipulated by Iago’s words and suggestions to a point that he questions everything, and he is blind to Desdemona’s honesty, loyalty, and platonic friendship to Cassio.

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In the play Othello, William Shakespeare creates an elaborate tragedy with various in depth characters, enhancing the story with powerful characterization. Iago, the main antagonist of Othello, exemplifies Shakespeare’s use of characterization to create in depth and complex characters. Using his manipulative nature, intellectual mind, egotistical attitude, and dishonesty, Iago controls the other characters in order to achieve his goal, leading Othello to succumb to an overwhelming jealousy causing his downfall. In order for Iago to gain control of the characters in the play, he manipulates Othello, Roderigo, Cassio, and more to believe false information and turn on one another.

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”(Act 1 Scene 3). Othello eventually finds out about Iago's deeds and realizes that Iago is his true enemy, he says “Won’t heaven strike this Iago dead? You absolute villain!”(Act 5 Scene 2). These quotes are proof Iago and Othello are enemies and that Iago is the Antagonist especially if Othello is the Protagonist.

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Kolin observes that Iago stands out among Shakespearean villains since he is the only one to survive his own monstrous acts (25). Unlike Richard III, apart from telling stories, Iago carries out a downright fraud through other means of manipulation, which makes him the most evil and intelligent character. To be exact, Iago is a puppeteer who sets up scenes to deceive the “credulous fools”—Othello, Cassio and Desdemona (4.1.45). Iago talks to Cassio about Bianca while telling Othello that the subject of their conversation is the Moor’s wife. He is so smart and careful that he even gestures Othello to come closer when Cassio is about to illustrate how Bianca entangles him.

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310-311). But Iago’s plan works and he makes Othello love, thank, and reward him, even though it is all due to lies. Othello’s future actions are dictated by these lies and tragically lead to Othello and Desdemona’s demise. William Shakespeare demonstrates the human aspects of vengeance and hatred through his use of dramatic irony and conflict in the tale of Othello. Throughout the play it is obvious that Iago is deceiving Othello into thinking that his wife is unfaithful.

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Iago’s powerfully disruptive insinuations torment Othello to fall precipitously into his intricate trap, believing in the prospect of Cassio and Desdemona’s fictitious affair. Through the use of linguistic techniques such as elliptical speech, subservient vocative choices and a hesitant tone, Iago is able to construct artful innuendoes to deceive and manipulate Othello. Supplementary to linguistic techniques, dramatic techniques such as dramatic irony reinforces Iago’s role as a two-faced villain, who is making a pretence of being Othello’s loyal ensign. Eventually, Iago’s villainy nature sows a seed of doubt in Othello that germinates into the murder of Desdemona. Through the characterisation of Iago as a notorious villain, Shakespeare is able to hold Iago’s actions accountable for the play’s tragic downfall, establishing a sense of powerlessness amongst the

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