Iago's Monologue In Othello

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is often portrayed as one of the most atrocious characters in a literary work. His plan for revenge unfolds gradually and surreptitiously, as he keeps his victims under his belt. On pages 126-128, he executes his plan for the first time in Cyprus and gets Cassio drunk. This example gives insight to the rhetoric Iago uses in order to manipulate his ‘victims.’ Similarly, through this monologue, he has deeper intentions: intentions to ruin Cassio. In the beginning of his monologue to Othello, Montano, The Drunk Cassio, and other officers, Iago begins with a paradoxical statement “I should have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should offence Michael Cassio (126).” Through further inspection Iago’s soliloquies

He confidently states Cassio’s offence against Roderigo, the crying man, in efforts to execute him. This initially lowers the reputation of Cassio in the eyes of Othello and his crew, but later on, uses his language of innocence, to act like he is in no way against Cassio. In lines 224-227, Iago claims to have run after the crying man and to be unaware of the possible atrocity that could have happened during then. This leaves his audience under an assumption of any possible situation, whether it be worse or better. Lastly, Iago hurts Cassio for the last time, possibly hitting the final blow by telling his audience of Cassio’s oaths and inappropriate language. Iago then stops harming Cassio and tells, “More of this matter cannot I report.” in order to keep his motif of trust. To keep his true intentions discrete he blames all of this behaviour on a man’s fatal flaw. “But men are men; the best sometimes forget. As men in rage strike those that wish them best (128).” Iago phrases his sentence in a way such that his audience does not forgive Cassio for his actions and learn to value Iago’s words as more wise and unbiased given that Iago essentially spoke in a way that seemed