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Portrayal Of Iago In Shakespeare's Othello

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“Iago is both admired and despised simultaneously in Shakespeare’s Othello”

One may agree with this statement due to Shakespeare’s portrayal of Iago. He is seen to have multiple personalities, in a sense, perceptively only displaying certain traits of his characteristics in certain situations. For example, soliloquies show the audience Iago’s true intentions, however Othello views him as a loyal companion stating, repetitively throughout the whole play “honest Iago” this shows that Iago is extremely cunning and smart to have so successfully displayed himself as a certain honest character which in actuality, he is not; “I am not what I am”, showing he is not as honest as he seems. He also says, “I follow him to serve my turn upon him” in act 1. This shows that even in the first act Iago has his plan/intentions on destroying Othello set, making him admired as well as despised due to his ambition and determination from the get go to destroy Othello. The audience knows nothing will get in the way of Iago’s plan. …show more content…

For example, in act 3 scene 3 Iago says “I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin, and let him find it. Are to the jealous confirmations strong” this quote shows the audience Iago’s plan to use Cassio and Desdemona to make Othello jealous and could be seen as foreshadowing Othello’s hamartia of jealousy and his downfall. In addition, Iago’s intentions towards Othello can further be seen in the soliloquies in act 2 scene 1 where he says, “make the moor thank me, love me, and reward me”. The repetition of the word ‘me’ represents Iago as narcissistic to the audience and the use of the word ‘moor’ shows Iago’s disrespect/hatred to his supposed loyal friend Othello. This proves to the audience that Iago is two faced and not to be trusted, and the audience will therefore not trust Iago, and despise him for his hatred of the main protagonist and tragic

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