Introduction
Iago, the man who is not what he claims to be, is one of the most striking creations of Shakespeare who lasts an immeasurable impact on every person, in or out of the play. He is the most clever out of the bunch who devises every person around him to serve on his own end. He is angry with Othello for not promoting him to the rank of a lieutenant and he uses every possible villainish trick for the demise of Othello, Desdemona, Cassio and Rodrigo (although he used Rodrigo's money to put up with his "enemies" but stabbed at the end) through his unescapable "webs". A critic remarks on the purely evil side of Iago, "A more artful villain than this Iago has never been portrayed; he spreads his net with a skill in which nothing can escape. " [To simply put, Iago is the worst villain ever portrayed in dramas, films or novels]
Iago and Other Villains from Other Stories
As already asserted by a critic, Iago is the most subtle knave in the entire history of English Literature [comment below, if you know more terrible villains other than Iago. ]. Iago is the most callous person who burns every person, trying to run before and after him. His unpredictable callousness even surpasses Milton's Satan in Paradise Lost who is sympathetic with his fellow fallen angels who are thrown into the burning depths of hell but on the contrary, Iago is observed playing with his fellow mate, Rodrigo. Ferneze, the Christian Governor of Malta in The Jew of Malta is also noticed working for the betterment of his city, protecting it from Turks and 'Jews'. On the flip side, Iago lives for himself and his motives. So, Iago is quite different from the villains in his contemporary literature as well as after his debut.
Iago's Motives
Iago hunts for the motives to set up his webs of conspiracy for the characters he hates the most. What motivates Iago to hate them? He has stated about the pursuits behind his agony is Cassio's "unjust" promotion. But in another soliloquy, he blabbers that Othello has, perhaps, slept with his Emilia,
"I hate the Moor
And it is thought aboard, that' twixt my sheets
He's done my office"
He devices the same motive for Desdemona that she might have an affair with Cassio and thus proves his motive through, at first, depriving Cassio of his newly attained rank and then Cassio's requests to Desdemona for the restoration of his rank and position. S. T. Coleridge, terms Iago motiveless because according to him, Iago was an inborn devil [which is rather grotesque because if Iago is a devil then why blood is running through his humanly body? Think about it, Kubla Khan!]. But Iago is a humanistic craft of Shakespeare. He is far from motiveless as his motivation circles around his love for power.
Iago's Hypocrisy
Iago is, from top to bottom and left to right, a hypocrite but his hypocrisy dwells on every character of the drama. He says to Rodrigo about his hypocrisy while serving under Othello,
"In following him, I follow but myself
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty
But seeming so, for my peculiar end…..
……. I am not what I am"
His remarks, "I am not what I am" are sufficient enough to give a clue of his terrible hypocritical nature which he exhibits in many crucial parts of the play. For instance, Iago is behind the duel between Rodrigo and Cassio and indeed, he sends Rodrigo for some fists but on the spot, he mistreats Rodrigo and stabs him. So, Iago turns out to be what he is not, even to his dear Rodrigo.
Iago's Trust
This is the most horrible weapon of Iago which he utilizes to hunt his prey. His wordful skills are strongly spell bounding and he is trusted by every person. Both Othello and Desdemona call him, "Honest Iago", Cassio, Brabantio and Rodrigo also show their faith in Iago. But [as we know], their trust in Iago is an eyewash and things are revealed after a heavy toll of life of the protagonists. But Iago is actually honest to the readers who read this play! Notice,
"You are well turn'd now!
But I will set down the pegs that make this music
As honest as I am"
He never conceals his evil intensions from the readers and he "honestly and earnestly" reveals them to the readers in his soliloquies.
Other Traits in the Character of Iago
Iago's villainy is mainly intellectual and devilish, and sometimes, the results of his villainy exceed his expectations,
"I have ’t. It is engendered! Hell and night
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light"
Iago's revenge is mostly ignited by jealousy. He cannot tolerate who surpasses against him. He is subtly expert in scanning through the inner psychological minds of the people around him. His villainous expressions are interestingly marked with humour.
Conclusion
Manifestly, Iago is a complex blend of intellectual villainy whose humourous verbal expressions as well as horrible inner confession make a reader [like me] tremble with fear.
Other Titles
- Character Sketch of Iago
- Iago as a Villain
References, Sources, Citation and Suggested Reading
- https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/othello/iago
- https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Othello/character-analysis/
- Othello - Critical Studies by Dr. S Sen and P. S. Chopera, 2014 Edition, Page 314
- Lectures of Sir Hassan Akbar
- http://neoenglishsystem.blogspot.com/2010/12/iagos-character.html
- http://myenglish61.blogspot.com/2015/08/theme-of-jealousy-in-othello.html
Beautifully summed up.
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