Analysis of Iago Act
virtuous characters using them for his own benefit. When Iago decides to publicly display his inner feelings will be the day that his is most vulnerable.
“l will wear my heart upon my sleeve, for daws to peck at”. In this, Iago implies that such a day will never come because he will always be on top of the ‘game’ so to speak. A world of interpretation is able to be extracted through a mere sentence or gesture of Iago. It is within these words and gestures that lagds speech represents a riddle which expresses lagds emblematic power throughout the play.
It is through these characteristics of Iago, that the characters within the play are easily able to believe in the ‘Honest Iago’ because ironically he is anything but honest. His ability to twist words in his deceptive manner makes Iago a true Machiavellian villain in Shakespeare’s play.
In Act 1 we grow to understand lagds cunning and manipulative ways. This is when Iago uses Roderigo to accomplish his dirty deeds. He uses Roderigds weakness to his advantage making Roderigo like his puppet by duping him royally.
However, we ealize that Shakespeare’s most evil fgure has the capability to manipulate all around him effortlessly and not Just Roderigo. He makes the most noble of generals (Othello) and gentile lieutenant (Cassio) become reliant on Iago as they place their full trust in him.
Hence, he uses their trust and his victim’s own motivations as well as their weaknesses to achieve his end successfully. And once again, lagds ‘motiveless malignity becomes evident as he seeks to destroy two profound men by Justifying himself through minor evidence.
This is that Othello twixt his sheets’ and Cassio was made lieutenant. For the Jacobean audience and readers in the 21st century Iago appeals to both audiences. This is because in reality there is always an Iago lurking around the corner.
While they may not be a noble warrior or fair maiden a manipulative person whose needs are always dominant exists. It is the type of person who can possibly be your best friend or your next door neighbor. In society, the ability to trust is an important aspect which helps us to have people in our life who are important to the ellbeing of ourselves as individuals.
However, there are always ‘lagds’ in our life who await a chance to destroy peoples dignity by simply putting their needs first making the world a more dangerous and frightful place for the naive and honest people. In Iago, Shakespeare develops a unique character which goes against the norm of Shakespeare’s usual ending of the villain.
In most of Shakespeare’s tragedies the recurring theme of the restoration of good and evil is evident. The villain usually ends up dying the hands of the oppressed.
However, Othello’s Iago differs in this matter as he does not die but is taken away for sentencing. As readers we can only speculate that Shakespeare has created this ending to make readers aware of the fact that the lagds of today are not dead but still walk the earth. We can also ponder on the idea that lagds death is the ruination of his career as a lieutenant as he will be taken away and sentenced.
This being a torturous and life long sentence in prison. It is possible then to believe that Shakespeare found it apt to allow Iago to
