How Does Shakespeare Position Us to View the Character of Iago?

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The character of Iago is presented to the viewer early on as the obvious villain of the play. His initial exploitation of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage makes the viewer aware of his calculating and manipulative nature, which is further emphasized by his continual deceit of Othello. Despite the ease with which he enacts his controlled and cunning plans, Iago sometimes seems to the viewer as an irrational, vengeful character acting out of jealousy. This trait can make him appear illogical and unreasonable but emphasis his pure evil nature.

Iago’s initial soliloquies reveal his deceptive nature, he is presented as Janus, the 2 faced man, as he reveals his plan which becomes more and more complex and reliant on his continual manipulation of the people around him. In his first soliloquy he reveals to the audience his plan to mislead Othello and Cassio primarily for his ‘sport and profit’, he continues on to describe how Othello, ‘will as tenderly be led by the nose as asses are’, the animal imagery here displays Iago’s control and dominance over Othello, by reducing Othello to an animal Iago is removing his free will, showing the way he expects Othello to show no resistance to his plan. This also shows Iago’s faith in his plan and assurance that he will be able to manipulate Othello easily, confirming his calculating and confidant nature.

Iago’s unfounded motives for his revenge on Othello and Cassio depict his irrational personality trait, and also emphasis’ the pure evil side to his persona. The repetition of hell and darkness display the true evil of Iagos character through the connotations associated with hell and night, his plan to ‘bring this monsterous birth to the worlds light’, shows the extent of his plan. This motif of monsters and beasts throughout the play reflects on Iagos own personality and the vengefulness of his plan.

Iagos character is one

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