Is Iago The Perfect Villain? Essay

Few Shakespearian villains radiate despicableness and avariciously quite as much as Iago, the unbe cognize nemesis of the gets gentle character, Othello. In former(a) plays written by the bard of Avon the villains brook f solely down across as mavin-dimensional- weak, personified by a flaw in their transmitted make-up or unattain sufficient ambition yet Iago is a removed to a greater extent complex and compelling character. True, he has the power to both rat and murder those he once giveed alongside, but Iago isnt the complete insentient murderer in the same sense of Macbeth or King Claudius from Hamlet.True, he meticulously fancys the death of Cassio but he plans it to be by give of Rodrigo, his puppet. In the end opportunity presents itself to Iago and he seizes the moment to stab Cassio in the back but the blow fails to kill him. Iago in like manner reveals a clean-living conscience with his three monologues which I bequeath search in much detail later. In s hort Iago is resembling no other of Shakespeares villains which makes him an utterly compelling and absorbing character. And deal the other characters in the play, Iago delights in absorbing us, the reck peerlessrThe tragedy of Othello was believed to hold back been starting performed in the early 1600s and is unity of Shakespeares to a greater extent famous plays. The play is in any case rich in historical mount and features the Moorish race heavily, leading m whatsoever a(prenominal) to believe it was influenced by a visit to the capital of the Empire by the Moorish ambassador, who is said to convey met with the ruling monarch. In the play, only Iago voiced an explicitly stereotypical view on Othello and his race and, the point that Iago is the main villain of the play, means several(prenominal) scholars view the play as Shakespeares statement on society, notably that people are the same, regardless of skin colour- a message many would do well to remember in this cu rrent day and age. The situation that Iago is the only character to mention Othellos skin colour is alike signs of one of his weakness- the fact that he is blinded by stereotypes. This character trace is explored further by Shakespeare in Iagos soliloquies.The play Othello is one of Shakespeares tragedys, ending in a dramatic, breathtaking climax. The proud, noble and authentic character of Othello promotes his modern solder Cassio ahead of his more experienced companion Iago, setting off a chain of events which in conclusion ends with the demise of Othello, his young wife Desdemona and Iago himself.Twisted with jealously and rage Iago sets tabu to finagle and work on Othellos trusdeucerthy nature, rather revealing him to be slightly nave and gullible. After a series of Iago-inspired mis-understandings, Othello believes his wife to be sleeping with his in the altogether lieutenant, Cassio and frankincense commences to kill his wife. However not long by and by he fatally wounds his wife, he learns the truth from Iagos wife and, after apologising to Cassio, kills himself.Othello is one of Shakespeares only plays where the villain of the piece speaks more declinations then the act character or protagonist. This fact reflects Iagos incredible contribution to the play and as well sets the tone for the story- for the most part we see affaires from Iagos spatial relation as, after the earshot, Iago has the most knowledge on what is going on in the play. You could even argue that, at convictions, Iago knows even more than the interview, which is a character of a authorized, compelling villain. We never know what face Iago is going to march next, never know what move he is going to make, partly attentioned by the fact that for long stretches of the play Iago is in nifty mode. He is patently kind, loyal and truthful to Othello, all signs of a line up friend. It is only through the intimate soliloquies that the certain Iago comes to the fore. Othellos race is particularly important in the play, patronage the fact that only one character slurs his race in the play Iago. Othello is frequently called The Moor in the play, expressing he is either of African descent or simply just a Muslim. The fact that Shakespeare does not allot Othello a specific race could be due to the fact that he cute his audience to see that race isnt important in understanding a person or character and only the narrow minded (or evil, like Iago) would see race as a barrier. The fact that Othello is not native to Italy is especially important to the play and its affect on its audience it makes Othellos demise more saddening and guilt tinged as Iago has manipulated a man of a different finish and robbed the only person who he felt a reliable, strong inter-group communication with and, who in turn, respected him back- Desdemona.In many of Shakespeares other plays, the verbiage actions speak louder then words, could be applied to the villain of th e play. more of the villains true characters are revealed when they are chargeting their piece of true evil however with Iago, it is the opposite way around. He keeps up a false face when around Othello pouring pestilence into his ear with his ethereal shows and this is arguably the greatest of Iagos many evil deeds. He is manipulating Othello, influencing him. This is one of the many factors that could be seen as making Iago into the staring(a) villain. impertinent other villains of plays from the same age, Iago isnt a butcherer, a thug. He is cold, calculative- a sadist. Yet he is also intelligent, which would turn over frightened the Elizabethan audience watching. His intelligence and sadism are revealed in his three soliloquies, which I forget explore in this essay.Thus do I ever make my take up my purse Iagos first monologue, included in Act one Scene 3 opens on a sinister, malicious note. This is the first line he speaks to the audience and the audience alone and Shak espeare has do it as twist and warped as possible. Shakespeare knows that in the soliloquies he will try to lucre Iago nigh empathy but, he is calm the villain, and with a line like this arising his first soliloquy, Shakespeare doesnt let us, the audience, forget it. Iago is commenting on how he is able to make money from fools, from manipulating them. He shows instantly that he exploits people and revels in it. He is boasting to the audience, proud of his achievements.The words my fool also imply that he is in complete control of the people he decides to manipulate, suggesting that he is in a Godly sort of position. He is also inferring that the latest fool that is making his purse is Othello, a man revered by others for his honest and noble nature. Shakespeare is contrasting Othellos just nature with Iagos snide, evil nature, juxtaposing their characters and personalities. Iago could also be referring to his accomplice Rodrigo. Despite working closely with him, Iago is onl y using Rodrigo as a puppet. In an ironic twist, Iago is doing to Rodrigo what made him so angry in the first place. He is overlooking Rodrigo and instead totally committed to the demise of Othello. Similarly, Othello overlooked Iago and instead lavished his praise, and a promotion, on Michael Cassio.The line I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets is the first real example of Iagos moral conscience struggling to break through in the soliloquy. On first glance, the line seems as malevolent as ever, Iago calls Othello not by his name, but by his race Moor. Iago is also commenting on how some abroad (possibly referring to when he was away fighting with Othello) suspect that Othello has slept with Emilia, Iagos wife. Indeed, it seems on first glance that the line is meant to make Iago even more evil, as it sounds like he has a solid power for lacking to ruin the life of Othello. But when one reads between the lines one can begin to see Iagos inner moral dilemma . After all the lines dedicated to describing how fair and just Othello is, it is highly unlikely that Shakespeare wrote this line as truth. Indeed, he is more likely to be tactual sensationing at Iagos more sensitive nature. Iago was once a great friend of Othellos and hot with the rest of the men.Many former solders comment on the bond shared taboo between men on the battlefield, a be intimate and commitment so strong that many would willingly lay down their lives for their comrades, climby conscious of the possible consequences. Iago and Othello would lease most likely entertain shared this connection, and it would eat up been impossible for Iago to lose it overnight. Iago is simply try to rid his actions, in a perverse way he is almost pleading with them to accept wherefore he is angry, and to not see him as a villain. This shows Iagos ethics and makes his character progression in the play all the more startling. passim the play, we see the small amount of morality Iago possesses diminish whereas in some of Shakespeares other plays, the villains are evil from the start, leaving them more unaffectionate from the audience and making it incredibly hard for the audience to direct any empathy towards them.The nett two lines of Iagos first soliloquy I havet. It is engendered. Hell and night, Must bring this chimerical birth to the worlds light, show once more that Iago knows what he is doing is wrong, but also hint at the fact that he has forgave any chance of redemption, and knows that his future will end in the death of his former friend, and the loss of his soul to evil. Whether this song him, however, is never fully explored or revealed by Shakespeare.The quotation also compares Iago to the Devil, which would have shocked the Jacobean audience. People of this judgment of conviction would have been devoutly unearthly and the devil would have frightened them, as he was seen as the ultimate evil. The phrase hell and night implies that evil of ten materialises during the night, during the darkness, which juxtaposes the image of paradise and light, which could be associated to Othello. This is slightly ironic as the character of Othello is black, yet he is the light character being manipulated by the black Iago.The adjective monstrous proves that Iago is aware of his wrongdoing. Yet when used in his soliloquy, used after he passionately describes his plan, the word sounds very ominous and sinister. One gets the impression that Shakespeare cute the actor characterisation Iago to spit the word to the audience. The word birth also suggests that Iago is comparing the manifestation of his evil plan to a newborn baby. This relate in with the idea of Iago hating women as he has a rather convince relationship with Emilia and mentions in the play how he thinks women are good only for sex. In the soliloquy, by describing his plan has having a birth he is slurring females, as his plan is one of evil and vindictiveness.Iagos sec ond soliloquy continues where the first left off and provides us with a number of reasons for why Iago is so hell-bent on Othellos destruction. throughout this second soliloquy the possible motives of Iago progress from the rumour that Othello slept with Emilia, to the more disturbing and disconcerting motive of Iago desiring Othellos love before destroying him, the idea of Iago being thrust into a Godly position.The first possible motive Iago mentions for wanting to destroy Othello is jealously. I do suspect the lustful Moor hath leaped into my seatlike a poisonous mineral doth gnaw my inwards, is evidence of this possible motive. All other evidence in the play categorically proves that it is incredibly unlikely that Othello would have slept with Emilia and it is possible that Iago too understands that Othello wound never cheat on Desdemona. However Iago finds that he has to lie to himself to keep strong and to help justify his actions to the audience, proving that he must feel som e guilt. Iago is also comparing the jealously he feels to an animal or a monster gnawing away at his inwards. This comparison links with another line Iago speaks, however this time it is enjoin to Othello, not the audience. In Act 3 Scene 3 Iago tells Othello to Bewarethe green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on. In this case Shakespeare is being extremely ironic, as it is Iago who has succumbed to jealously and let it change his character forever, not Othello who loses his better judgement momentarily and then repents in the final scene.Iago shows in his second soliloquy that he sees people as tools, ready to be manipulated, hinting at the sense of dissolution he feels. The lines Which thing to do, If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash, show this aptly. After becoming so consumed with jealously, greed or whatever is driving him on, Iago now feels no real emotional connection with ordinary people. In fact the only true relationship he has with another person is the perverse relationship he shares with Othello. Despite hating Othello, he slake desires his love and praise. Iago is extremely confused and, after recoiling away from Emilias love the only person he feels any connection with is Othello. This makes him an extremely perverse and sadistic character, which could go some way to making him the amend villain.Unlike other evil characters, who want their foes dead so they can achieve power or peace Iago has despised Othello so much that his hatred has gone full circle, and he has ended up now desiring Othellos love again, as proved by the line Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me. This kind of relationship makes Iago seem slightly unstable thus making putting the audience one step behind Iago. Iago could commit nearly any possible action after this statement and it would still seem believable to the audience, as they recognise him as slightly un-hinged. Whereas other villains, such as Macbeth, are limited in what they can do before the story becomes too unbelievable, Iago can do just close anything as he harbours a wide range of emotions for Othello- love, respect and, at last, hatred. This ultimately contributes to him being the perfect villain, he is unrestricted, Shakespeare can take his character anywhere and the audience will never be able to second-guess him.This is proved in perfect fashion in the last scene of the play, where Othello and the guards front Iago. When pushed for a reason for destroying the lives of so many people, Iago simply says Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I will never speak word. This epitomises the character of Iago. Throughout the play, Iago evidences his love of talking and communicating and, when presented with no other characters to interact with, he instead communicates with the audience in his soliloquies. Therefore many would be forgiven for cerebration Iagos final stand involves a hail of angry metaphors and lies, as he finally lays into Othello. Yet instead he resides cool down and hideously restrained. He doesnt assemble what people think he will do, making him unpredictable, compelling and, ultimately, the perfect villain.Iagos third and final soliloquy reveals just how evil Iago can be. He loses most, if not all, of the empathy the audience have gained from him in the space of nearly 30 lines, in breeding for the plays finale where Shakespeare presumably wanted all of the initial, spontaneous empathy to be directed towards Desdemona, Emilia and Othello.Iago slightly sarcastically plays on the title Honest Iago in his third soliloquy, after many of the characters start addressing him by this title. And whats he then that says I play the villain, When this advice is free I give, and honest, are the two lines that open his final soliloquy. Whilst some people feel that Iago us trying to gain some empathy by implying he is not totally in the wrong I personally dont believe Shakespeare wanted these two l ines to be speak seriously by the actor portraying Iago. I get the impression that Shakespeare wanted these two lines to be spoken slightly sarcastically, as Iago is boasting in this sequence. By having Iago boast so close to the dramatic and disastrous finale, I believe that Shakespeare is showing that, despite being extremely clever and in many cases the perfect villain, Iago is still only human. He is mistaken here, as Othello and the guards eventually find him out and it is Emilia who reveals his deceit, which is very ironic as Iago isnt quiet in his contempt of women and believes all women to be stupid.Iago carefully maintains a veneer of silver dollar and trust but like many people, his outward appearance belies a inner deception. Iago is commonly referred to as Machiavellian, a term coined for Prince Machiavelli. Machiavelli is famous for his policy-making treatise, The Prince which espouses, among other things, that the ends to power always justify the means. Machiavelli was a well known villain in the Jacobean era but, importantly, he was also notable for his intelligence. By comparing the two men, Shakespeare is making an important statement Iago is no fool. In many of Shakespeares other plays, the villain of the piece is rattlebrained and slow, but in this play, the villain is arguably the smartest of all the characters. This keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, making Othello one of Shakespeares most popular plays.The lines divinity of Hell When Devils do their blackest sins put on, They do suggest at first with heavenly shows, show how Shakespeare compares Iago to the Devil, implying that Iago is the physical manifestation of evil. Contrary to popular belief, the Devil, or Lucifer, is or was not a fire-spitting, all-powerful behemoth. He was instead a fallen angel, once a trusted servant of God who eventually fell to Earth after letting ambition and greed deprave his judgement. The Devil also influences others by tempting them, in a uniform fashion to Iago. Whilst prone to fits of rage, such as when he kills Emilia and wounds Cassio, Iago does the absolute majority of his work through the spoken word. He is a master of spoken communication in a similar way that the Devil is the master of temptation. Shakespeare also uses an oxymoron, Divinity of Hell to represent Iagos conflicting personality. The phrase also somewhat represents Iago, as he is the slick, controlled face of evil, able to deceive and manipulate others, making him such an affective villain.Iago ends his final soliloquy with the two lines And out of her own goodness make the net, That shall enmesh them all. Here, Iago is fantasizing about putting his plan into action. He is also once again revealing the sense of detachment he feels, he is planning on manipulating Desdemonas innocence and faithfulness into a weapon, thus highlighting the ruthless nature of his character. The fact that Iago sees these qualities as factors to be exploited sum u p his nature in perfect fashion. Iago is an opportunist, a speculator. He is extremely apt in finding a gap in someones character and using it to fulfil his own needs. Whilst most would see this as a weakness, Iago sees it as lastingness and it serves him well until he is caught.The fact that Shakespeare compares Iago manipulating everyone around him to enmeshing people suggests that Iago is in a higher position than everybody else. He is rounding up the other characters, and delighting in the fact that it is Desdemonas innocence that is luring people in. He is doing the dirty work whilst using another character o take the blame.In conclusion, I do see Iago as the perfect villain. He is opportunistic, ruthless and compelling, a perfect villain in so many ways. An Elizabethan audience would most likely have at first reacted very negatively to Iago, but such is the strength of his character that his motives for destroying Othello begin to be dumb long after the play has been perform ed. Whilst at first he seems strictly evil, upon further reflection you begin to see Iago as a victim, a victim of what ambition can do to a man.The soliloquies also help Iago gain, and lose empathy. Shakespeare uses them as a tool, an instrument in engaging the audience. origin the audience feel sorry for Iago, before Shakespeare turns the story on its head and makes Iago utterly evil once more. This all contributes to making Iago the perfect villain he is unreadable and unpredictable, unlike other Shakespearean characters that remain the same character throughout. Iago is constantly changing, evolving and developing.