Honest Iago

Machiavelli > Machiavellian Florentine Niccolo Machiavelli ( ) was a philosopher/ writer who started political science. His work looked at ruling power and political structures. Today even many critics are drawn to or repelled by the cynical approach to power refereed to in The Prince (etc). His intentions remain unclear but now, his surname was the start of the modern political word Machiavellianism - the use of cunning and deceitful tactics in politics. intsec=frontcover&dq=Machiavelli&source=bl&ots=dIaFA PB1dB&sig=YtG37BkDsxYq4twhxuIltdu98uc&hl=en&ei= z7znS86IMo3usQPYnvigCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=r esult&resnum=3&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f =falsehttp://books.google.co.nz/books?id=05R7kYOKD0cC&pr intsec=frontcover&dq=Machiavelli&source=bl&ots=dIaFA PB1dB&sig=YtG37BkDsxYq4twhxuIltdu98uc&hl=en&ei= z7znS86IMo3usQPYnvigCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=r esult&resnum=3&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f =false

Othello's ancient, a position below lieutenant. Treacherous character due to his manipulation of all those around him to do his bidding (kill Cassio, destroy Othello, discredit Desdemona's virtue) Takes advantage of others trust and using his victim's own motivations (Roderigo's desire for Desdemona, Cassio's desire to be reinstated) and weaknesses (Othello's pride, Cassio's impaired judgment whilst drunk), to achieve his goals. The devastation he causes is through the use of others who unwittingly follow their own agenda which Iago subverts to achieve a web of events which succeeds in making Cassio first lose his position as Othello's lieutenant, then petition Desdemona to be reinstated which allows Iago to suggest Desdemona's adultery and later to motivate Roderigo to kill him (Cassio).

Complex character in Act I, Scene I, where he describes his disgust at being overlooked for Othello's lieutenant, we can see that a primary motivation for Iago's skilful manipulations was revenge and anger. Iago's manipulations are driven by a basic desire to avenge those who hurt him but also to gain what he believes is his. Iago's suggestion that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair earns Iago Othello's trust and the position as his lieutenant in Act III, Scene III. This satisfies his pride however he still feels he must still punish Othello for overlooking him in the first place! He does this by making Othello disbelieve and destroy his honourable wife.

Iago is pragmatic or practical as he uses every opportunity to assist in his plan of hurting Cassio and Othello. We see this in how he uses Cassio's admiration of Desdemona, to set it up so they look as though they are having an affair. His asides show he does not have a detailed plan, but he makes comments about how he can use Cassio, Othello, Roderigo and Desdemona to further his plan. Iago's pragmatism is shown in how he uses Roderigo. He uses him for his money saying he is forwarding gifts to Desdemona! Roderigo suspects him in Act V he twists this around to use him yet again to try to kill Cassio and he ends up killing him as this set up doesn’t work and he may be discovered.

Almost gets away with his cunning plotting but his weakness is Emilia (his greatest misjudgement). She exposes him, declares Desdemona's innocence but he kills her and runs away - only to be caught. Iago uses everyone’s insecurities but he has his own (status – his class difference & jealousy over Emilia?) showing that no one is immune from insecurity or indeed misjudgement. Iago after saying so much during the play says nothing at the end. Showing he has no remorse for his actions.

Some interesting points: Iago's aim throughout the play is to "blacken" Othello's reputation. He is like a chameleon – assuming different roles in different situations. “I am not what I am.”(I,I, 59-66) Through his cruel manipulation nobody in the play ends up being what he or she ‘is’ at the outset either. He happily fabricates false character sketches of i.e. Cassio, Othello to serve his immediate purpose. He encourages his victims to absorb messages about themselves and others, on trust, that confuse or alter fundamental perceptions about reality.

His soliloquies and asides, in contrast to his speeches in the presence of other characters, reveals to the audience his deceitfulness and self-disguise. The audience witness the dramatic irony of honest and loyal Iago! Jealousy, suspicion and envy are not only key motives to Iago's actions, but are key elements of his character, as his soliloquies reveal. His soliloquies rightly abound with images of devilry, blackness, animals and poison. Psychopathic? ‘ a personality outwardly normal but characterised by a diminished sense of social responsibility, inability to establish deep human relationships, and sometimes, abnormal or dangerous acts.’ A misogynist (woman hater)in his conversation with Emilia and Des (II, i)