|
|
Steven Austin Dr. Scott Curtis Shakespeare II 15 August 2003 Othello William Shakespeare’s Othello is a tragedy that takes place in Venice, Italy. The play is set in the late sixteenth century, during the wars between Venice and Turkey. Othello and Desdemona, despite their differences in age and race marry and attempt to build a life together. Their marriage is sabotaged when the envious Iago, convinces Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful. Othello would not be as well known without possibly the most heinous villain in Shakespeare, Iago. Iago is an extremely complex and far from ordinary character. His utter lack of convincing motivation for his actions makes him a difficult character to understand. It is Iago’s views of human nature that let he be manipulative, cunning, and cowardly towards others. His complexity and uniqueness make him one of Shakespeare's greatest villains. Iago sees human nature in the from of brutish base desires with no redeeming features. Iago is unlike any other character in Othello. He is devoid of all positive human emotion and is not subject to the common human passions. Iago says, “I am not what I am.”(1.1.65). This implies a difference between the name of “Iago” and the creature by that name. Iago demonstrates all the evils of which humans can conceive, the horrible union of the worst in men and women. Iago’s position yields him powerful insight, but his “insight is of the sort which reduces all impulse and motive to baseness…” (Bayley 130). Iago understands others because he understands himself: “...knowing what I am, I know what she [Desdemona] shall be.” (4.1.74). Iago is more than “a bit of dramatic mechanism” (105), as J. I. M. Stewart describes him; he is a full character, enriched all the more by his lack of self. Iago’s outlook on life is based on his non-comprehension of love. He has a very animalistic attitude towards love and life. The constant metaphoric association of animals and humans in this way portrays Iago's bestial attitude towards sex. He sees love as evidence of the lesser nature of human beings. Iago says, “It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the will.”(1.3.337-338). Iago intimately understands the nature of gender as a masque behind which each of us plays a role. “The self-portrait everyone paints of themselves, the well-guarded persona by which they live.” (Bayley 176). Iago does not merely exist to “label others and so get them in his power” (Bayley 180); he knows they have already labeled themselves, and so uses their own labels against them. He is driven to compel others to behave in accordance with their expected gender roles. Iago treats the women close to him despicably, using them as a means to promote his own evil. He is also a very individualistic person, concerned with only himself and what he wants. Iago sees people as objects rather than real human beings. Iago’s manipulative character can be seen throughout the play. He takes joy in being able to control others. It is his views about human beings that let Iago manipulate others as he does. Iago's entire plan begins when Cassio is promoted to the position of lieutenant, a position that Iago believed he rightfully deserved.
|
