Iago

Iago in the play, Othello, gains a reputation for being honest and reliable, when in reality is manipulative, wanting revenge and a liar. Iago gained his reputation of honesty by manipulating people and situations, and through-out the play is constantly referred to as “Honest Iago,” or “Iago is most honest,” (Act 2: Scene 3: 7, by Othello and Cassio. The significance of Iago’s ‘honesty’ is that the audience can view the ‘real’ Iago, which couldn’t be any more different than the so called, “Honest Iago.” In reality, Iago is controlling, dishonest and has this obsession of destroying Othello. He constantly reaffirms his plan to destroy Othello and it always involves the manipulation of other characters in the play, “Two things are to be done My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress- I’ll set her on- Myself a while to draw the Moor apart and bring him jump when he may Cassio find Soliciting his wife,” (Act 2: Scene 3: 293-298). Shakespeare positions the audience to view the ‘many Iago’s’ in the play, as he changes his character when talking to different people in the play. This allows the audience to see exactly how controlling Iago is. There is a contrast in Iago’s character when he is in the presence of Othello, “My Lord, you know I love you,” (Act 3: Scene 3: 132) in which Othello replies, “I think thou dost; And for I know thou’rt full of love and honesty,” (Act 3: Scene 3: 133-134). Shakespeare positions the audience to feel the trust Othello has in Iago and can link that this trust led by Iago helped him manipulate Othello. Also, it provides the audience and insight on how trust and honesty are values embedded in the play in which characters admire. Iago is clever, in the sense that he knows how to act and be in the presence of certain people and constantly tries to gain the trust from all characters in the play, even thought he is revenging against them.

For each of the following characters, write a concise paragraph that explores what sort of person he/she is. You may need to consider a combination of physical and personality traits to accurately explore the character.

Othello

Othello, the main character in the play, Othello, is a man who is proud and strong, but at times is seen as naive and easily manipulated. In the beginning of the play, Othello to many is seen as the brave, strong leader who has successfully won in war and Othello himself believes his accomplishments will add to more of a reason as to why he should be able to marry Desdemona, “My services which I have done the signiory Shall out-tongue his complaints...my demerits May speak, unbonneted, to as proud a fortune as this I have reach’d.” (Act 1: Scene 2: 20-26). Shakespeare’s use of personification to the words of ‘demerits’ and ‘services’ provide and insight into how your service at war is very much valued and respected in the play. The audience is positioned to view Othello as a courageous, proud leader and fighter. However, certain characters demoralise Othello for his skin colour, as Othello, being a black man, is frowned upon in the play. When Iago is informing Brabantio of Othello’s and Desdemona’s marriage he says, “An old black ram is tupping your white ewe,” (Act 1: Scene 1: 91-92). The use of binary opposition of the ‘black’ and ‘white’ allows the audience to clearly see the distinction and contrast between the two colours and how they relate back to Desdemona and Othello. The audience is positioned to see that in the play, marriage of the opposite race is devalued and frowned upon. Throughout the play, Othello’s character changes through the genius manipulation of Iago. With this change, Othello becomes more aggressive, completely naive and his speech becomes short and choppy. When Othello hits Desdemona, Lodovico asks, “Is this the noble Moor whom our full Senate Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature Whom passion could not shake?” (Act 4: Scene 1: 243-245). Shakespeare positions the audience to view the change through characters other than the people close to Othello, and this shows how much of a change Othello has undertaken since being under the influence of Iago. Also, it provides an insight into the Senate’s minds, where they all believe that Othello is a great fighter and leader and they value this in Othello. Desdemona also sees the change in Othello and asks, “Why do you speak so startingly and rash?” (Act 3: Scene 4” 79). This positions the audience to see that Desdemona values the ability to speak beautifully and have the art of speech, which Othello had, but begins to fade when under the influence of Iago. All in all, Othello in the beginning is the perfect representation of a great leader and fighter, but his values and attitudes begin to change and distort through-out the play due to the influence of Iago and these changes are visible to other characters and the audience.

Write an extend response that discusses the various 'versions' of Iago that the audience is exposed to and consider how he contributes to our understanding of the various themes within the play.

1. Make sure you include direct evidence
2. Makes sure you reference the evidence (Act 3, Scene 5, 45-50)
3. Discuss positioning techniques
4. Consider the values, attitudes and ideas that are embedded within the text
5. Use well-constructed sentences and paragraphs.
6. Proof-read carefully.

Through-out the play, Othello, Shakespeare positions the audience to view the many personalities of the character, Iago, where the audience get a real insight into the real Iago. In the play, Iago disrupts the natural peace and causes conflict through his genius manipulation towards other characters such as; Othello, Cassio and Roderigo. When manipulating Roderigo he explains his hate for Othello, ‘Though I [Iago] do hate him [Othello] as I do hell-pains, Yet, for necessity of present life, I must show out a flag and sign of love,” (Act 1: Scene 1: Lines 147-149). Although, Iago has much hate for Othello he acknowledges that he needs to not show this hate in front of Othello, but rather show love. This ‘version’ of Iago is derived from the fact that Iago believes he should’ve been Othello’s lieutenant rather than Cassio, “I know my price, I am worth no worse a place,” (Act 1: Scene 1: Line 11). This displays the theme of jealousy, where Iago was given the low position of an ancient, where he believes he should rather be the Lieutenant. Again, the theme of jealousy arises once more, where he believes Othello slept with Emilia, “For that I do suspect the lusty Moor Hath leap’d into my seat,” (Act 2: Scene 1: Lines 214-215). This shows that in the play, loyalty between a husband and a wife is very much valued, so much that death be the answer.

Iago plays a different character when in the eyes of Othello and this plays an important role in the play, Othello. When Iago is by himself or talking to Roderigo he is has quite prejudices ideas towards Othello, “An old black ram Is tupping your white ewe,” (Act 1: Scene 1: Lines 88-89). The use of binary opposition between the colours of ‘white’ and ‘black’ allows the audience see the racist slurs made against Othello and to therefore, make it clear of the prejudice theme that is constant through-out the play. With this in mind, it is clear that being a black man in the play is looked down upon and therefore, being a person of the white race is valued. Although Iago talks quite rudely behind Othello’s back, he is most kind and honest when in the presence of Othello, much so that Othello comments quite often of Iago’s “honesty and love,” (Act 2: Scene 3: Line 195). This is another ‘version’ of Iago where he is seen as a kind companion in Othello’s eyes. This displays how two faced Iago is and helps us, as the audience, to understand the underlying theme of deception and disloyalty between friendships and relationships in the play by Iago.

15.10.12 Journal

Today we started listening to the audio version of Othello.

• A question I have is: why was Othello the only black man? or was he the only black man in the play?
• Many people are very prejudiced against the character of Othello and give him  a bad name to the audience even before he even appears in the play. 

Important lines in Act 1: Scene 1 and 2:

• line 65 in at 1 scene 1 "I am not what I am" by Iago
• Lines 88-89 animal imagery-binary opposition
• lines 113-133 Act 1 Scene 1 "Gross clasps of a lascivious Moor"
•  Act 1 Scene 2 line 83, "To fear not to delight"

Homework

Why has Shakespeare chosen to introduce the main character in this way? How are we, as the audience, being positioned to see Othello and to see other characters?

 

 

In the play, Othello, William Shakespeare decides to introduce his main character, Othello, much later in the play, and as a result, we as the audience are being positioned to see Othello and other characters even before they are seen in the play. Shakespeare's deliberate choice of introducing Othello by the use of other characters, allows the audience to understand that he is a black man who is very much prejudiced against in the beginning of the film, only because of his skin colour. Othello is referred to as

“an old black ram” (I.i.88),
 

in which the audience can identify the racist language chosen to describe Othello. As the audience, we are positioned to see Othello as a black man who serves other people or almost acts as a slave, which shows that the characters in Othello really sever Othello's reputation as the head of the army. Moreover, he is referred to as

“the thick-lips” (I.i.66),
 

which again emphasises the harsh language choices used by other characters in the play to describe Othello. As the audience we are positioned to see the charaters in the play as very prejudice and jealous of Othello's character and position in the play. As a result of the input of other characters in the play introducing Othello's character to the audience, the audience gets a prejudged perception of Othello as a black man who isn't respected by others in the play.
 

 



Journal Entry 10.10.12

Today we watched the movie Othello. *Roderigo is very obsessed with Desdemona, and I don't think that she is aware of this. He will literally do anything for her and he tries to impress her very much. *It's hard to say whether Desdemona actually admires Cassio as it is evident that they share chemistry, but maybe later it will be more distinct that she doesn't like him. *Iago is very good at persuading others to do things that he wants them to do- very manipulative, he's very good at planning things out the way he wants in order for everything to get as planned. *You can definatley see how in the time, the colour of your skin was very much a direct representation of who you were, and Othello being a black man, he got many prejudices against him. *Another theme that has been evident is the theme of jealousy between Cassio and Iago and Roderigo and Othello. This jealousy causes many conflicts between other characters.

9.10.12 Journal Entry

Meaning behind the play: I think the meaning behind the play is to show the themes of deception, love, friendship, disloyalty, social class and prejudice.