The Character of Iago

The character of Iago is crucial for the play, and its essence has often been presented as 'the evil taking a human form.' What is important to any attempt to understand this play is the mechanism that makes the action moving forward. If this is 'the force of evil', represented in the character of Iago, this gives him the most relevant role, the power to forward the entire course of the play in certain direction. A number of fortunate circumstances helps his plot, and even in the most dangerous moments everything seems to fit his plans. From the beginning the readers (or the audience) are fascinated by this character of 'a villain' ; they are, in some way, participating in his plot, being the only spectators of his famous soliloquies in which he reveals (if he ever does) his true face, or at least, the bitter content of his thoughts. He is tormented by hate, jealousy and lust, he creates the self-deception about his own magnitude, his fantasies are lascivious and immature, and yet he is observed with the mixed feelings of repulsion and admiration. Why is this so?

In Othello, as opposed to many other great Shakespeare's plays, there is no clear indication of a supernatural guiding force directing the course of action. 'The Fate' doesn't seem to be the ally of the positive characters - what's more, the circumstances are certainly convenient for Iago and his plans. The favorable drop of a handkerchief, the situations in which one word would be enough to destroy the entire 'construction' he built; all this was resolved into his advantage. It can almost appear that this is a display of how even those who are in our eyes the most distinguished and noble, must subdue to the irresistible power of 'the dark fatality', ruling the world and corrupting the human nature. At the end of the dramatic events there is no feeling of peace descending after the storm, but instead a bitter awareness of how fragile our mind is when facing such utter evil. As Bradley says, it seems 'as if the Fate has taken sides with the villainy.' There are no divine forces getting in the way of the course of the play directed by Iago, and this makes the tragedy to follow, inevitably, even more terrible. Pure malice he displays is not being controlled, and it prays on the 'good' characters, causing even the downfall of The Noble Moor, Othello.

But how does he succeeds in this - how does Iago makes a man such as Othello , who 'can never be angry', who is fool of wisdom and experience, and very gentle to his wife, to become a person who hits her, calls her whore, and finally smothers her? What is in Iago's character that makes him so plausible? The answer to this would require an analysis of Othello's character as well, but the most important question to be answered is that of an image of Iago in his, as well as in everyone else's mind, except maybe Emilia and Rodrigo, who are, nevertheless, also deceived, but in some other way. Othello trusts Iago not only because of his trusting nature - the strong reason is also the face Iago shows to his surroundings. He is 'above all thing, honest.' When he first gives Othello a hint of warning, he pretends to gives it with great reluctance, out of duty- he is Othello's 'companion in arms', even considered to be 'excessive in honesty.' Because Iago knows him very well, he is manipulating Othello's mistrust in his own power of perception - Iago knows that Othello is not familiar with the Venetian customs concerning marriage and adultery, and he uses this insecurity to guide his actions. This elaborate plan Iago made functions not only because of his power of persuasion but also because of the awareness of his opponent's weaknesses. This is one of Iago's admirable qualities- his power of perception and tactical skills. Iago has studied Othello's nature, and he gives him one blow after another, expecting him to react at once, as he indeed does. Compared to the character of Hamlet, who behaves in the exactly opposite way, Othello is a man of action - he does not contemplates over the situation, his passions, once awaken, are intense and uncontrollable.

The character of Iago himself was interpreted in many ways, many of them misconceiving his role in the play, or mistaking about the character's true purpose and motivation. He was interpreted as a 'common villain'- he was either a jealous man who truly believes that he has been wronged and revenges, or an ambitious man, just looking for a way to take his commander's place. Clearly, he is more than this. Sometimes, on the other hand, he becomes a pure motiveless evil force driven by his 'motiveless malignity', reduced to a symbol rather than a human being. This interpretation is connected with the theory that Iago is based on the old Vice character from medieval theater traditions. He was claimed to be a devil himself; this, however, deprives of his obvious authenticity. This would be a serious problem and a huge mistake in the structure of the play as 'human' as Othello. There were even attempts to observe the entire play at the level of an abstract battle of good and evil inside a man's soul, where we see Othello, Iago and Desdemona as the Man, the Devil and the Divine. This concept was even attempted to be put on stage, and was completely unsuccessful. A cold, essentially evil Iago that shows absolutely no human emotions works no better than Iago represented as a clown who makes faces behind Othello's face and gestures to the crowd. There is no doubt, and the theatre performances have proven it, that it is essential to make Iago worthy of his powerful opponent, so that Othello himself and his downfall would be taken seriously.

But, is he then a great villainous character, a force of evil in the play, or just a mere selfish, rather insignificant man, who finally tries to act towards greater crime and put something to risk, and is at once destroyed? Where do we see that greatness of his, and how can we justify the often pronounced claims of him being 'the evil mastermind'?

The already mentioned strength of will, quick mind, insight into the human nature, sharp, though not complete because of his inability to perceive and understand the true meaning and nature of good, marking it simply as stupidity or naivety, a weakness he can exploit; those are the qualities that make him different from other Shakespeare's villains. He considers himself to be free of any scruples and therefore in advantage , even intellectually superior over those inhibited by moral codes - his victims. This makes him high opinioned about himself and contemptuous towards others - in the system of values he created for himself, he is the role model, the ideal- any