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One of the most heinous villains in Shakespeare, Iago is fascinating and manipulative and a key character in Othello. The description of Iago in Othello takes many forms as character who has many forms and acts in unpredictable ways. In his appearance, Iago takes many personalities and struggles to find himself in life. It is these traits that define how Iago behaves and treats people. In one of the most fascinating acts, Iago chooses to remain silent and reflect on what he has achieved in life. In another perspective, Iago attains a new dimension of thinking that makes him have a relation of what and how he could have become even a greater person. “It is Iago’s talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those around him that makes him both a powerful and a compelling figure.”
The first instance that shapes Iago’s thinking is where he had to make a choice between self and inner thrive spirit and emotions. In this outlook, Iago commits to working through a strong view of life that gives him hope of retracing his past that was already darkening and worrying. The need to have self-approval and strength of the spirit adds to Iago’s choices that in this case refers to how he made his decisions about life. The creative and strong mind that helped Iago arain the much he had in life resonates with what the author refers to as the real engine that drives all human beings. The character is both well in true with his past but apso seeks to build on a legacy that will dominate the good life he will live (Van Duijn et al., 155). In addition, Iago does not shy from building circles that reflect who he is than what he might become. He refers the future as an unknown mystery that can only be revealed by unfolding the thoughts that obscure people from their visons.
In order to earn the right peace and self-calm, Iago dedicates to living a life of personal drive that is not run by what and how people see him. It is through these decisions that Iago adopts a life of positivity that even catapults him to win the right image and strength within the derived notion on personal growth (Abuzahra 201). The author seeks to show that Iago was not only living a personal life but one that was reflective of other people. Iago says he thinks Othello may have slept with his wife, Emilia: “It is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets / He has done my office” (I.iii.369–370). Iago mentions this suspicion again at the end of Act II, scene I, explaining that he lusts after Desdemona because he wants to get even with Othello “wife for wife” (II.i.286). He is constantly seeking growth but also being tagged to his former life that is described within the context of happiness and love. These traits shape Iago’s behavior and also directs his steps to win the confidence he had for long searched in the wrong places. Iago is an example of a character with multiple traits who seeks not to deviate from the course he takes no matter the cost.
Othello’s depiction of Iago is very intense as he is tainted as person who is strong and effective in deriving happiness in all situations. Iago does not only hinge his happiness from the surroundings but works to see that he is happy and well in tune with his life. The description of Iago is thus inclined to a very broad derivative that is common in literature. There is thus a literal and intellectual description of Iago that Othello seeks to sell in this piece of literature and this brings the reader to a closer understanding of what and how Iago operated. One of the most striking traits of Iago is that he has deep hatred for women as he always despised them in all ways. Iago appears to have a had a rough past with the women and this is revealed in the way he talks a treats women. In his own capacity when approached by one of his colleagues claims that he has no room for women talk. In fact, he advocates for a broad and integrated outlook on what and how women should be treated (Smith 119). The aim here as intended in Othello’s outlook is to show the role and state of gender in the society. As a key theme, gender parity is bets revealed by Iago who in his case has a very negative attitude towards women. Other characters appear to interact well with women but Iago takes a different direction to an extent of causing murder of Emilia.
The theme of gender inequality and discrimination is best brought out by Iago as he is always negative and despising women for who they are in the society. To add on this, the value and nature of how Iago acts is brought out in many ways as he neglects his duties and goes forward to lay blame on women for their failure to be responsible (Abuzahra 199). This is totally false because it is clear that Iago is intentionally failing to own up his roles and blames women for the various failures. The various traits by Iago are well developed by Othello who in this case seeks to bring a character who has many asides and a disoriented view towards women. Shakespeare in this case brings s very different taste to literature in his description of Iago who in many ways remains a mystery to the audience.
Conclusion
In his defense, Iago personally convinces himself that he was once a good person who rated people for who they were and worked to ensure that he related with them on a level of respect. Iago is often funny, especially in his scenes with the foolish Roderigo, which serve as a showcase of Iago’s manipulative -abilities. He seems almost to wink at the audience as he revels in his own skill. As entertained spectators, we find ourselves on Iago’s side when he is with Roderigo. Iago is not only depicted a character of many forms but also takes many angles in his depiction of who and how he approached life. He is also treated as wise and trickery in the way he treats his colleagues but also fails to decline to won up his mistakes. The hatred for women is depicted in many forms as he often claims that women are part of the problem the society faces. He is even quoted saying that he would do better if he had a little touch for women. Iago is not only hinged in creating the right life for himself but his failures only gets worse when he strives to make a change in life.
Works Cited
Abuzahra, Nimer, and Rami Salahat. “Analyzing Iago’s Speech in Shakespeare’s Othello.” Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics 2.2 (2018): 185-203.
Smith, Ian. “We are Othello: Speaking of race in early modern studies.” Shakespeare Quarterly 67.1 (2016): 104-124.
Van Duijn, Max J., Ineke Sluiter, and Arie Verhagen. “When narrative takes over: The representation of embedded mindstates in Shakespeare’s Othello.” Language and Literature 24.2 (2015): 148-166.
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