As Iago’s role in the play begins to define itself, the plays main theme, which is jealousy, also begins to develop. Iago’s role is unclear to the reader in the first scene. He appears to be an honest, trustworthy soldier who was angry because he was overlooked for a promotion. However, the reader later finds out that he is a “malignant and destructive plotter” and would do anything to destroy Othello and anyone close to him (Epstein 381). The fact that he is an evil character remains undetected by the rest of the characters in the play. “The other characters actually call Iago honest fifteen times throughout the entire play” (Campbell 156). Iago is jealous and resentful of Othello in everyway and uses this festering hatred to infect and destroy Othello. He filled Othello’s mind with thoughts of deceit and betrayal until his unwarranted jealousy towards his beautiful, trusting, and innocent wife blinded Othello himself.
Iago does not only serve as the antagonist in this play, but he also is the vehicle by which the play progresses. They play in the beginning did not have much action in it because Iago was still deciding as to how he would kill Othello. Then, as his plan develops the play also progresses. He forces characters into taking actions they never would have normally considered and all the while he just sits back and maintains his innocent smile and trusting faade. And that “is how a villain is defined.” A villain “can alter those actions around them without them knowing it.” (Campbell 116).
We saw Iago do that on several occasions. For example he was able to convince Roderigo to give him money and to try growing a beard. He also convinced Othello into thinking that Casio was an irresponsible drunk, and he convinced Desdemona into thinking he was going to do everything he could to patch things up with her and Othello. While all he was actually doing was just trying to keep Roderigo busy so he would stay out of the picture. And then with Othello he was turning friend against friend, and with Desdemona it was lover against lover. And all the while these people thought he had their best interest in mind.
Iago’s behavior really cannot be justified or understood. The reader can understand why he would be mad that he was overlooked for the promotion, but to carry it as far as he did is irrational. Some speculate he “was a homosexual and in love with the Moore”(Epstein 381). He also was said to be like “a scheming politician trying to gain power”(Campbell 167). Either way “by behaving the way he does Iago makes the play work”(Epstein 390). No matter how insane Iago might have been his plan did work. He was able to rile up emotions in Othello that sent him into fits. The reader could see Iago getting into the mind of Othello and all the while Othello would turn to him for advise oblivious to his lies.
He was able to use the characters strengths against them. Roderigo was a fool and Iago showed him no pity. He took his money and then lied to him whenever he had to. He then used Othello’s pride and trust in his men against him. I think part of Othello’s foolish pride comes from being a colored leader. He probably was not used to turning to others for help or for advise. This stubbornness is what “wound him up into a web of lies, corruption, and jealousy.”(Campbell 212) Iago knew he would not ask Casio if he was sleeping with his wife because of his pride. He would rather assume the worst and accept it than try to “search out the right answer”(Campbell 234).
Iago was sneaky and twisted, but his best villainous quality was his brilliance. He simply “did not go around shooting his enemy”(Epstein 220).
He waited like a bird of prey until he saw the best time to make his move. As much as the reader wants to despise Iago they cannot help but to marvel at the planning and precision at which he carried out his plan. Iago’s villainous behavior was an interesting change from most of the villains of today. Nowadays our villains are like our weapons, powerful, quick, and easy to understand. However, just like mastering the art of the sword was a difficult, time consuming task in his era, so too was his seemingly invincible plan.
Iago was more than just a villain in this play. He was what caused the characters in the play to react. He brought emotions out embedded deep into Othello’s soul. He served as a prankster, never at a loss for a word. The play went where he wanted it to and Shakespeare knew this. That is why Iago is such a cunning villain. Shakespeare did not want his play to revolve around a dull, easily predictable villain. He, like Iago tricked his audience into thinking one thing and then when we least expected it his true intentions were made apparent.
