Othello – Iago

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“Iago is not the only character who is not what he seems”.
Discuss this view of characters in Othello.

In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello, Iago is uncharacteristicallyhonest when he says “I am not what I am”. However, he is notthe only character whose appearance differs from the reality. Nonetheless, he is possibly the only person who intends this duplicity. Unfortunately everyone is under the impression that Iago is “honest and just”. Once alone, Iago reveals “when devils will the blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with heavenly shows as I do now”. Iago is two-faced in his relationships, even in the language he uses. After referring to Othello as a “black ram”, he then tells him “my lord, you know I love you”. Iago has no shame in appealing to heaven and godly images in the presence of others, but alone he conversely appeals to hell and evil. His appearance depends on those present, for instance his companion Roderigo, or his loathed acquaintance, Othello. His sycophantic language leads others such as Othello to be drawn into his web.

Othello is initially how he seems, but Iago’s later manipulation reveals a very different side to his character. Othello is aware of his qualities, but does not boast as Iago is prone to do. He is dignified and calm when he learns of Brabantio’s displeasure at his marriage to Desdemona. Then, when Brabantio challenges him, he reasons with the Senator and advises him to use his dignity not aggression. This is exactly how Othello seems to act, until he is persuaded by Iago that his wife is being unfaithful to him.

How a character seems to be is not entirely dependent on the audience’s perception, but on the ideas of characters within the play too. Brabantio believes that in order for Desdemona to have fallen in love with Othello, he must have been working some kind of black magic over her. Othello’s race is Brabantio’s main bone of contention, as Othello notes before the marriage “[Desdemona's] father loved me”. Iago often refers to Othello as the “Moor” and when Emilia realises how Othello has treated his wife, she calls him “the blacker devil”. As Iago’s plan unfolds, Othello’s suspicions and jealousy come to the fore. Iago’s blasphemous expressions gradually infiltrate Othello’s vocabulary as Othello becomes more and more convinced that Desdemona is being unfaithful. Initially he claims that while the marriage is expected to bring him some physical satisfaction, he and his wife value their mental attraction just as highly. However, as he becomes ensnared in Iago’s trap, Othello reveals a more detailed acknowledgement of Desdemona’s sexual appeal. As he discusses her death with Iago, he says he will not argue with Desdemona “lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again”.

Othello’s open-mindedness enables him to actually accuse Desdemona, although he does not believe a word of her plea of innocence. Iago’s influence has made Othello violent and sarcastic. Although to the Venetian nobility around him, Othello seemed to be fairly like his usual self, his private face became his public appearance when he hit Desdemona in the presence of Lodovico. When Othello once again faces Desdemona with his accusation which she denies, he says “I took you for that cunning whore of Venice that married with Othello”.

Despite Desdemona’s innocence in the accusations of infidelity, she is not entirely innocent of being deceitful. Her innocence is firm in the minds of Emilia and Cassio, who have knowledge of the accusations. However, had Brabantio been alive, he may questioned her innocence as she had already betrayed him by eloping with Othello. “She has deceived her father and may thee” he warned Othello. As well as lying to her father about her marriage, Desdemona also, unwittingly, worsened the situation over the handkerchief. In view of her professing to having the handkerchief in her possession when it is in fact lost, Othello’s suspicions deepen.

When Brabantio first hears the news of his daughter’s marriage, he does not believe it, as it would be “to fall in love with what she feared to look on”. To him, Desdemona is scared of Othello, but this is not the case, at least at first. As Othello becomes more and more convinced that Desdemona has been unfaithful, he becomes violent and unreasonable which naturally does frighten his wife. All the time she has remained faithful and loving, but this is not always recognised by Othello.

Cassio is what he seems, except to Othello and, to a lesser degree, Iago. Cassio is a handsome and loyal soldier that was promoted above Iago. To Iago, he seems to be an enemy as he has been promoted. To Othello, Cassio seems to be a deceptive man that is having an affair with Desdemona.

Emilia, Iago’s wife, shows herself to be loyal and dedicated to Desdemona as she promises Iago, “I’ll make thee known, Though I lost twenty lives”. Her only part in Iago’s plan was innocent as she gave him Desdemona’s handkerchief at his request. Iago suspects Emilia of having had an affair with Othello, but the play gives no basing for this for the audience, so it is unknown how Emilia actually is, although she continually denies the accusations.

Roderigo, the gulled gentleman, appears to be innocent and gullible and he is in love with Desdemona. It is understandable that he is deceived by Iago, especially as the more noble, intelligent Othello is. However, his willingness to attack Cassio, even though he admits “I have no great devotion to the deed” reveals a more violent nature.

Iago is certainly not the only character who is not what he seems. However, it cannot be said that all characters are this way. Othello’s character, especially, is split by Iago’s evil trap.

Persuading Othello that Desdemona and Cassio were having a relationship revealed Othello’s undignified side as he became consumed by jealousy and rage. Desdemona was affected by Iago’s trap, but her duplicity was independent as she lied to both her father and husband. Cassio, the other standing accused, is how he seems, but not to Othello. The general has come to believe that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona and he regards him with the utmost suspicion. Iago in turn suspects Emilia of having had an affair with Othello, but she seems only to be loyal and dedicated to her mistress, Desdemona. Roderigo’s only possible irregularity in the way he seems is his gullibility turning sour into violence towards Cassio.

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