Various Ways To Analyze Iago

Iago from the play Othello and Shahrazad from the epic The Arabian Nights share the characteristic of deceit. Both characters come up with plans to get what they want. They share their plans with certain people and not others. Shahrazad convinced her father to take her to the King, but did not share her plan with him. Iago shared his plan with Roderigo, but did not mention any part of his plan with Othello. Shahrazad told her father that she wanted to marry the King, but told her sister, “…When I go to the king, I will send for you, and when you come and see that the king has finished with me, say, ‘Sister, if you are not sleepy, tell us a story.’” (17). Shahrazad deceived her father by not informing him that she would use her sister to defeat the king. Iago helped Roderigo to form a plan to steal Othello’s wife away even though he pretended to care for Othello. Iago told Roderigo, “…Go, make money. I have told thee often, and I retell thee again and again, I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason. Let us be conjuctive in our revenge against him. If thou canst cuckhold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport,” (Act 1, Sc. 3). Iago flat out admitted to hating Othello, yet later on Iago says to Othello, “My lord, you know I love you,” (Act 3, Sc. 3). The two characters have deceived people close to them.

Medusa’s decapitated head represents Iago. For most of the play, Iago had been planning to ruin multiple people’s lives. This is exactly what the legend of Medusa is about. In the statue, Medusa’s head has been separated from her body and the person holding the head is able to see Medusa for what she truly is: a manipulative monster. At the end of the play, Iago’s mischievous actions are revealed and everyone sees him for who he really is: a manipulative monster. Every single one of Iago’s plans blew up in his face at the end of the play. Medusa’s cut off head symbolizes all of Iago’s schemes being revealed and his true identity being discovered at once. The legend said that a mortal could not look into Medusa’s eyes without turning to stone. The person holding Medusa’s head is able to look into her eyes after she has been defeated without turning into stone. This is much like how the character’s of Othello were able to see Iago for who he truly was after his secret’s were revealed. In this work, Medusa has been defeated by losing her head. In the play, Iago was defeated by being revealed as a liar and a manipulator.

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In the film version of the play Othello, certain things were easier to understand by seeing the actors facial expressions and body language.  This was especially true when it came to Iago.  Watching Iago in action helped the viewer to really understand how manipulative that man truly was.  He was quite friendly and touchy-feely with Othello whom Iago claimed to hate.  In one scene, Iago was seen hugging Othello and then plotting with Roderigo against Othello in another scene.  Iago was quite convincing when it came to pretending to care for Othello.  Iago never had a facial expression that revealed his true feelings for Othello while around the man.  During Iago’s asides around Other he would be all smiles meanwhile he would be discussing a scheme he would perform against Othello in his head.  This way Othello was unable to discover Iago’s plans and still trust the manipulative man.  Seeing this manipulation helped the audience to really understand Iago and what he was doing.

I will be focusing on lines 377-404 from Act one scene three.  Roderigo just finished telling Iago that he wished to drown himself and Iago’s response was a little surprising.  Instead of being sympathetic, he replied, “Drown thyself?” (378).  It seemed as if Iago said this line in a sarcastic tone, as if the thought of suicide was so ridiculous that he could not believe Roderigo even thought of it.  Right before Iago said this line, he commanded, “Come, be a man!” (378).  Saying these words first made the “Drown thyself?” line seem even more condescending.  It made it seem as if Iago was almost angry at Roderigo for thinking of such an outlandish idea.  Iago also kept repeating the line, “Put money in thy purse,” (382).  It seems as if Iago was saying that Roderigo’s original idea is unintelligent and Iago’s idea is much better because he keeps repeating this line.  Iago said this line six times in one speech.  Iago seemed to be very intent on convincing Roderigo to make money rather than stress out over Desdemona.  Iago continues to tell Roderigo that Desdemona will most likely leave Othello eventually so Roderigo should make as much money as he can now so that he will have a good amount of money for when Desdemona is single so he can win the woman over.  Basically, Iago is giving Roderigo false hope to try and make him feel better.