The Monster Within

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.

http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/viewpoints/perseus