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Sarah Lively

Dr. Stephen Barnes

Freshman English II

November 29, 2010

Shakespeare’s Othello:

The Depth of Character in Iago

Throughout literature, authors attempt to give life to characters that would normally have

no depth behind their appearance. They try to portray a character with meaning behind his or her

actions, and furnish the characters with a personality and emotions. In all of his plays,

Shakespeare accomplishes this goal that the majority of fiction authors fail to achieve; he does

bring his charters into a type of reality. In Othello however, Shakespeare goes beyond what is

expected and accurately depicts an intricate villainous character in the form of Iago. He creates

Iago to have a story of his own, deeper than the play visibly states. He has a personality and

thoughts beyond that of a normal character. Shakespeare creates a masterpiece of a character

with a mind all of his own. Without any direct motive, Iago capitalizes on his trustworthiness to

manipulate all of the surrounding characters only for his own benefit; as illustrated by his lack of

conscience or remorse, Iago is a true villain.

In the opening acts of the play, Iago is portrayed as a self-centered character. He is

jealous in many aspects and wants revenge on anyone who crosses him the wrong way. Although

his plans to destroy Othello are evident and well-designed, a true motive behind the deception

never presents itself. Iago is sore at Othello for a number of reasons, all intrinsically motivated.

Iago says, “But he, sir, had th' election/ And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof/ At Rhodes,

at Cyprus, and on other grounds/ Christian and heathen, must be belee’d and calmed/ By debitor
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and creditor.” Michael Cassio, a man from Florence is chosen over Iago for the position of

Othello’s lieutenant and the second in command behind Othello. Iago feels as though he deserves

the position and has more experience in the area, therefore making him angry with Othello and

causing him to desire the fall of the general. Another faulty motivation mentioned within the play

is also from Iago. He says, “…I hate the Moor;/ And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets/

'Has done my office. I know not if't be true;/ Yet I, for mere suspicion in that kind,/ Will do as if

for surety.” (1.3.378-82) Iago knows not if any truth exists behind the rumor of Othello and

Emilia being involved. However, this motive seems to be stronger than the one previously

mentioned. The truth behind Iago’s intentions remains unknown exactly; perhaps the plan is

rooted only from the evil within Iago.

What allows Iago to follow through with this master plan is his “trustworthiness.” Every

character in the play trusts Iago, although he should be the least trusted of them all. Iago is

conniving and deceitful. He uses everyone against each other, and they fall right into his

preparations leading up to the demise of Othello. Above all else, the importance of Othello

trusting in Iago is crucial for the execution of his works.

Betrayal is key. Iago constructs a mischievous plan to end the reign of Othello by using

each of the characters in a different approach. He first attacks Roderigo and takes advantage of

his true desire for Desdemona. He uses Desdemona by sending Cassio to her, knowing she will

be sympathetic of situations that have arisen. Iago betrays Cassio by making him feel as though

he has his best interest at heart when it comes to his position under Othello. He betrays Othello

and leads him to believe that his wife is being unfaithful, even by framing “ocular proof,” as

Othello needs. Iago even betrays his own wife, Emilia. He brings her into his scheme of

happenings without her being of the trouble she is causing.

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Iago is able to create this tragic design only because of his lack of conscience. Every step

of the way, he betrays even his closest friends without a hint of remorse. He has no principles, no

morals, and no sense or right or wrong. Iago stops at nothing to achieve the best status for

himself. He wants to reach the top; he wants Othello’s position and he stops at nothing to get

closer to being supreme.

All of Iago’s strategies play out as he had originally planned until the last scene of the

play. After Othello is overtaken by thoughts of anger and rage because of Iago’s accusations, he

smothers his wife Desdemona. When Emilia walks in the find Desdemona dead, she tells Othello

of Iago’s betrayals. Emilia admits to stealing the handkerchief for Iago, which was the only

visual proof Iago had of Desdemona’s affair with Cassio. Emilia’s testimony to Othello leads to

the downfall of the play, along with the majority of the characters. Iago receives the reactions he

had hoped for since the beginning of his plan commenced. However, the downfall at the end of

the play also includes the downfall of Iago. Othello’s remorse for killing his wife leads to even

more anger and rage, and he stabs Iago before killing himself. Iago’s reign of terror was correctly

executed, but one flaw in the plan caused everything to crumble beneath him.

Through all of the planning and preparation, Iago has a true personality. Shakespeare

places emotion, or lack of emotion in the case of Iago, within the character to give a sense of

reality to the story. Iago is more than a dull character within a play. So much more exists behind

Iago rather than what Shakespeare directly states. Iago has a way of deceiving, a way of

manipulating, and a way of lying without any remorse that allows him to be viewed as a more

intricate character than the rest in the play. By designing Iago with all of these traits,

Shakespeare created one of the most intriguing villains of all time. The depth behind Iago’s
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appearance allows room for truth to shine through, even if the truth is what leads to his own

demise.