The Silence Of Iago In David Stempel's The Silence Of Iago

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On the other hand David Stempel in his essay “The Silence of Iago,” makes it clear that Iago is a mystery, and that we should not try to find the answers for Iago’s actions for the reasons that, “Iago embodies the mystery of the evil will, an enigma which Shakespeare strove to realise, not to analyse.” Many critics who have read through Othello seeking an answer to Iago’s motivation have come to the conclusion that, like Stempel, Shakespeare uses the character Iago merely as a symbol of the devil. After reading through Stempel’s essay I am still unconvinced as to whether or not Iago truly embodies the “devil.” In act two, scene one, line 307, Iago says “wife for wife,” translating to this subtle schemer an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a …show more content…
Iago frequently makes racist comment when speaking about the Moor. Because Iago has a racist attitude towards African American natives, this may provide some explanation as to why he is jealous of the Moor. Even early as the first act, scene one, line six, Roderigo says to Iago: “Thou told’st me thou didst hold him in thy hate.” Iago replies: “Despise me, if I do not.” In the same scene (line 155-158) Iago says “Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains, yet, for necessity of present life, I must show out a flag and sign of love, which is indeed but sign.” This reveals Iago’s hate for the Moor, who did so much as to wound his pride. Here provides Iago’s basic reasoning for hating the Moor, however later in the play Iago does increasingly make more racist remarks, and too develops the same use animal imagery as Othello does. As early as act one, scene one, lines 97-101, Iago shows his prejudism towards the Moor, making racist slurs. When waking Brabantio to warn him that his daughter Desdemona eloped with Othello (an old, black man) “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise! Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you. Arise, I say!” I believe that Shakespeare reveals, through the use of metaphors, animal imagery, characterisation, idioms, and, language, conveying the negative aspects of Elizabethan …show more content…
He is opportunistic enough to meet exigencies as they arise, but he cannot successfully anticipate events. The accidents of fortune overwhelm him in the end, and treachery from within conquers him.” McCloskey is very analytical in his explanations for Iago’s actions and downfalls. For this reason, I am convinced that Iago was a man who was determine to seek justice, and in doing so became so deeply involved in scheming that he could not extricate

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