In Shakespeare’s Othello, the audience sees Iago as a puzzle. Everything he says means something entirely different and no one can piece him together. He acts like an honest person, but constantly lies to everyone. He puts up an angelic front, but seems absolutely devil-like on the inside. He does not seem to care for anyone, yet gives them the most sensible advice. However, Iago’s mysterious nature is undoubtedly one the main reasons Shakespeare’s Othello is so fascinating. Shakespeare portrays Iago as an enigma – keeping the audience guessing who he actually is and what his actions will lead to.
Honesty is one of the most prominent traits that other characters associate with Iago. Shakespeare has all the characters refer to him as “honest …show more content…
He is no one’s enemy, yet everybody is his enemy. However, even with all his manipulative intentions, Shakespeare has Iago give the best advice. For instance, during his conversation with Othello he says, “My lord, I would I might entreat your honour / To scan this thing no further: leave it to time“(III. III. 248/249). Even though his objective is to make Othello crazy with jealousy, his advice is considerably solid. He tells him not to worry about Cassio and Desdemona too much and to leave it to time, which is actually pretty good advice. If someone has suspicions about their partner, it is better to leave it to time and see if there are any more signs, rather than becoming insanely jealous over a theory. Shakespeare has Iago state this line in sort of a wary manner, using diction like “I would I might”, making it seem as if he is not sure of what he is saying. This makes Iago seem like someone who just wants the best for his boss, even though he is actually trying to manipulate Othello. Shakespeare writes Iago as a significantly confusing character to show the audience that not all people who act like a good friend have the best intentions in mind. Even though Iago gives good advice, his purposes are still bad. For instance, after Cassio gets stabbed in the leg and Iago “finds” him, Iago immediately seeks help yelling “O, a chair, a chair!” (V. I. 96). This makes him seem like the relatively good friend like he claims to be, even though he was the one who stabbed Cassio in the first place. Another example of Iago’s untrustworthy nature is during his conversation with Roderigo, when he
Honesty is one of the most prominent traits that other characters associate with Iago. Shakespeare has all the characters refer to him as “honest …show more content…
He is no one’s enemy, yet everybody is his enemy. However, even with all his manipulative intentions, Shakespeare has Iago give the best advice. For instance, during his conversation with Othello he says, “My lord, I would I might entreat your honour / To scan this thing no further: leave it to time“(III. III. 248/249). Even though his objective is to make Othello crazy with jealousy, his advice is considerably solid. He tells him not to worry about Cassio and Desdemona too much and to leave it to time, which is actually pretty good advice. If someone has suspicions about their partner, it is better to leave it to time and see if there are any more signs, rather than becoming insanely jealous over a theory. Shakespeare has Iago state this line in sort of a wary manner, using diction like “I would I might”, making it seem as if he is not sure of what he is saying. This makes Iago seem like someone who just wants the best for his boss, even though he is actually trying to manipulate Othello. Shakespeare writes Iago as a significantly confusing character to show the audience that not all people who act like a good friend have the best intentions in mind. Even though Iago gives good advice, his purposes are still bad. For instance, after Cassio gets stabbed in the leg and Iago “finds” him, Iago immediately seeks help yelling “O, a chair, a chair!” (V. I. 96). This makes him seem like the relatively good friend like he claims to be, even though he was the one who stabbed Cassio in the first place. Another example of Iago’s untrustworthy nature is during his conversation with Roderigo, when he