In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice Shakespeare leaves the character of Iago’s sexuality to be questioned. Although Iago has a wife, he drops slight hints throughout the play that he has homosexual thoughts or feelings toward other characters, but he uses his position in the military and his fear to suppress these feelings. These “hints” are shown through his wildly questionable story about Michael Cassio, his word choice when describing Othello, and his discourse with Roderigo. This means an actor that plays Iago has to choose whether to portray Iago as homosexual, straight, or both. Through Iago’s story of Cassio’s dream, Shakespeare not-so-slyly hints that Iago has some homesexual thoughts. While this event
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After dismissing Roderigo and assuring him that his plan will work, he describes Othello, “I endure him not,/ [Othello] is of a constant, loving, and noble nature”(2.3.285-286). Phrase “I endure him not” shows Iago fighting his homosexual feelings toward Othello, essentially blaming him for the thoughts in his head. “Loving, and noble nature” points to Iago having observed Othello for a long time and he is jealous that Othello is pointing his love to Desdemona instead of him. After “proving” to Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful, Iago gets promoted. In his most grateful tone, “I am your own forever”(3.3.480). This phrase says Othello somewhat owns Iago, and it sounds like a wedding vow or a promise to always love him, furthering the question of whether Iago is gay. Richard Hornby states the hardest problem for modern actors when playing Iago is to choose of what sexuality he is and what his true motivation is, “Iago’s motivation was to make him gay, in love with Othello”. Shakespeare brings to light the possibility that Iago’s motivation for the plan was the idea of being closer to …show more content…
“A Down-to-Earth Iago, Evil Made Ordinary.” Rev. of Othello, dir. Sam
Mendes. NY Times. The New York Times Company. 11 April 1998. Web. 13 November
2014.
Edmonds, Richard. “The Love That Proudly Speaks Its Name; Gay Life and Culture: A World History Edited by Robert Aldrich, Thames & Hudson, Pounds 24.95. Reviewed by Richard Edmonds.” The Birmingham Post. Gale Group. December 23, 2006. Questia School. Web. 14 November 2014.
Hornby, Richard. “Motivation.” Rev. of Othello, dir. Nicolas Hytner. The Hudson Review.
Sonnet Media. 2014. Web. 15 November 2014.
Mountford, Fiona. “Othello Lyric Hammersmith ; Pub Politics: Iago (Charles
Aitken) Poisons Othello 's (Jimmy Akingbola) Mind against Desdemona (Claire-Louise
Cordwell). Rev. of Othello, act. Charles Aitken. The Evening Standard. Gale Group. 7
November 2008. Web. 11 November 2014.
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice. Ed. Russ Mcdonald.
After dismissing Roderigo and assuring him that his plan will work, he describes Othello, “I endure him not,/ [Othello] is of a constant, loving, and noble nature”(2.3.285-286). Phrase “I endure him not” shows Iago fighting his homosexual feelings toward Othello, essentially blaming him for the thoughts in his head. “Loving, and noble nature” points to Iago having observed Othello for a long time and he is jealous that Othello is pointing his love to Desdemona instead of him. After “proving” to Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful, Iago gets promoted. In his most grateful tone, “I am your own forever”(3.3.480). This phrase says Othello somewhat owns Iago, and it sounds like a wedding vow or a promise to always love him, furthering the question of whether Iago is gay. Richard Hornby states the hardest problem for modern actors when playing Iago is to choose of what sexuality he is and what his true motivation is, “Iago’s motivation was to make him gay, in love with Othello”. Shakespeare brings to light the possibility that Iago’s motivation for the plan was the idea of being closer to …show more content…
“A Down-to-Earth Iago, Evil Made Ordinary.” Rev. of Othello, dir. Sam
Mendes. NY Times. The New York Times Company. 11 April 1998. Web. 13 November
2014.
Edmonds, Richard. “The Love That Proudly Speaks Its Name; Gay Life and Culture: A World History Edited by Robert Aldrich, Thames & Hudson, Pounds 24.95. Reviewed by Richard Edmonds.” The Birmingham Post. Gale Group. December 23, 2006. Questia School. Web. 14 November 2014.
Hornby, Richard. “Motivation.” Rev. of Othello, dir. Nicolas Hytner. The Hudson Review.
Sonnet Media. 2014. Web. 15 November 2014.
Mountford, Fiona. “Othello Lyric Hammersmith ; Pub Politics: Iago (Charles
Aitken) Poisons Othello 's (Jimmy Akingbola) Mind against Desdemona (Claire-Louise
Cordwell). Rev. of Othello, act. Charles Aitken. The Evening Standard. Gale Group. 7
November 2008. Web. 11 November 2014.
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice. Ed. Russ Mcdonald.