Martino Buffolino December 14, 2006
English Period 4
Othello by William Shakespeare takes place in Venice and Cyprus in the 1500s.
In Othello, Shakespeare portrayed Iago as a trustworthy friend to many people. But in
reality, Iago was Othello’s jealous and sneaky assistant who could be classified as a devil
as well as an evil genius. As critic Ben Brantley agrees, he stated, “But if he lived in
latter-day Manhattan instead of long-ago Cyprus, this Iago would be the head of a
Fortune 500 company or perhaps be one of Broadway's few bankable directors. At least
until someone discovered a body in one of his filing cabinets” (Ben Brantley, Literature
Resource Center). Shakespeare used appearance vs. reality to show how Iago was playing
the role of a psychiatrist that would give friendly advice to Othello, and meanwhile was
scheming up a plan of destruction. Iago used a form of attack that required a lot of
patience, and waited until he knew it was the right time to go for the kill. As Arthur M.
Eastman points out, “From first to last Iago is an ironist. He contrives his life to appear
other than he is--cold-blooded, self-seeking, amoral, sexually pathological, and obsessed
with envy--so that what he seems becomes an ambush from which he destroys his
enemies and plumes up his will in double knavery” (Arthur M. Eastman, Literature
Resource Center).
Early in the play, Iago was engaged in a conversation with Rodriego who was
deeply in love with Desdemona. Iago really didn’t care what Rodriego had to say, he just
used him for his money. But Iago came up with the idea to tell Desdemona’s father,
Brabantio, that Othello the Moor had been sleeping with Desdemona. During the constant
shouting from Iago and Rodriego in the street under Brabantio’s window, Iago said to
Brabantio, “you are one of those that will not / serve God, if the devil bid you” (15). This
Martino Buffolino December 14, 2006
English Period 4
quote shows a ton of irony because Iago plays the role of the villain that does not serve
God in any way. Iago’s anger toward Othello was fueled by Othello appointing Michael
Cassio as his lieutenant. This was Iago’s dream job from which he was just denied. Also
to add on to his jealousy, Iago believed that Othello had slept with his wife Emilia. As
critic Thorell Porter Tsomondo clearly points out, “Iago's declared aim is to convince
Othello that "he" (Cassio) is having an affair with Desdemona, but as Greenblatt notes,
the use of the vague pronoun carries the implication that Othello's relationship with his
own wife is also transgressive.” (Thorell Porter Tsomondo, Literature Resource Center).
From this point on, Iago knew he had to destroy Othello, and he had the perfect plan to
do so.
Will Iago ever grow away from all of his jealousy and hate toward Othello? I
think not. Iago proceeds on his plot for the destruction of Othello. After noticing
Desdemona and Cassio and their Platonic friendship, Iago knows exactly what to do. Iago
planned to exploit that platonic relationship in every way possible. Othello just came
back from war, as if he were on top of the world, but Iago is about to spoon feed poison
to him. To celebrate the huge victory, they had a big party, and Cassio was elected not to
drink by Othello. Iago knew Cassio is a very aggressive drunk and made him lose his job
by getting drunk and starting a fight with Rodriego. In reality the fight had been started
by Rodriego, but Iago slowly convinced Othello that it was Cassio who started it. Shortly
after, Iago suggests that Cassio should talk to Desdemona about getting his job back.
Meanwhile, Iago told Othello that Desdemona loves Cassio. During a conversation
between Iago and Othello about Desdemona and Cassio, Iago said, “O, beware, my lord,
Martino Buffolino December 14, 2006
English Period 4
of jealousy; / It is the green-eyed monster…” (129). By saying that, Iago feeds the green-
eyed monster inside of Othello. Critic Edward Washington stated,
“In seeking to turn Othello's unconventional virtue into conventional
pitch, he applies jealousy, a potent morality drama temptation that might cause
anyone to miss a step. The jealousy that Iago grafts on Othello is, however,
simply the catalyst that brings to the fore a more prominent vulnerability in
Othello--a vulnerability of which not even Iago is fully aware and one that
Othello can least defend himself against (as seems indicated by his swift, easy,
and complete collapse): his fear of the loss of his image of "all in all" sufficiency
in Venice” (Edward Washington, Literature Resource Center).
Later on in the play, Iago keeps up his evil ways. Iago told Othello to not worry
about a possible affair between Cassio and Desdemona, and that he was probably wrong
at the start. Iago knew after saying that, that Othello would keep asking more questions
and become more vulnerable. Critic Michael Feingold stated,
“Iago succeeds with him by playing on fears that are already there. Never
wholly believing that Desdemona can love him, Othello lets himself be
convinced that she doesn't. Under his early affirmations, we need to see the fears;
under his late rages, the nagging doubts” (Michael Feingold, Literature Resource
Center).
Soon after, physical proof was presented for Othello, who had a front row seat to watch
and listen to Cassio talking about Desdemona, soon and after Othello saw Cassio with his
handkerchief. This couldn’t have worked any better for Iago’s plan because in reality
Cassio was talking about using Bianca only for sex. At this point Iago’s inverse
proportion is way up high compared to the speechless Othello at ground zero. Iago
convinced Othello that he would take care of Cassio, and Othello would then after kill
Desdemona. After Iago’s plan was fully executed and Othello learned the truth, Othello
said, “I look downward towards his feet; but that’s a fable / If that thou’ be’st a devil, I
cannot kill thee” (259). Othello figured out Iago was a devil and this was all a game.
Sadly, after what was done, Othello was forced to take his own life. Critic Lucille P.
Fultz agrees with this and said,
Martino Buffolino December 14, 2006
English Period 4
“It is as though Iago seeks Othello's moral and mental downfall, in part,
because he cannot match Othello's physical prowess and narrative skill. What he
seeks, and what he succeeds in effecting, is the undermining of the Moor's
intelligence and coextensively his humanity. The outcome of the play turns, then,
on Iago's seduction of Othello and Othello's collusion in his own downfall, and
that collusion becomes the ultimate sign of Iago's mastery of multiple discourses”
(Lucille P. Fultz, Literature Resource Center).
Othello was forced to kill himself because he couldn’t live with making a terrible
mistake of killing the one he loved the most and believing Iago. Othello was forced to
punish himself in this way. He was basically dead living without Desdemona, but now he
made it certain. Iago was able to do all of this damage quickly because Othello and
Desdemona got married too quickly. If Othello had kept with his original feeling or at
least believed Desdemona as she pleaded her innocence, this would have turned out
differently.