Iago's Profile
* Career: a soldier and Othello’s ensign (Advisor).
* Values: Revenge, chaos, and jealousy.
* Family: the husband of Emilia who is the attendant of Othello’s wife, Desdemona.
* Friends: Othello, Desdemona, and Roderigo
* Values: Revenge, chaos, and jealousy.
* Family: the husband of Emilia who is the attendant of Othello’s wife, Desdemona.
* Friends: Othello, Desdemona, and Roderigo
Themes of the play
Love:
Iago is a man who hatreds women, for he is represented like no love or sympathy to women because he constantly criticize for them even though they did not do anything or what they think about. On the other word, Iago thinks the word “Love” in a wider attitude than the other main characters. For examples, Iago tells Roderigo he loves him at moments when he is deceiving him, getting at his money, or persuading him to a course of action from which Iago, not Roderigo, will benefit. Iago tells Othello he loves him at moments when he is whispering the cruelest words into his ear. Iago even says he loves Desdemona, meaning he could feel some sexual desire for her. Therefore, Iago cannot say “love” honestly because for Iago, love is control.
Racism:
Roderigo : “What a full fortune does the Thick-lips owe If he can carry’t thus!” (Act1, Scene1, line66).
Iago: “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! (Act1, Scene1, line91).
In their conversation, it shows that Iago has strongly racism the viewpoint. Roderigo refers to Othello has "thick-lips” and Iago describes Othello as "an old black ram…tapping your white ewe." His hatred toward Othello may have begun on a professional standard, but Iago's contempt quickly falls to racism in part due to Othello’s legacy. It also describes about a reoccurring the ironical point in Othello. Othello is an extremely powerful man in political circles, but his race can makes him inferior in white men’s society. Iago is able to make to fall into a trap Othello and manipulate him. Once again, "Because we come to do you serivce and yout hink we are ruffians, you'll have your daughter covered with Barbary horse, you'll have your nephews neigh to you, you'll..." (Act 1, scene 1, line 123) Iago describes animal images from using word in his racist point against Othello that is rooted in the idea of Elizabethan that black men and women are inhuman.
Jealousy:
Iago says, "I hate the Moor: And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets he has done my office: I know not if't be true; But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety."(Act1, Scene 3, line 429). As all of readers know well, Iago is very jealous Othello so he tells he hate “The Moor” that is a word for expressive of Othello. Iago wants to be in a better position in the society but Othello has power over him so he could not promote. Also, Iago heard a rumor that Othello is having an affair with his wife, Emilia. Iago says he does not exactly know whether the rumor is true or not, but he is firmly determined to go ahead and ruin Othello’s life anyway.
Appearance vs. Reality:
Iago is a man that he is described to have great honor and loyalty. He is a great friend of Othello and Desdemona so seems to behave towards them very nicely. Othello and Desdemona think that Iago will always be a real friend and an honest person continuously to them. However, Iago is a dishonest and deceiving person in the entire story because he always lies to all his friends in every situation. Iago is extremely scheming towards Othello and other characters.
Iago says,“I am not what I am" (Act 1, scene 1, line 71). This means that Iago is not the person that everyone perceives him to be. Iago has the qualities of the devil in medieval and Renaissance morality plays in this story. For example, he tells fancy stories in order to entrap other characters and lead them into ruin, and sees other's greatest weaknesses and uses these to destroy them. Iago is not a good person, he just loves of evil.
According to lago’s lines, "I following him, I follow myself. Heaven is my judge...." (Act 1, scene 1, line 64) we can think that Iago the only reason that he is going to still act loyal to Othello is to carry out his plan of destroying Othello’s life. Also, in reality Iago will only be acting that way to Othello so he can become close to him to control Othello’s thinking and emotion.
When Iago talks with Roderigo, Iago says, "Farewell, for I must leave you. It seems not meet nor wholesome to my plae. To be producted, as if I stay I shall, Against the Moor..." (Act 1, scene 1, line 161). Iago thinks that he should stay by Othello’s side. Iago will make two different faces to get revenge. Therefore, he is going to act to seem as Othello's friend so he can get close and then manipulate him.
"Thus do I ever make my fool my purse. For I mine own gained knowledge..."(Act 1, scene 3, line 426). In this line, Iago represents another bad thinking that he is just saying that is how you can get money from fool. It means that Iago does not want to think that Roderigo is not his friend. Roderigo is just someone to get money and execute his plan.
In the Iago’s quote, "What are you hurt, lieutenant"(Act 2, scene 3, line 278) it clearly shows the appearance versus reality because Iago is acting all nice and hospitable to Cassio when in reality Cassio got fired and her feeling hurt about it
Reputation:
Iago may think that his reputation is injured because he was not nominated as lieutenant. Iago tells Cassio, "There is more sense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving"(Act 2, scene 3, line 286) it means that reputation is not useful and something useless that people value. Iago's goal is to play different sides and manipulate people only to his benefit. Moreover, "Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls Who steals my purse steals trash..."(Act 3, scene 3, line 182) this line is also the conversation of Iago and Cassio, Iago tells that reputation is also very important because the reputation is worth more than money. For example, if someone steals your money, it is okay to you if you still have your reputation because you still are rich. There are the ironical points in Iago’s words because when Iago tells Roderigo about reputation that is used people to cover up their true goals.
Perceptions of Women:
Iago’s perception of women is the way as deceptive, controlling, and lusty colors because he portrays the women both Emilia and Desdemona. They are good women, Desdemona is exceedingly well so, yet she is able to influence other men that they are anything but what they are. Iago comes to Brabantio’s house and says, “Awake! What ho, Brabantio! Thieves! Thieves! Thieves! Look to your house, your daughter and your bags! ”(Act1, Scene 1 Line 80) this line means that Brabantio’s daughter has been stolen. At this point, Iago begins his evil plan by insisting to Brabantio that Othello is the thief because he stole away Brabantio’s daughter, Desdemona. Therefore, it shows an important point that he thinks women are just property of men.
Iago is a man who hatreds women, for he is represented like no love or sympathy to women because he constantly criticize for them even though they did not do anything or what they think about. On the other word, Iago thinks the word “Love” in a wider attitude than the other main characters. For examples, Iago tells Roderigo he loves him at moments when he is deceiving him, getting at his money, or persuading him to a course of action from which Iago, not Roderigo, will benefit. Iago tells Othello he loves him at moments when he is whispering the cruelest words into his ear. Iago even says he loves Desdemona, meaning he could feel some sexual desire for her. Therefore, Iago cannot say “love” honestly because for Iago, love is control.
Racism:
Roderigo : “What a full fortune does the Thick-lips owe If he can carry’t thus!” (Act1, Scene1, line66).
Iago: “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! (Act1, Scene1, line91).
In their conversation, it shows that Iago has strongly racism the viewpoint. Roderigo refers to Othello has "thick-lips” and Iago describes Othello as "an old black ram…tapping your white ewe." His hatred toward Othello may have begun on a professional standard, but Iago's contempt quickly falls to racism in part due to Othello’s legacy. It also describes about a reoccurring the ironical point in Othello. Othello is an extremely powerful man in political circles, but his race can makes him inferior in white men’s society. Iago is able to make to fall into a trap Othello and manipulate him. Once again, "Because we come to do you serivce and yout hink we are ruffians, you'll have your daughter covered with Barbary horse, you'll have your nephews neigh to you, you'll..." (Act 1, scene 1, line 123) Iago describes animal images from using word in his racist point against Othello that is rooted in the idea of Elizabethan that black men and women are inhuman.
Jealousy:
Iago says, "I hate the Moor: And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets he has done my office: I know not if't be true; But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety."(Act1, Scene 3, line 429). As all of readers know well, Iago is very jealous Othello so he tells he hate “The Moor” that is a word for expressive of Othello. Iago wants to be in a better position in the society but Othello has power over him so he could not promote. Also, Iago heard a rumor that Othello is having an affair with his wife, Emilia. Iago says he does not exactly know whether the rumor is true or not, but he is firmly determined to go ahead and ruin Othello’s life anyway.
Appearance vs. Reality:
Iago is a man that he is described to have great honor and loyalty. He is a great friend of Othello and Desdemona so seems to behave towards them very nicely. Othello and Desdemona think that Iago will always be a real friend and an honest person continuously to them. However, Iago is a dishonest and deceiving person in the entire story because he always lies to all his friends in every situation. Iago is extremely scheming towards Othello and other characters.
Iago says,“I am not what I am" (Act 1, scene 1, line 71). This means that Iago is not the person that everyone perceives him to be. Iago has the qualities of the devil in medieval and Renaissance morality plays in this story. For example, he tells fancy stories in order to entrap other characters and lead them into ruin, and sees other's greatest weaknesses and uses these to destroy them. Iago is not a good person, he just loves of evil.
According to lago’s lines, "I following him, I follow myself. Heaven is my judge...." (Act 1, scene 1, line 64) we can think that Iago the only reason that he is going to still act loyal to Othello is to carry out his plan of destroying Othello’s life. Also, in reality Iago will only be acting that way to Othello so he can become close to him to control Othello’s thinking and emotion.
When Iago talks with Roderigo, Iago says, "Farewell, for I must leave you. It seems not meet nor wholesome to my plae. To be producted, as if I stay I shall, Against the Moor..." (Act 1, scene 1, line 161). Iago thinks that he should stay by Othello’s side. Iago will make two different faces to get revenge. Therefore, he is going to act to seem as Othello's friend so he can get close and then manipulate him.
"Thus do I ever make my fool my purse. For I mine own gained knowledge..."(Act 1, scene 3, line 426). In this line, Iago represents another bad thinking that he is just saying that is how you can get money from fool. It means that Iago does not want to think that Roderigo is not his friend. Roderigo is just someone to get money and execute his plan.
In the Iago’s quote, "What are you hurt, lieutenant"(Act 2, scene 3, line 278) it clearly shows the appearance versus reality because Iago is acting all nice and hospitable to Cassio when in reality Cassio got fired and her feeling hurt about it
Reputation:
Iago may think that his reputation is injured because he was not nominated as lieutenant. Iago tells Cassio, "There is more sense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving"(Act 2, scene 3, line 286) it means that reputation is not useful and something useless that people value. Iago's goal is to play different sides and manipulate people only to his benefit. Moreover, "Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls Who steals my purse steals trash..."(Act 3, scene 3, line 182) this line is also the conversation of Iago and Cassio, Iago tells that reputation is also very important because the reputation is worth more than money. For example, if someone steals your money, it is okay to you if you still have your reputation because you still are rich. There are the ironical points in Iago’s words because when Iago tells Roderigo about reputation that is used people to cover up their true goals.
Perceptions of Women:
Iago’s perception of women is the way as deceptive, controlling, and lusty colors because he portrays the women both Emilia and Desdemona. They are good women, Desdemona is exceedingly well so, yet she is able to influence other men that they are anything but what they are. Iago comes to Brabantio’s house and says, “Awake! What ho, Brabantio! Thieves! Thieves! Thieves! Look to your house, your daughter and your bags! ”(Act1, Scene 1 Line 80) this line means that Brabantio’s daughter has been stolen. At this point, Iago begins his evil plan by insisting to Brabantio that Othello is the thief because he stole away Brabantio’s daughter, Desdemona. Therefore, it shows an important point that he thinks women are just property of men.