Iago Playing In Othello

’s Trag Essay, Research Paper

Othello, by William Shakespeare, is Othello s tragedy but Iago s play because Iago is the one who is constantly controlling the action. Iago manipulates situations in his favor by speaking directly to the audience. This allows Iago to show the audience his point of view on all matters concerning the play and twist their conception of him in his favor. Iago merely displays his manipulative character in convincing us that he is no villain and is justified in his actions against the other characters in the play. On the other hand, Othello almost never breaks the fourth wall and therefore cannot bend the audience in his favor as Iago does. Othello displays his character instead of trying to win us over in his speeches to the audience. Iago is also in almost every scene of the play at one point and interacts with the people in that scene. The interactions develop Iago s character even more. Othello remains out of the action in most scenes and lacks the character interaction that develops Iago s character. These two facts mean that the camera is centered much more around Iago than it is Othello, making it Iago s play.

Iago breaks the fourth wall to speak to the audience more than anyone in the play. Iago controls the play through his speeches to the audience. He manipulates situations to make himself seem less villainous. One such situation where he tries to manipulate the audience is when, after giving Cassio the advice to go to Desdemona to get back in Othello s good graces, he states, And what s he, then, that says…To win the Moor again. (p. 103, lines 356-359) Iago makes himself seem like a friend to Cassio in the speech. He says that this advice is free I give and honest . He hints to the audience that he does nothing wrong. The facts he states are true, but it is how the other people interpret them that causes the conflicts of the play. He is trying to get on the audience s good side with the speech and justify what he says to Cassio as good. Such manipulation makes the play lean towards being Iago s because he makes the audience think what he wants them to think.

This speech also allows us to get a real sense of Iago s character. Maybe he is just trying to save his own skin, but the fact that he tries to reason with the audience and supports his arguments with facts points more to the idea that he truly believes his actions are not evil. Othello never gives speeches trying convince the audience of anything. Iago s speeches to the audience manipulate us in his favor. This gives him domain over the play because he controls us.

When Iago opens up to the audience to explain his plot, he allows the audience into his head. These speeches also allow Iago to explain how his plans developed in the past scene. Such actions allow the audience to get an inside track on what is going to happen in the play because Iago foreshadows what happens later in the play during these speeches. Iago opens up his head for us when in Act Two, scene one he states, He takes her by the palm…Would they were clyster pipes for your sake. (page 71-73, lines 182-192) Iago informs the audience about what he is thinking about what is happening. He discusses his plan to ensnare as great a fly as Cassio . He mentions thine own courtship referring to the relationship between Desdemona and Cassio. IN saying this, he indicates that Cassio is courting Desdemona who is married to Othello. This hints us towards thinking that Iago will twist this situation around to bring Cassio down. This opens up Iago s mind to the audience and allows him to relate to us. Again, this gives him control over us and therefore the play.

Iago is in the majority of the scenes of Othello. Being in the scenes allows him to interact with other people in the play and develop his character directly through these interactions. On the other hand, the shaping of Othello s character happens through other people discussing his traits and character. In fact, we are first introduced to Othello in the first scene of the first act by Iago, Roderigo, and Barbantio talking about him. Throughout this scene, the audience learns about Othello without even seeing him yet. Iago s role in this scene gives the audience a good foundation for his character. He states, I am not what I am. (page 11, line 71) Iago is blatantly telling Roderigo that he is not a trustworthy person. In this interaction with Roderigo, Iago s character comes forth while Othello s true character is shadowed behind the biases that Iago, Roderigo, and Barbantio bear towards him. In the following scenes when Othello introduces himself, we get a sense of his character traits. He seems honest, trusting, and holds many other good traits. However, these traits don t stand throughout the play. Iago breaks them down. So, we come to question these original characteristics as true or not.

This play is Othello s tragedy, because he fits into the definition of a tragedy. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a tragedy as A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, a moral weakness, or an inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances. Breaking down this definition, Othello fits into the description almost perfectly. He is brought to ruin and suffers extreme sorrow by the end of the play mainly through all the personal, emotional,