Othello Iago\'s Soliloquies in Othello

Othello

Iago's Soliloquies in Othello (Act I.3.375-396)

Throughout the play, the only character to speak to the audience directly and intimately is the character of Iago. He speaks to the audience and discloses his true motivations for his treacherous actions in the world of the play. Shakespeare uses this literary device specifically to show the audience the true colors of Iago. In the last passage of Act 1, Act 1.3.375-396, Iago's soliloquy is a glance at his manipulative psyche, where he believes himself to be the master of the other characters. His excessive pride and deception later result in the tragic end of the play. The audience develops a strange, but special, relationship with Iago through his manic ridden soliloquies. In the end, however, Shakespeare chooses to end Iago's term as master of the play and reclaims his position as playwright from the arrogant Iago.

This passage begins with a mockery of Roderigo. "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse," (I.3.375). This line reflects back t what Iago had earlier told Roderigo, "Put money in thy purse," (I.3.339). Here Iago begins to unravel how he is manipulating Roderigo to better serve Iago's selfish and destructive purpose. Iago turns the person of Roderigo into a tool using a simile comparison to show the likeness between the role of Roderigo's money in the plot to win Desdemona, and the likeness between Roderigo's own role in Iago's larger plot to take down Othello. Iago uses repetition to further mock Roderigo. Roderigo truly becomes Iago's tool, "For I mine own gained knowledge should protane / if I would time expend with such a snipe / but for my sport and profit," (I.3.376-378). Here, one can see how Iago embodies the internal playwright of the text. He uses his role as confidant to the other characters to manipulate them into believing he has their best interest in mind, when really he plays them pawns against each other for his own goals. Iago shows the audience his dislike for Roderigo, which therefore allows the audience special access into the real world of Cypress where Iago pulls the strings, and not Othello. This passage also shows the depth of Iago's deception. As seen when he discusses Othello later in his soliloquy, Iago takes great pains to make himself the innocent confidant, when his true purpose is to destroy those who trust in him.

The middle section of this passage presents Iago's true motivations for his actions to the audience. His words towards his fellow characters of the play turn out to be much different than his real thoughts; which only the audience is clued into by Shakespeare's careful use of the soliloquy. Iago comes clean to the audience about his true motivations here. "[...] I hate the Moor, / and it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets / H'as done my office," (I.3.378-380), Iago reveals to the audience that he has heard rumors of his wife Emilia's infidelity with Othello. This provides further insight into why he desires so greatly to see Othello destroyed. However, the next line shows his unreliability as a narrator to the audience, "I know not if't be true / but I, for mere suspicion in that kind, / Will do as if for surety," (I.3.380-382). Iago is too quick to believe a rumor that may, or may not be true. Shakespeare uses this confession to place doubt on the audience's relationship with Iago. He is the only soliloquized character of the play, but the audience soon realizes that he may be telling them a particular version of the truth, rather than the real truth.

Iago continues to play out his role as the innocent confider. Throughout the play, he makes sure to portray himself as the honest Iago. He does so to mask his true malicious intentions. Here he shows how his manipulation is actually paying off, "[...] He [Othello] holds me well; / the better my purpose shall work on him," (I.3.382). Iago shows his audience yet another motivation for his ensuing treachery in this passage as well. Earlier in the play, Iago spoke about his own jealousy towards Cassio when Othello choose him over Iago for the position Iago desperately wanted. Despite Othello's reasoning behind his decision, Iago's jealousy has obviously not subsided at this point in the play, "Cassio's a proper man. Let me see now: / to get his place, and to plume up my will / in double knavery-" (I.3.384-386). Iago reveals that he will commit double treachery, ruining both Cassio and Othello in his plot to frame Desdemona's betrayal with the innocent Cassio.