It is precisely Iago’s warped philosophies about life that makes him both the play’s villain and its most effective character. Iago always keeps the audience guessing as to his true personality until he so gracefully manipulates an inferior intellect or he has the opportunity to plan in solitude, then he can let his true colours shine through while preserving his ‘image’. By far, in terms of stage time, soliloquies and the like, Iago supersedes any other character. He reveals himself to us, the audience, in Act1,Scene3; here he impresses upon Roderigo an eloquently worded speech unveiling his true feelings about love, life and Othello and we are given but a glimpse of the thinking behind the Machiavellian actions:

“Virtue? A fig! ‘Tis in ourselves that we are thus, or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners; so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it

“It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the will. Come, be a man! Drown thyself? Drown cats and blind puppies! I have professed me thy friend, and I confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurable toughness. I could never better stead thee than now. Put money in thy purse. Follow thou the wars; defeat thy favor with an unspured beard. Isay put money in thy purse. It cannot be long that Desdemona should continue her love to the Moor. Put money in thy purse. Nor he his to her. It was a violent commencement in her and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration-put but money in thy purse. These Moors are changeable in their wills-fill thy purse with money. The food that to him now is as luscious as locusts shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must change for youth; when she is sated with his body, she will find the errors of her choice. Therefore, put money in thy purse…”(ln.330-48)

Iago's perceptive nature goes hand in hand with his persuasive language of reluctance in order to successfully corrupt Othello. This is most brilliantly seen in Act 3 sc iii. Iago, with great precision uses repetition and hesitant language to convince Othello of his wife infidelity. 'By heaven, thou echoest me as if there were some monster in thy fought too hideous to be shown'. Iago successfully continues to contaminate his mind with the language of hesitation all throughout this scene. Also, Iago's language is much more basic and sexual imagery is used. 'Oh beware, my lord, of jealousy!' If Iago used complex language (as he is capable of doing), this technique may have not proved success with Othello who is 'rude in speech' and 'little blessed with the soft phrases of peace'. In essence, Iago appeals to Othello's quick acting solider nature.

All the while Iago's 'medicine' is working to 'put the Moor at least into a jealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure'. From the outset, Iago sets up his plan and motivations. With tenacity, he sticks to it. 'Dull not device by coldness and delay'. Even when flaws start to appear in his plan he still goes on with it. 'The moor may unfold me to him- there stand I in much peril'. Throughout the play the imagery of a spider drawing his net to catch his prey is constantly used. 'I Shall ensnare them all', Iago says. Iago has set his web and nothing can stop him now; he so easily controls the ‘levers’ of the play.

"I know my price, I am worth no worse a place." (Act1,Sc.1;ln10)

“…sterile with idleness…” (ln.319); and “…one gender of herbs…” (ln.318)

“Virtue? A fig! ‘Tis in ourselves that we are thus, or thus.”

It is safe to conclude that Iago’s philosophies are distorted and false in some respects and are misleading. One is bewildered at the workings of his mind and actions. He weaves a gruesome web of manipulation and destruction which only he understands.

Some topics in this essay:
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