Throughout Othello, Shakespeare allows the use of animal imagery as a means for his characters, namely Iago, to communicate their thoughts and personality. With the myriad of such images, much can be said to the fact that Iago's speech includes over half. Most often, such imagery is utilized in a grotesque manner, common to Iago's speech, in order to further distress the listener. These metaphors also become increasingly prevalent in Othello's speech as Iago more and more manipulates him. Animal imagery is also used to express prejudice, such as that against Othello's race, and/or against the female gender, or merely as descriptive terminology.
In A1, S1, animal imagery first appears in the text to illustrate factors of Iago's personality. As he rants to Roderigo of his mere self-interest in serving Othello, he degrades servants by claiming that "[a servant] wears out his time much like his master's ass."" This simile shows Iago's view of servants as foolish, brainless, animals "the first of many animal-based insults. Iago, insecure in his place, is elaborating in order to prove to Roderigo that he is not just another "ass- following his master, but is instead, working merely for his own benefit. In this same speech, Iago makes a rather ironic comment about his honesty'. Using a cliché phrase, Iago claims that he "will wear my heart upon my sleeve - and then adds almost grotesque emphasis with " for daws to peck at:-.
In this same seen, as Iago's deceptions first begin, animal imagery is used as means for Iago to give Brabantio an animalistic, lustful picture of his daughter's relationship with Othello. He first tells the news of the secret relationship by telling Brabantio that he will "have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse."" By the mere use of the adverb "covered-, Iago allows Brabantio the image of Othello's forceful nature toward Desdemona.
