Iago’s First Soliloquy

Iago is one of the central characters within Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ and is introduced extremely early in the play, Act I scene I. It is generally assumed from even this early in the play that Iago is cunning, plotting man as he converses with Rodrigo. Throughout the centuries the common opinion on Iago is that he is an insidious, misogynistic, materialistic, dissimulating character, among other things. Few critics have spoken in appraisal of Iago’s character and actions.

In act I scene III, Iago ends the scene with his first soliloquy. Soliloquies generally reveal a lot about a person’s character to the audience, but this is the first time the audience gets a taste of his thoughts. He begins by discussing Rodrigo:

‘My fool my purse’

This is particularly dissimulating as he had just been talking to Rodrigo, planning how to match make him with Desdemona. This is a running theme, Iago’s manipulating, and two-faced dealings. This links with:

‘That thinks men honest that but seem to be so’

As Rodrigo is not the only character in the play that falls for Iago’s deceptions.

The next part of the soliloquy that reveals a lot about Iago’s character is his admittance to using Rodrigo for his own benefits:

‘But for my own sport and profit’

Iago can use Rodrigo using his manipulative powers of speech, he deceives Rodrigo to gain money off him and use it for his own needs rather then on the task it was intended for. By referring to this task as a ‘sport’ it also implies that Iago receives some pleasure from deceiving people, that he finds this fun and does this for his own fun. The audience is left doubting his character and feels sympathetic for the other characters involved in Iago’s deception.

Iago then reveals a possible motive for his inexcusable behavior:

‘that ‘twixt my sheets’

Iago thought that at some point Othello had cuckolded him, led Emilia astray from their marital bed. Iago displayed the same reaction that most men would, and so felt betrayed and angry, although he did not know for sure that the act occurred. This is a good argument against Coleridge’s critical comment on his actions. He described his actions as:

‘Motiveless malignity’.

This does appear to be the case, to a certain extent. Especially for a modern day audience, we find it harder to accept that Iago would become so nasty to people so close to him, but to an Elizabethan audience it would be more believable without any motive behind him. This part of the speech may not excuse his behavior for the rest of the play, but it is a starting point, it gives the audience something to relate to, to begin to justify his actions.

‘Cassio is a proper man’ with this sense of the word, proper means handsome rather then suitable. This appears to be a compliment to Cassio, but again Iago is using him for his own means. Iago can use Cassio’s good looks and status in society to create the allusion of an affair with Desdemona. Othello only becomes jealous because there is something to be jealous of, if Cassio was not handsome and admirable Iago would have nothing to create the jealousy from. This is yet another example of Iago using people close to him to gain what he wants.

Iago appears to be a character that is trusted, by almost everyone other than Desdemona. She comes across as more suspicious character, as she questions Iago rather then just falling for every word he says. Iago knows that his fellow soldiers and people in society trust him, yet another way in which he can use manipulation as there is grounds for him to manipulate. This is shown when he says:

‘The Moor is of a free and open nature,

That thinks men honest that but seem to be so’

Iago actually admits to his deceitful nature, and ridicules Othello for being so trusting. This is the entire base for the play; if Iago weren’t so “trustworthy” then Othello would have no reason to believe his accusations of Desdemona. It is this perception that makes the play possible.

Othello is Iago’s general; therefore he should be respected, and not ridiculed, which he is in this soliloquy:

‘As asses are’.

It is disrespectful for Iago to be referring to his general as a fool, whether he is a Blackamoor or not. This shows that Iago is not a decent character; he does not even have the decency to respect his general, let alone other aspects of his character.

Towards the end of the soliloquy, Iago refers to:

‘Hell and night’

Which would have been a lot more relevant to an Elizabethan audience as it represents the devil and malicious behavior. It is ironic that he uses devilish language, as he is associated with the devil due to his evil character. To emphasize this point, he also says:

‘Monstrous birth to the world’s light’.

This also would have had a greater impact on an Elizabethan audience, and this is only the beginning of the devilish language used by Iago. It was said by William Turnbull that:

‘Iago is an unbeliever in, and a denier of, all things spiritual, who only acknowledges God, like Satan, to defy him’. (Othello: A Critical Study, 269)

This is proved throughout the play by constant references to the devil, night, dark and Iago’s actual behavior and attitude to situations.

Finally, this soliloquy shows a great deal in its length. Within twenty-two lines, Iago has explained his actions, had no plan and conceived a plan and becomes anxious to begin. This shows his ability to improvise quickly and leaves the audience wondering how often he uses this ability, when he was with Rodrigo? Othello? Cassio?

To conclude, Shakespeare uses this particular soliloquy to allow the audience to see what we believe to be Iago’s true personality. We learn that he is definitely dissimulating, manipulative, deceitful, and disrespectful, a slanderer and cunning. Before this the audience could only speculate on this and the remainder of his personality as he shows different sides to different people, he has been referred to as ‘an onion’ and ‘Janus, the Roman god’ because of his multiple personalities.