At the plays end I am left contemplating the destruction wrought by Iago. As far as evil characters go, can there be anyone more disturbing than Iago? It is interesting that the play opens with Iago swearing, "Sblood, you'll not hear from me!" (1.1.4) but it is his voice that infects all the major players- Othello, Cassio, Desdemona, Roderigo and Emilia- as he spins his web of deceit and betrayal. And for what reason?
The play begins with the simple idea of revenge. Cassio's promotion to lieutenant affronts Iago who believes himself more deserving of the position. It would be a simple plot to have Iago destroy Cassio and step into his place but Iago desires more. He wants nothing more than the complete destruction of the world around him.
Did Shakespeare mean to cast Iago as a symbol of anarchy? In Act I, Scene I, he does say, "We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed." (1.1.43-44) He even goes so far as to say, "In following him [Othello] I follow but myself." (1.1.57-58). More than revenge seems to be motivating Iago, he wants to subvert the social structure. As a military man, the idea of hierarchy would be as automatic as breathing but Iago wants nothing to do with the system.
If Iago were simply interested in overthrowing the social order of the military, why not content himself with destroying Cassio and Othello thus leaving Venice vulnerable to its enemies? Why does he go farther destroying Roderigo, Desdemona, and Emilia. Iago is not simply a destructive force but an abyss.
Iago declares proudly to Roderigo, "I am not what I am." (1.1.65) If he is not what he is, then what is he? The audience never knows fully what Iago is. Even his motivations are murky. He throws out many reasons for his plot- Cassio's promotion by Othello, Emilia's possible infidelity with Othello, love for Desdemona, or for Roderigo's money. In the end we never know as Iago's last lines in the poem are, "From this time forth. I never will speak word." (5.2.310)
This confusion about Iago makes the tragedy more poignant. Desdemona is killed. Emilia is killed. Roderigo is killed. Othello is dead. Cassio suffers a career ending injury. All of this carnage is the result of Iago who will not speak. His silence is as poisonous as his speech.
1 comment:
I love the keen observation here about Iago's "anarchic" self-characterization. Also, I had not noticed before that Iago opens with the same sentiment (in very similar terms) that he closes the play. I agree that this indeterminate motive give the play's tragedy a unique texture. I often think of *Othello* when certain kinds of tragic events happen in real life, as we try to find motives for actions and events that are hard, or impossible, to explain.
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