CORINNENOTES
QUESTION 3
IS IAGO A REPRESENTATION OF PURE EVIL OR A MERE OPPORTUNIST?
The idea that Iago is more than just a representation of pure evil can be seen to be a modern idea.Shakespeare's contemporaries were able to accept the concept of good and evil without need to analyse them.In the 21st (as indeed in the 20th) century however the concept of evil can no longer be accepted without being analysed and it is therefore unsurprising that Iago's role has been questioned.Is he really just a contrast to Desdemona's inherent goodness? Or had Shakespeare through the use of Iago explored the idea of the opportunist who,rather than being totally evil,was driven by an inner force to better himself?
If the argument that Iago is not simply a representation of pure evil is to be sustained it is important that Iago has a motive.Iago's motive is part of a major theme of the play:jealousy.The audience is aware from the beginning of the play of Iago's jealousy.He thinks that he,rather then Cassio, "a great arithmetician",should have been made officer by Othello, "I know my worth".The fact that Iago's hatred for Othello,and his suspicions of an affair between Othello and Emilia, "that 'twixt my sheets",are revealed in his first soliloquy help to explain why Iago continues to destroy Othello after receiving the position of officer,as does the fact that Iago reveals to the audience that he is in "love" with Desdemona.The images of jealousy in the play help to support the idea that Iago was driven by this motive rather than being pure evil.Emilia describes jealousy as "a monster/Begot upon itself,born upon itself".Even Iago warns Othello to beware of "the green-eyed monster",this of course is ironic considering how Iago is being affected by this monster.The comparisons between Iago and Othello when he descends into madness due to his jealousy also support this idea.Othello adopts the crude language, "hot hot moist",previously used by Iago, showing how jealousy has effected them in similar ways.
Can jealousy really be used as a reason to explain totally why Iago destroys Othello,though?As well as showing the similar effects of jealousy ,the comparisons between Othello and Iago also show differences.Othello's jealousy leaves him unable to perform his duty and unable to take control of the situation, "Think so Iago?".Iago however remains totally in control.It is Iago who drives the plot, "poison his delight" rather than the twists of fate which govern Othello.
There is no doubt that Iago seizes the opportunities that present themselves to him,not least in implicating Bianca and killing Roderigo.He however remains in command of the situation and can be held responsible for creating the opportunities that arise.Emilia reveals how Iago had requested her to steal the handkerchief, "That which so often you did bid me to steal", and it is Iago who creates the confrontation between Brabantio and Othello.Iago even states that he will "make the net/That shall enmesh them all",the images of entrapment helping to create the idea of Iago being in control of the downfall of the other characters.The fact that Iago sets out to "untune" Desdemona and Othello's relationship also shows how Iago is creating chaos. His manipulation of the characters is also a major factor in creating the opportunities which arise.Othello,Roderigo and Cassio all become victims of Iago's manipulation. A mere opportunist would never have been responsible for this much creation of events.
Another aspect which leads towards the conclusion that Iago is not simply an opportunist is the pleasure he takes out of his plans, "Pleasure and action make the hours seem short".He delights in not being what he seems,refering to the Roman God Janus (who has two faces) and even telling Othello that "men should be what they seem",despite the fact he has already revealed "I am not what I am".Through Iago,Shakespeare has explored the theme of appearance and reality.The military values which are supposed to exist between soldiers:honesty,trust and friendship are all destroyed by Iago.These values are what makes the character's so open to Iago's manipulation, showing how Iago has the intelligence to use these values to his own advantage,he is aware after all that Othello knows only of the "tented field" and will believe him over Desdemona.
The contrast Shakespeare created between Desdemona and Iago also cannot be ignored. Desdemona is described by the characters in terms of heaven, "divine",while Iago refers to himself in terms of hell: "When devils will the blackest sins put on".This contrast is most apparent when Iago looks to hell to destroy Othello: "Hell and night/Must bring this monstrous birth to the worlds light" while Desdemona looks to heaven to protect Othello, "heaven keep that monster from his mind".It is important to remember that "Othello" is essentially a play of contrasts: light/dark; heaven/hell; good/evil; order/chaos (see Themes) and the majority of these contrasts are created by the comparison of Iago and Desdemona.If Desdemona can therefore be seen to represent everything which is good and pure in the play,acting as the "light",Iago can be seen to represent darkness and evil.Iago's language further adds to the image of evil,it is crude and often contains animal imagery: "hot as monkeys".Iago even uses the paradox "divinity of hell",once again contrasting him with Desdemona.
The fact that for Iago,unlike Othello,there is no redemption also adds to the argument that Iago is representative of pure evil.Iago's pretence is maintained until the final moment, "Filth,thou liest",and unlike Othello Iago has no regrets, "What you know,you know".There is no sign of repentance and his final act is that of cold bloodedly murdering Emilia.The violence of this murder also contrasts with the way Othello murdered Desdemona.
The fact that the audience feel no sympathy for Iago also adds to the idea he represents pure evil.The audience recognises that his motive is groundless,Othello is totally in love with Desdemona and not having an affair with Emilia and while Iago thinks that Cassio is not capable of being officer the intelligence of Othello and the fact that Cassio is chosen to succeed Othello in Act four,Scene one show that Cassio is capable.Unlike Othello's "love" for Desdemona Iago has no true feelings for Emilia so his relationship with her does not create sympathy for him.The fact that Iago has the upper hand on Othello throughout the play also creates dislike.While Othello chooses to reveal what he has done,and his reasons,in the final scene Iago chooses not to do this.This means that the audience never really understand Iago properly.The audience is left to ponder whether there was a motive other than his jealousy that caused Iago to destroy Othello.Critics have tried to fill this gap by a number of suggestions from the quite plausible resentment of social privilege(Iago's reaction to Cassio in Act two,Scene one supports this idea) to the slightly more controversial idea that Iago is a latent homosexual and in love with Othello.
Ultimately though,Iago is the villain throughout the play.He never progresses from being the villain due to his lack of repentance.Equally he has no redeeming features.Yes,his intelligence can be admired but the fact that he uses it to create evil and chaos means the audience is unable to associate this as being a good feature.His motive also has to be questioned, after all is it necessary for Iago to have a motive to destroy Othello?Supporters of the theory that Iago is an opportunist would say yes,I personally would be inclined to disagree.After all it is easily recognised that Othello has little reason to murder Desdemona and surely Iago has even less reason(and proof)to destroy Othello.Through Iago Shakespeare has explored the concept of evil and whether it can be rationally explained.Iago's motive simply create a more complex character rather than fully explaining Iago's actions.In Iago Shakespeare has created a character where evil exists simply for the sake of existing and Iago can therefore be seen to be a representation of pure evil.