Iago and evil, a school essay.
The following talks about reasons for Iago to destroy Othello's life and the ways in which Shakespeare explores the idea of evil.
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Shakespeare explores the idea of evil in the play Othello mainly through his character Iago. Iago personifies many aspects of evil. Shakespeare also explores the idea of evil through Othello, a character who changes from good into evil. Evil is also explored through other characters' actions, even though the characters appear good throughout the rest of the play.
One method Shakespeare uses to explore the idea of evil is animal imagery. Bestial imagery is used in a negative way to lower the sophistication of the character's speech. When Iago mentions 'drown cats and blind puppies', (1.3.332-3) a negative effect is created, enforcing his evil character. Shakespeare also uses bestial imagery in conjunction with racist phrases to double the cruel effect of these words. This is demonstrated in phrases such as 'old black ram' (1.1.87). The racist evil of the word 'black', together with the word 'ram' strengthen the audiences perception of evil in Iago. Bestial images become more common in Othello's speech as the play progresses to demonstrate the effect Iago has on Shakespeare's lead character.
Shakespeare uses Iago's characteristics to demonstrate the growing evil in Othello by mirroring them in Othello's speech and actions. The increased use of hellish imagery in Othello's speech as the play progresses shows the degradation of Othello's character due to Iago's influence. Aggressiveness is portrayed by Shakespeare in both Othello's speech and actions, such as when Othello slaps Desdemona across the face in Act 4, Scene 1. Sexual phrases such as 'lewd minx' (3.3.475) are normally associated with Iago but they progressively become more common in Othello's speech. These characteristics are more readily associated with Iago's evil personality and explore how another person's evil influence may change or reveal the hidden side of a personality.
The idea of evil and cruelty through racial insult is further explored by Shakespeare through other characters such as Emilia, who calls Othello the 'blacker devil' (5.2.131). The evil behind these words is stronger than Iago's insults as Emilia appears to be otherwise a kind and caring character. Shakespeare contrasts the evil of racism with the kindness of the Duke when he chooses to judge Othello only by personality, not by race.
Shakespeare further explores the idea of evil when he contrasts characters through the structure of their speech. Characters with high rank, importance or sophistication speak in poetry, while characters with low rank or importance speak in prose. The use of structure in Iago's speech, which often changes from prose to poetry, further enhances the evil in Iago's character. The changes between prose and poetry are explored more thoroughly through the changes in Othello's character. At the beginning of the play Shakespeare depicts Othello to be a good character as he speaks only in poetry. As Othello's character degrades so does his quality of speech. First the sentence structure degrades, so he is speaking in short phrases, and then he begins speaking in prose. This final phase of Othello's degradation of character demonstrates the change of his character from good to evil.
The idea of evil is also explored from a different angle by Shakespeare through the trickery and lies of Iago. Through soliloquies the audience discovers the truth of Iago's character, but in front of Othello, Cassio and the other characters Iago is an 'honest and just' (5.1.31) personality. This aspect of Iago's character shows that he is not just evil but he is also a cunning person who is able to wait patiently for opportune moment to carry out his plan. Shakespeare furthers this idea with Iago's words 'I am not what I am' (1.1.65).
Iago's evil character is most strongly explored through the use of the soliloquies Shakespeare uses to tell the audience his character's reasons for wanting to destroy Othello's life. These motives explore evil as being unreasonable in nature. Phrases such as 'pleasure, me a sport' (1.3.368) show that Iago wishes to ruin Othello's life simply for his own entertainment. The unreasonableness of evil is also explored when Iago mentions a suspicion that Othello had taken his wife to himself. Iago sys that he does not know if it is true, but that 'for mere suspicion' (1.3.389) he would hurt Othello.
Shakespeare explores evil through the changes in Othello's character. The writer foreshadows the future events of the play early on when he suggests that if Desdemona should leave Othello 'chaos is come again' (3.3.98-100), suggesting that the lead character has an evil side that will appear later in the play. The final act of the play is a harsh contrast to the opening stages of the play in regard to Othello's character. Shakespeare demonstrates how strong Iago's influence was on Othello's personality and to how great an extent Iago was able to change Othello when Othello kills Desdemona. Othello denies that he had anything to do with her murder, and this lie to protect himself is contrasted by Desdemona's lie to protect her husband. The motive behind each lie shows the evil in Othello's character compared to the goodness seen in his wife's personality.
Through his characters actions and changes in personality Shakespeare has explored many different aspects of evil in the play Othello.