FREE ESSAY ON HONEST IAGO

HONEST IAGO

Honest Iago
The poet Coleridge appropriately described the character of Iago as being one of
motiveless malignity. Throughout the play Iago's motives are secondary to, and seem only
to serve as justification for, his actions. Iago is driven by his nature of character. To
discuss Coleridge's assessment we must look at Iago's character-from Iago's point of view
and that of the other characters-his motives, methods, and pawns. Through some carefully
thought-out words and actions, Iago is able to manipulate others to do things in a way
that benefits him; all the while he is pushing Othello, Desdemona, Roderigo, Emilia, and
Cassio to their tragic end.
According to Websters New International Dictionary, Second Edition, malignity is
partially defined as disposition to do evil. Motiveless is implied in the definition of
malignity. That one has a disposition to do evil is to say evil is in the nature of the
malignant person; motive is not an issue. Motiveless malignity is redundant in the pure
meaning of the words. Does Coleridge mean to say that Iago cannot help himself from being
evil or does he mean that what Iago did was without motive? For the sake of this
discussion, Coleridge intends the later.
Abbott states in truth character is what a person is; reputation is what he is supposed
to be. (Websters) Is Iago evil? No, he is not. Walter Lippmann says that evil is not a
quality of things as such. It is a quality of our relation to them. (Websters) Iago is
not opposed to good (a partial definition of evil) however, he is amoral and malicious.
How does Iago see himself? Others there are who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty,
keep yet their hearts attending on themselves, and throwing but shows of service on their
lords do well thrive by them, and when they have lined their coats do themselves homage.
These fellows have some soul, and such a one do I profess myself. [Act I, Scene I, Line
49] Iago says of Cassio that he hath a daily beauty in his life that makes me ugly [Act
V, Scene I, Line 19] Iago is aware of his lack of social graces. However Iago does not
feel ugly toward himself. He feels vindicated; But I'll set down the pegs that make this
music, as honest as I am. [Act II, Scene I, Line 194] Ironically, Iago says of himself
yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience to do no contrived murder. I lack iniquity
sometimes to do me service. [Act I, Scene II, Line 2] 
How does Iago see others? He sees the world and other people as animalistic and ruled by
their basest desires. Perhaps Iago knows this because he knows himself so well. Iago
warns Brabanzio that even now an old black ram is tupping your white ewe...you'll have
your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you'll have your nephews neigh to you, you'll
have coursers for cousins, and jennets for germans [Act 1, Scene 1, Line 88 and 110] Iago
describes Othello as a man . . . will tenderly be led by the nose as asses are. [Act I,
Scene III, Line 377] Iago tells Roderigo I never found a man that know how to love
himself . . . Virtue! A fig! Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are
gardens, to which our wills are gardeners . . . If the balance of our lives had not one
scale of reason to poise another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our natures
would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions. [Act I, Scene III, Line 308] Iago's
intelligence and knowledge of human nature (others' and his own) allow him to control the
other characters with ease. 
Why, Iago, why? The initial motive for Iago's devious behavior is to right a misdeed
against him; he, not Cassio, should have been lieutenant. And I, of whom [Othello's] eyes
had seen the proof . . . must be beleed and calmed [Act I, Scene I, Line 28] Then he
changes his motive to jealousy; he proclaims Othello has had an affair with his wife,
Emilia. And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets he's done my office. I know not
if't be true, but I for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety. [Act I,
Scene III, Line 363] The motivelessness comes from the possibility of truth in the
rumor.
Iago will use Desdemona's prime weakness, her naivete, to gain Cassio's position. Iago
reveals his plan; His soul is so enfettered to her love, that she may make, unmake, do
what she list, even as her appetite shall play the god with his weak function...And she
for him pleads strongly to the Moor, I'll pour this pestilence into his ear, that she
repeals him for her body's lust; And by how much she strives to do him good, she shall
undo her credit with the Moor. [Act II, Scene III, Line 305] Without having much to do
with Desdemona, Iago shall be her downfall. Without pity or empathy Iago intends to see
her demise. In the movie, during this soliloquy, Iago bare-handedly holds the smoldering
end of a fire log and snuffs it with the palm of his fist saying So will I turn her
virtue into pitch, and out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all.
[Act II, Scene III, Line 320]
Iago first had to gain trust from all the characters. He plies human nature with constant
declarations of love; I think you think I love you...I protest, in the sincerity of love
and honest kindness. [Act II, Scene III, Line 276 and 290] The deception works. Othello:
Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter [Act II, Scene III, Line 225] An honest man
he is, and hates the slime that sticks on filthy deeds . . . My friend, . . . honest,
honest Iago. [Act V, Scene 2, Line 147] Cassio: I never knew a Florentine more kind and
honest. [Act III, Scene 1, Line 37]
Iago builds his reputation; of this Iago says Reputation is an idle and most false
imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving. [Act II, Scene III, Line
244] Throughout the story he is called Honest Iago. Iago is confident in his false
reputation; of Othello Iago says He holds me well, the better shall my purpose work on
him. [Act I, Scene III, Line 366] 
Iago is smart. He is an excellent judge of people and their characters. He knows Roderigo
is in love with Desdemona and would do anything to have her as his own. Iago says about
Roderigo, Thus do I ever make my fool my purse. [Act I, Scene III, Line 359] By playing
on Roderigo's hopes, Iago is able to swindle money and jewels from him, thus making
himself a profit, while using Roderigo to forward his other goals. He observes of Othello
The Moor is of a free and open nature that thinks men honest that but seem to be so [Act
I, Scene III, Line 375] and is of a constant, loving, noble nature. [Act II, Scene II,
Line 265]
Iago is cunning and crafty and able to improvise when something unexpected occurs. Iago's
ideas are born when he spies Cassio take Desdemona's hand before the arrival of Othello;
With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. [Act II, Scene I,
Line 164] When talking with Cassio about Bianca (Othello thinking the subject is
Desdemona) Bianca comes in with the famous handkerchief. Though not part of his immediate
plot, Iago uses this appearance to his full advantage. To Othello Iago taunts And to see
how he prizes the foolish woman your wife? She gave it him, and he hath given it his
whore. [Act IV, Scene I, Line 63
Iago poisons people's thoughts, creating ideas in their heads without implicating
himself. And what's he then that says I play the villain, when this advice is free I
give, and honest, [Act II, Scene III, Line 297] says Iago, the master of deception. He's
proud of his deceit; Work on, my medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught, and
many worthy and chaste dames even thus, all guiltless, meet reproach. [Act IV, Scene I,
Line 42] As planned, people rarely stop to consider the possibility that Iago could be
deceiving or manipulating them; after all, he is Honest Iago.
His first victim is Roderigo. Roderigo remarks, That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as
if the strings were thine. [Act I, Scene I, Line 2] Throughout the play, Iago leads
Roderigo, professing that . . . I do hate [the Moor] as I do Hell pains. [Act I, Scene I,
Line 152] He tells Roderigo to Put money in thy purse [Act I, Scene III, Line 328] so
that he can win Desdemona with gifts. Iago keeps for himself those gifts that Roderigo
intends for Desdemona. Roderigo eventually questions Iago's honesty, saying I think it is
scurvy, and begin to find myself fopped in it. [Act IV, Scene II, Line 191] When accused,
Iago simply feeds false hope and offers that killing Cassio will aid Roderigo's cause.
Roderigo laps it up like a starving dog; I have no great devotion to the deed, and yet he
has given me satisfying reason. [Act V, Scene I, Line 8] And with this deed, Roderigo is
lead to his death by the hands of Honest Iago.
Cassio also believes that Iago is trying to help him. Iago is planning the demise of his
supposed friend. On the night of Cassio's watch, Iago persuades him to take another
drink, knowing that it will make him very drunk. Cassio reluctantly relents, saying I'll
do't, but it dislikes me. [Act II, Scene III, Line 37] Iago is able to make him defy his
own reasoning to take another drink by plying Cassio's nature to be needed, admired, and
a comrade to his charge. Later Roderigo follows through with Iago's plan to make Cassio
look like an irresponsible fool. Crafty Iago has gained; Cassio is terminated from
lieutenant. Iago then sets another of his plans in motion. He tells Cassio to beg
Desdemona to help his cause, saying, She holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more
than she is requested. [Act II, Scene III, Line 284 Cassio blindly tells Iago, You advise
me well. [Act II, Scene III, Line 289] Eventually Iago snares Cassio and Roderigo
attempts to murder him.
Othello holds Iago to be his close friend and advisor; I think thou dost [love Othello],
and for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty and weigh'st thy words before thou givest
them breath. [Act III, Scene III, Line 119] He believes Iago to be a person, of exceeding
honesty, and knows all qualities, with learned spirit of human dealings [Act III, Scene
III, Line 259] Unfortunately Othello does not know how truly he speaks. Iago uses the
trust Othello puts in him to turn Othello against his beloved wife and lieutenant. 
How can no one see through Iago's mask? The answer -- Emilia can. Iago's wife, Emilia, is
the one who eventually unravels her husband's plan. After Othello strikes Desdemona,
Emilia unwittingly describes her husband as the cause of Othello's anger; I will be
hanged if some eternal villain, some busy and insinuating rogue, some cogging, cozening
slave, to get some office, have not devised this slander; I'll be hanged else. [Act IV,
Scene 2, Line 130] And Iago's answer to that Fie, there is no such man, it is impossible!
[Line 134] Emilia gives Iago's plot away. Emilia, now an obstacle and a nuisance, is
killed by Iago for practical reasons. She serves no purpose to him anymore and now she
can only hurt his chances of keeping his position as lieutenant. 
Like the symbolic chess pieces in the film version, Iago manipulates the pieces toward an
end. He uses skill and knowledge of the nature of things to play a game and win. He does
not make each move with conscious reason, only to win the game; thus Iago is motiveless
at each step. He is like a child who only enjoys tumbling down the blocks of other
children; he is the play-yard bully. When asked why, the bully generally shrugs and says
I don't know. Similarly when asked why, Iago's response is just as simple: What you know,
you know. [Act V, Scene 2, Line 302] And Iago knew why; and he knew how. Iago most
honestly confesses to Emily I told him what I thought, and told no more than what he
found himself was apt and true [Act V, Scene 2, Line 175] The unspoken line comes next:
they believed what they wanted-they are the guilty not I. Iago is a crafty, intelligent,
manipulative school-yard bully, who is motiveless at each move. Iago is an honest
man--deadly honest.