Iago

[Chris]

Iago is not an evil character; his personality means that he has a depth through amorality that the trite, two-dimensional style of modern 'villians' is completely detached from Iago, and Shakespeare gives his character the intellect to transcend other characters in the play...don't misunderstand him!

[dr1ft]

IAGO
O murderous slave! O villain!
*Stabs RODERIGO*

Iago kills his confidant. How can you say he's not a villain?

[Minx]

ok not quite sure where you got the idea that Iago wasn't an evil character? he killed his wife and Roderigo? he also plotted against his "supposed" best friend! sure thats not evil, thats just plan nomal behaviour?

[Virgil]

ok not quite sure where you got the idea that Iago wasn't an evil character? he killed his wife and Roderigo? he also plotted against his "supposed" best friend! sure thats not evil, thats just plan nomal behaviour?
I don't think he killed his wife, but he is a villain. In fact he is the epitome of villain. This isn't even debateable.

[Minx]

Nah trust me he does kill her :nod: , check yourself Act5 Scene2 line222

[SkizaWWE]

I agree. He killed her for telling everyone about his plans. It was like the final nail in the coffin of proving his villainy. Although, i can see how you would've come to the conclusion of Iago being misunderstood through maybe these actions providing an outlet for his intelligence, i still feel that despite his qualities, by choosing to go down this path he is a villain never less. A villain is defines as (courtesy of m-w.com) "a deliberate scoundrel or criminal" or " a person or thing blamed for a particular evil or difficulty" which means by definition Iago definitely was a villain.

[tomatoes]

Iago is my favourite character in this play. I like the way he is able to manipulate everyone but I disagree with the intent behind his manipulation. He is definitely the smartest character in the play and the most interesting. The rest of the characters are fairly flat, except for maybe Othello. They all have a role to play and never do anything outside of that role; Desdemona, for example, is the dutiful and annoyningly innocent wife of Othello. The only thing that she does in the entire play is plead Cassio's case for him. She does everything for the men in the play. Iago, however, does things for himself. He has a number of different aspects to him and is a wonderful actor. He managed to convince the entire cast that he was on their side, how brilliant is that!!!

[lil_chicken]

Oi Mr Virgil, seriously have you even read the book??? On the other thread you said that Bianca wasnt a prositute??? Helloooo of course she was, she slept with numerous men, including Cassio. Oh yes Iago is the most famous villain in Shakespeare!!! He killed out of mere enjoyment to see how his plans would unfold. He only wanted to aquire the role which Cassio had as leitenant but once he had gotten that, he liked playing "God" and continued to attain further power!!! His downfall was that he thought he couldn't be caught, his own wife dobbed him in and he KILLED HER! please read the play

luv me xoxox

[Virgil]

I'm sorry. I didn't remember that he kills her. Don't for heaven's sake kill me.

[cRaZy]

Lol You Were Freaked Weren't Ya? By The Way Isn't That Quote Of 'in A Dark Time' Or Something Like That. And Yeah Lolz Check Yourself Before You Set Up Arguements, You Will Have A Whole Literature Class Telling You What You Did Wrong Haha. Guys Go Easy On Him...he Thinks We're Going To Kill Him.

[lil_chicken]

Hey crazy mate, can u tell ms allison my sentence for abnegation cos i won't be in lit tomoro, "Othello had an abnegation of the belief that Desdemona was deceitful" (im hoping it makes sense!!!) thanx mwa xoxo

[nem]

I'm supposed to be writing an essay on 'the theme of beds in Othello'
i can honestly say i have no idea what to write....
is this a reference to sex? or am i way off? i know the idea of this exercise is to make me think lateraly, but i really am confused.

any suggestions?

thanks.x

[kelby_lake]

Iago is not an evil character; his personality means that he has a depth through amorality that the trite, two-dimensional style of modern 'villians' is completely detached from Iago, and Shakespeare gives his character the intellect to transcend other characters in the play...don't misunderstand him!

He is sort of evil but i love him :D He is a bit of a sadist- I think that's how he gets his fun because he seems a pretty cold husband. he loves to be loved- by men.

[Equality72521]

I'm supposed to be writing an essay on 'the theme of beds in Othello'
i can honestly say i have no idea what to write....
is this a reference to sex? or am i way off? i know the idea of this exercise is to make me think lateraly, but i really am confused.

any suggestions?

thanks.x

Wow. I don't even think I got a theme of beds in Othello. Maybe it has something to do with death. I don't think it's sex....I really am leaning towards death now. But like I said, I really don't think I caught that. We never discussed that in my class, and when I read it after I still never saw that. But, death is always a safe answer, :p, especially when it comes to a Shakespeare tragedy.

[kelby_lake]

It's the whole strangle her in her bed thing.
Her marital bed, which she has supposedly 'contaminated', becomes her deathbed. Othello sees this as being suitable punishment.

Death and lust, that's what I'd go for :)

[hootyandtheblow]

i think that the 1995 film version of the film shows that he isn't completely bad. He dresses in white as the plot progresses, suggesting that he is free of guilt. Regardless of whether or not he was evil in earlier scenes, he isn't towards the endHe even states that he won't speak of th plans/deaths again. He isn't COMPLETELY evil.

[kelby_lake]

Maybe it's a front

[Dori]

i think that the 1995 film version of the film shows that he isn't completely bad. He dresses in white as the plot progresses, suggesting that he is free of guilt. Regardless of whether or not he was evil in earlier scenes, he isn't towards the endHe even states that he won't speak of th plans/deaths again. He isn't COMPLETELY evil.

But completely gay, to be sure.

[kelby_lake]

But completely gay, to be sure.

Deffo. Whole blood brothers scene...yep.

[Alexandra Green]

I totally agree with you that he isnt an evil character, the events in the play rely soley on Othello's credulity and the rest of the characters misunderstanding of the situation. :)

[xman]

Iago is evil. He's the epitome of evil. He's every bit as evil as any of Shakespeare's great villains because he is one.

And he's heterosexual if that matters. He's jealous of Othello and Cassio for many reasons.

[kelby_lake]

Iago is evil. He's the epitome of evil. He's every bit as evil as any of Shakespeare's great villains because he is one.

And he's heterosexual if that matters. He's jealous of Othello and Cassio for many reasons.

Nope, Iago definitely has some hang-ups (come on, his dream that Cassio came onto him as Desdemona is very suss). Aaron from Titus Andronicus is arguably more evil.