What is the effect of the language that Shakespeare gives Iago in
the play Othello? In the play Othello, Shakespeare uses a variety of language in order to reveal Iagos true character; while the other characters are fooled by his guise of honour and loyalty, we as an audience are shown the true villain that lies beneath his veneer of respectability. The playwrights ability to illustrate Iagos personality through predominantly the use of language is particularly significant as it means the audience are omniscient as they view the events of the play, whereas the majority of the characters on stage have their vision clouded by honest Iago. This indirect method of portraying Iagos character also creates an incredibly tense atmosphere; we as an audience appreciate Iagos malicious nature but can do nothing other than watch in desperation as he creates chaos in Cyprus. From the beginning of the play, the audience immediately receives an impression of Iagos malicious character. In the very first scene, Iago uses animalistic imagery when telling Brabantio of the scandalous marriage of Othello and Desdemona, very now, an old black ram/ is tupping your white ewe. The choice of lexis lends sexual connotations and thus illustrates Iagos intelligence as he effectively infuriates Brabantio. The fact that Iago highlights the racial difference between Othello and Desdemona shows his awareness of his audience; the early 17th century public would have thought it outrageous that a dukes daughter would even consider marrying a black ram. Iago then continues to comment youll have your daughter/ covered with a Barbary horse, youll have your nephews/ neigh to you; the reductive imagery clearly illustrates Iagos hatred of Othello and is particularly significant throughout the rest of the play as we see Iagos ability to conceal his true emotions about Othello. Iagos use of language is also relevant in that it reveals the mans wit and intelligence, upon Desdemonas arrival in Cyprus he engages in a conversation which reveals his true mastery of rhetoric. His use of chiasmus players in your/ housewifery, and housewives in your beds illustrates his intelligence and the use of the couplet If she be black, and thereto have a wit,/ shell find a white that shall her blackness fit, shows how Iago is able to use language to create a specific atmosphere. Although in this instance his words are used to create humour, the events of this scene are particularly significant as later on the play Iago will use his accomplished wordplay to destroy rather than to entertain. Throughout the play Iago predominantly uses language to convince Othello that his wife is having an affair with his lieutenant Michael Cassio, from the moment Iago first introduces the subject we immediately see Page 1 of 2
Ed Moss, L6L1
29/01/11
how he uses his language to convince Othello. Before even beginning to
talk about Cassio Iago comments My noble lord, he then continues throughout their conversation to make additional flattering comments such as you know I love you and dear my lord. The way in which Iago exaggerates is love for Othello is crucial in that it causes Othello to trust Iago wholly and so leads to the name of honest Iago. The language is also dramatically ironic for, as an audience, we know Iagos true emotions. Iagos use of language is also particularly effective in this scene as he uses his wordplay to control the pace of the conversation. It is crucial that Iago does not seem to forceful in the way in which he talks of Desdemona and Cassio and so uses various techniques to extend the conversation over a long period. He repeats Othello on several occasions, Is he not honest? / Honest, my Lord?/What dost thou think?/ Think my Lord? and in doing so makes himself seem innocent. Throughout the conversation Iago also continues to change the subject, he rarely speaks directly to Othello and persists in a continuous use of imagery, Poor and content is rich, and rich enough/ but riches fineless is as poor as winter. Not only does this achieve the desired effect in extending the length of the conversation, it also means Othello becomes more and more desperate to hear what Iago has to say. Once he has initiated the idea that Desdemona is having an affair, Iago then uses his mastery of language to further convince Othello that it is true. He cleverly suggests adultery without ever using any obvious language. For example he comments, In Venice they do let God seethe pranks/ they dare not show their husbands; this is said in almost lackadaisical fashion but is particularly pertinent. Although Iago may seem to be simply joking, it obviously touches a raw nerve in Othellos mind. Iago also suggests that Desdemona may be having an affair, again not through a direct comment, but by suggesting she has supernatural powers. To seel her fathers eyes up close as oak/ He thought twas witchcraft, he draws Othellos attention to the fact that she deceived her father and so may deceive him. Again we see how Iago is careful in that he uses imagery to imply that Desdemona is not loyal and so makes it seem as much Othellos idea as his. Shakespeares continuous use of imagery in many ways reflects Iagos character for I am not what I am, he is always pretending to be something that he is not.