Iago Flashcards
- “I know…
- “I know my price. I am worth no worse a place.”
We can see his anger at being treated unjustly within the system.
- “I am…
- “I am not what I am”
Installs dramatic irony from the very beginning, he explicitly tells us to not trust him.
- “by…
- “by Janus”
Swears on the God of two faces, indicating his belief in being false.
- “virtue?…
- “virtue? a fig. Our bodies are our gardens, to which our wills are gardeners”
People are in control of their own actions, not only indicates he knows what he’s doing but feels quite dark that it’s reduces emotion so clinically.
- “I play…
- “I play the villain”
Metatheatrical acknowledgment he show’s a greater understanding of himself, technically is honest here.
“dull not…
- “dull not device by coldness and delay”
There is obviously a part of him that knows this is wrong, he is rushing through it to prevent remorse, emphasises his overwhelming hatred/jealousy.
“witness that…
- “witness that here Iago doth give up the execution of his wit, hands, heart to wronged Othello’s service”
Sacrilegious ceremony between him and Othello - feels marriage like and shows how he worms his way into people’s minds by making them feel safe.
“I hear…
- “I hear not your honest friend; I hear you”
The clown figure- is able to comment on characters freely, his could be interpreted that he’s talking about Iago and using irony to display the truth, he is only brushed aside.
“with a…
- “with a little act upon the blood, burn like the mines of sulphur”
His often equates his own actions with hell-like references placing him in line with the devil himself.
“work…
- “work on, My medicine, work!”
Physically, Iago is above Othello on stage representing the true balance of power. The fact that he leers over Othello in such a vulnerable and uncontrolled situation highlights his lack of empathy.
“do not…
- “do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day!”
This is a genuinely cruel moment in the play that causes a reaction of disgust from the audience, as he comforts the woman he has essentially planned the death of. We realise that he is incapable of empathy for those he has hurt - Machiavellian.
“O…
- “O damned Iago! O inhuman dog!”
Roderigo’s last words- chilling. The animalistic portrayal of Iago feels very raw and painful, as Roderigo finally realises too late what Iago truly is under his facade.
“this is t…
- “this is the night that either makes me , or fordoes me quite.”
It’s the final moment of Iago’s plan, and the revelation of his hard work to see those who he has built up hatred towards come tumbling down. Although he gets arrested i would still say Iago won.
the moor’s…
The Moor’s abused by some most villainous knave
(emilia abt iago unknowingly)
“what you…
- “what you know you know. From this time forth I never will speak word.”
In my opinion Iago wins, we never get the reason nor does anyone else, so he has still managed to keep us in the dark and it refuses us from a satisfactory ending.
