In William Shakespeare’s Othello,
the character Iago uses his relationships with others to result in their
downfalls; however, Shakespeare makes his characters proclaim their trust in
Iago so often that it is almost overused. (I do not mean to take anything away
from the brilliant plays of Shakespeare; I merely believe that these particular
parts of the play are almost unnecessary.) Iago makes it clear in his speeches
to himself that his motives include using others’ trust in him against them.
For example, he mentions in a previous act, after accusing Othello of sleeping
with his wife, that “nothing can or shall content [his] soul, Till [he] is
evened with him, wife for wife” (580). Iago makes it clear that he seeks
revenge on Othello. Even earlier in the play, he made his jealousy for Cassio
(after receiving the position Iago felt he deserved) also clear, hoping to
frame him and ruin the relationship between the two. In Act III, after
finishing a conversation with Iago, Cassio proclaims that “[he] never knew, A
Florentine man more kind and honest” (590). Even though this line is meant to
reveal Cassio’s trust towards Iago, I believe it is somewhat unnecessary.
Cassio and Othello make it obvious in their conversations with Iago that they
trust him (for example, when Othello calls upon Iago to explain the
drunk-stabbing incident). They are both very open to Iago, and he is comforting
in return by telling them what they want to hear. When Shakespeare uses lines
like that on page 590, it is somewhat redundant. He has already made it clear
that the trust is there, as well as that it should not be there.
If Emilia
is so supportive of Desdemona, why did she not return the handkerchief when
Desdemona asked? Is she afraid of Iago to any extent? Or does she keep it
simply to please him?
Taylor, I think your view of Shakespeare's overuse of trust, jealousy, etc. is very interesting. I had never considered that it was mere overuse (although i must admit to finding the repetition very dull). I had always accounted the many reiterations as the dramatic effect of Shakespeare. With the time period in which the plays were written, and the fact that they were written as plays to be acted out in front of an audience, I had always read from the perspective of repetitiveness being necessary to get the point across.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your questions, I believe that Emilia and Iago's relationship is that of a power struggle. By having the handkerchief, the item that Iago had asked Emilia to steal for him, Emilia had control. By giving or not giving the handkerchief to Iago, she held power over Iago and the situation. I think she justifies handing over the handkerchief by making a copy of the pattern and also by the fact that she did not actually steal it but merely happening upon it. I don't think that Emilia fears Iago. I think she wants him to consider her a satisfactory wife (we know he does not by the snide remarks he makes in the scene where the exchange with the handkerchief takes place). I discussed Emilia in more depth in my blog if you want to check it out!