Juxtaposition In Othello

Jealousy, Love, Power and the Creation of an Icon

Iago, one of literature’s greatest antagonists, a killer of those whom he never laid a hand on, mastermind, conman, and the greatest liar in history. Who is this man that fits these descriptors, and what provoked him to fabricate and design these terrible ploys and fallacies? Many speculate these to be products of innate characteristics in Iago, a characteristic he was born doing and would continue to do until his expiration. Another school of thought is that there was a point in the play and in Iago’s life situations that caused him to start this iniquitous behavior, and lead him down this path of immorality.

From the very beginning of the play, Iago is held in very high regard within the community in Venice. He is often called “honest Iago” by many people, including his superior, Othello. There is a large juxtaposition between Iago’s perceived character in the beginning of the play, and at the end of the play. There are two possible reasons that this man that many now know to be one of the

Othello, Iago’s superior in the military, is one man who seems to hold Iago in the highest regard, though he does not give him the promotion that is available, he continues to praise Iago and his many decent qualities throughout the play. Othello and Iago are rather close, having been in the military together for what can be assumed to be the majority of their adult lives, consequently, Othello likely knows Iago better than anyone else, even Iago’s own wife. If Iago had always been the cur that he comes to be in the play, Othello would have known, but nonetheless, Othello continues to think of him as nothing but “honest