Who Is Iago's Identity In Othello

“Some who lies about little things will lie about the big things too” (Terry McAuliffe). In the play, the character Iago lies and manipulates everyone in the play so they follow the scheme he has set for Othello. Othello by William Shakespeare focuses on how Iago is unaware of his identity because of the themes of change, evil, and emptiness.

First one of the main characters in the play changes from being a best friend to being the worst of friends. After Iago consults a depressed Roderigo who is crying over the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. Roderigo goes to sleep as a happy man, however once Roderigo leaves Iago says behind his back, “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse. / For I mine own gained knowledge should profane / If I would time expend with such a snipe / But for my sport and profit” (Shakespeare 1.3. 374-337). Iago could just be messing around and he could never mean such a thing; however,

When Cassio kisses Emilia’s hand he tells Iago it was only a greeting and not to take it in a bad way; however Iago replies with, “Sir, would she give you so much of her lips / As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, / You’ll have enough” (Shakespeare 2.1 109-111). He could be joking about Emilia and not mean a single word he says: however when we thought Iago was a friend we were wrong he is a jerk toward his wife and does not care for her. The former is less likely than the later because Iago can even say anything nice about Desdemona when she asks and does not deny the bad comment he said about Emilia. This quote falls in the category of emptiness because Iago is always some on he is not in a version that cares about no one but himself to someone fake who pretends to care. This makes Iago a changed person with a new identity in every moment of his