The Role of Soliloquy's in Othello

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The two male leads in Othello, Iago and Othello, both speak directly to the audience sharing their innermost thoughts through their soliloquies. The protagonist of the play, the tragic Othello, uses soliloquies to show his emotions about what he is told by deceitful Iago regarding his wife’s unfaithfulness. Othello’s soliloquies tend to be emotionally driven and as the play progresses they tend to be become more infected as he descends into rage and jealousy. Iago’s soliloquies however reveal his plans and ideas as to what he wants to create next in the havoc he releases onto the lives around him. His are also quite the opposite of Othello as Iago tends to have a physical drive behind his thoughts he shares with the audience. William Shakespeare uses these as a technique in his plays to allow the audience into the mind of his character without the use of third person narration.

Iago, the villainous character of the play Othello uses his soliloquies to reveal what he has in store for the other characters. From the view of the other characters Iago is an honest and trustworthy person who they all seem to confide in and take advice from. Yet by the end of act 1 scene 3, the audience is informed that he appears to be quite the opposite. He is a two faced character who appears evil on the inside and wants to trap the other characters in his destructive web of lies and hatred. While reading the soliloquy it becomes evident as to how evil Iago is;

“But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,

And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets

He’s don my office. I know not if’t be true,

But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,

Will do as it for surety. He holds me well,

That better shall my purpose work on him.” (1.3:380-...

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...s Othello would not have the same effect on its viewers is the soliloquies did not exist or occur. They are a vital part of the play which adds to the dramatic tension and gives the audience a comprehensible grasp as to what the characters are about to execute on stage. Soliloquies are effective as they not only give the audience information as to what is happening on stage, but they also allow for further insight into the character formation. If every play in the world was to use soliloquies it would be strange, but imagine just how much more comprehensive it would be for people to have a deeper understanding of what they were viewing. Soliloquies are a vital component of the way Shakespeare has constructed the play Othello and without them it would simply be an entirely altered play, not having the same effect on those who are influenced by the tragedy of Othello.

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