Othello: Iago's Revenge Tragedy?

[dragonzfaerie]

The American Shakespeare Center is currently performing Othello.  As always, one of the things I love about the ASC is their ability to pick up on obscure tidbits of Dialog and bring them to the forefront of a production.  In particular, Iago's justification for his hatred of Othello.  Iago mentions that he feels he was passed over for promotion.  But he also mentions that there is a rumor that Othello has had an affair with his wife.  Later, Iago says the same thing of Cassio. 

Now, of course, I have a fundamental distrust of all dialogue.  However, this speech is often regarded as a fabrication by Iago to justify his actions.  Because of the standard distrust of  Iago, I am more likely to want to trust him.  The performance of Iago that I saw last week convinced me that my reading of this play is possible.  The ASC's Iago put on his show for Rodrigo spouting how much he hated his commander, but when he talked about his wife's potential infidelity, it was not a show for anyone.  Iago's disgust at the sight of Emilia seemed a subtler mirror of Othello's outrage at the sight of Desdemona once he suspects her promiscuity.  Iago says he does not care whether his wife did the things she is accused of or not.  For him, the fact that it has made its way into rumor is enough to condemn them all. 

To me this feels that under this reading, the play Othello follows the structure of a revenge tragedy only focusing on someone other than the revenger.  By purposing this I don't mean to undermine Othello's position of prominence in the play, but rather to purpose a new level of fatalism to the play.  If Iago is feeding Othello with the same poison he himself is suffering from there is no evil mastermind, just fate toying with them all. 

Comments

the resentment that never dies

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Monica,

What interesting questions about Iago. I completely agree with your last line. Of what I remember of Othello, I never wondered whether Iago was telling the truth. It seemed that the fire that was burning him was indeed hot enough to rage and burn anything in its path. It's beyond rumor. It's fury. Fury of watching the world pass him by and call him honest while those with money and power promote whoever is well connected. Isn't that word honest, like the flint, that starts him off on his destructive path to be completely its contrary and accuse all women of the same. I think it's beyond revenge too. I think Iago is so powerful that the play is misnamed. Othello is just a pawn. He's the Iago that cracked the glass ceiling. Othello too suffers from alienation. Iago, who is Italian, feels this all the more so, and becomes the real tragic figure here.

P.S. TKN? I'm really struggling with this one. Folgers says its a co-production between Shakespeare and Fletcher. I think it has too much Fletcher, at least that what I think so far.

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[(Anonymous)]

there is debate over Iago's mtoives he mentions that it is rumored that Othello slept with his wife, Emilia plus Othello passes over Iago for the promotion but really, Iago's actions are all out of scope he is, I think, a sociopath, to say the least (plus he's deliciously evil)Iago has to remain close for his machinations to work don't you think?Iago and Roderigo are looking to get Othello in trouble they know that Barbantio won't approve of the marriage .it is the start of the master planRodergio has long had a crush on Desdemona even though Barbantio thinks he's a foolBarbantio goes over the council's sense of respect for Othello and looks to act without governmental intervention really, I promise, you should read this play it's one of Shakes' best and Iago really is a wonderful villain the film with Branagh isn't too bad but you gotta read it (unless you can see it on stage always the BEST way) to fully appreciate Iago's cunning happy reading!

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[(Anonymous)]

there is debate over Iago's miovets he mentions that it is rumored that Othello slept with his wife, Emilia plus Othello passes over Iago for the promotion but really, Iago's actions are all out of scope he is, I think, a sociopath, to say the least (plus he's deliciously evil)Iago has to remain close for his machinations to work don't you think?Iago and Roderigo are looking to get Othello in trouble they know that Barbantio won't approve of the marriage .it is the start of the master planRodergio has long had a crush on Desdemona even though Barbantio thinks he's a foolBarbantio goes over the council's sense of respect for Othello and looks to act without governmental intervention really, I promise, you should read this play it's one of Shakes' best and Iago really is a wonderful villain the film with Branagh isn't too bad but you gotta read it (unless you can see it on stage always the BEST way) to fully appreciate Iago's cunning happy reading!