I am not what I am. — Iago, Act 1.
In this day and age, under strict law enforcement and prejudice from society, maniacs, lunatics and nutjobs cannot exert their ideology unless they conceal themselves, hid among the people, and use deceitful tactics to lure in their victims. They are like anglerfishes, hiding in the dark, waiting for a lonely fish to swim by. They will first show light, then, as the victim gets closer and closer, to the ever warm and soft glowing ball of hope, the Anglerfish then seizes this chance and envelops its prey. I believe that I’ve witnessed a wise and towering anglerfish, so foul that it even swallows its own kin, through its craftiness and deceptions.
In the play Othello, Shakespeare explore the concepts of love, war and jealousy, through deception. The foul anglerfish I’ve just mentioned is no other than the antagonist of the story, Iago. One could call him a psychopath, but that would be undermining his power to use words and trickery to manipulate people, like a puppeteer to his puppets. In the first Act, Iago already manages to manipulate Brabantio, the father of Desdemona (Othello’s wife), and tricked him to try and arrest Othello for using “witchcraft” on his daughter. Iago is often perceived as a crazy and insane person, with unpredictable actions, but he is far more than that. “There is only one difference between a genius and a fool (crazy person), people believe the genius.” In this sense, Iago plays the role of the kind “Honest Iago”, but underneath that, he plays the role of a sinister puppeteer, hiding in plain sight and controlling people in the shadows. Although Iago is highly manipulative, I believe that it is because he choose his victim well that Othello ultimately fell into the trap Iago laid down.
First, we must understand what it means to “choose a victim well”. From an ethical point, to choose well means that you will not regret the decision and stand firm in your beliefs as you make a choice. To choose a victim well, means that you will need to be well-versed in knowing how to choose victims and knowing the victim well.
Psychologists have proven through exams and tests that, the more psychotic a person is, the easier they are able to identify potential victims. In a study, subjects were tested by watching a series of videos for possible victims. The videos recorded some victims of muggings walking along the side of the road, and the most psychotic test subjects were able to identify all of them as possible victims. Just from looking at the way they walked, the way they breathed, the subjects were able to identify the weaker looking people and be able to plan out how to mug them. In the First Act, we are brought the news that a new lieutenant was promoted. Iago was very jealous of this and clearly felt like it was unjust as he has been by Othello’s side for countless years. He believe that they had a special bond, as partners in war and best friends in life. He knew the general’s wife well, and all the people around him. Iago has being by Othello’s side for years. Iago thus started scheming against his ‘best friend’. A great mind confined with a vast sea of knowledge, there was no better victims for Iago than Othello.
Call up her father,
Rouse him. Make after him, poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plague him with flies. Though that his joy be joy,
Yet throw such changes of vexation on ‘t
As it may lose some colour. — Iago
In Act I, Iago is seen with Roderigo, during the middle of the night, each with their own reason to complain about Othello. Iago sees this as an opportunity and puts Roderigo under his spell. Using their hatred for the moor, Iago brainwashes Roderigo and makes him assist in the grand scheme of torturing Othello. He leads Roderigo and manipulates him to waking up Brabantio, Desdemona’s father. Using his words, Iago and Roderigo convinced Brabantio that his daughter was bewitched by the moor, and that they needed to go to confront him. Immiediantly after the introduction of Iago and Roderigo, Shakespeare already demonstrates how scheming Iago could be, through a series of deception, rumours and scheme. Although this first plan failed and Othello left to attend to the war, Iago was able to plant a seed in Othello, thorough Brabantio.
“Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: She has deceived her father, and may thee.” — Act 1
Although he dismissed Brabantio at first, later during Act III these words comes back to haunt Othello as his ‘best friend’ tells him the same thing.
“She deceived her father by marrying you;” — Act 3
In Act 2, we see Iago again, this time he sets his eyes on the lieutenant, Michael-Cassio. Utilising his art of manipulation, Iago en-roots in Cassio’s mind that he must drink until he’s completely drunk.
“Come, lieutenant, I have
a bottle of wine; and here outside are a number of
Cyprus gents that would happily drink a round to the
health of black Othello.” — Act II scene 3.
At first Cassio declines, like a plump salmon who only knows how to eat, he eventually bits onto the bait and becomes drunk. Iago exploits this and summons Roderigo, who pretends to be angry, and gets the lieutenant into a fight.
Iago chooses his victims well. He knows all of the people around Othello, and takes advantages of their individual strengths and weaknesses, and masterfully operates these human puppets into deluding Othello in a seemingly never-ending torture. Iago has indeed choose his victims well, as he knows what they are think and knows when it is the perfect time to strike. After the incident of drunk Cassio, ‘Honest Iago’ tells Cassio to ask Desdemona to plead to Othello, so that Cassio can regain back his position in the army. He tells Cassio that “This broken joint between you and her husband entreat her to splinter,” and that all will be forgiven if Othello hears her out. Little did anyone know “out of [Desdemona’s] own goodness make the net. That shall enmesh them all.”
Iago was able to convince Cassio that Desdemona will fix his problem, all the while creating a new problem for Othello, that his wife is secretly cheating on him with Cassio. Again, Iago choose his victim well, he knew all the people around Othello, and knew how to control them within his grasps to twist Othello’s world upside down.
