In Othello,
written by Shakespeare, dramatic irony is used to develop our understanding of
characters in the play. Through soliloquies and asides, dramatic irony gives
the audience knowledge and information that other characters do not have. This
creates tension and suspense because the audience wonders if the truth will
come out in time. In Othello, Iago’s soliloquies reveal his plans and also give
us an understanding into his true nature that we would not get from his
interactions with Othello. Through the soliloquy’s, we also learn how trusting
and easily lead Othello is.
Dramatic irony is used to develop our
understanding of Iago as a character, it reveals who he is, not the mask of an
honest follower he puts up for Othello. Iago is a Machiavellian character. A
Machiavellian character is deceitful, expedient and cunning. They are clever
and ruled by their goals. Machiavellian characters are quite common in
Shakespeare’s plays with Hamlet and Richard II from their eponymous works having
the same characteristics as Iago. They are all out for themselves as exampled
in Iago’s own soliloquy: “Others there are who, trimmed in forms and visages
of duty, keep yet their hearts attending on themselves… and such a one I do
profess myself.” In that passage, we learn that although Iago seems that he
has a duty to someone, he is really only out for himself, so he can get
somewhere in life. We learn of Iago’s cunningness in another soliloquy: “After
some time, to abuse Othello’s ear that he is too familiar with his wife; he
hath a person and a smooth dispose to be suspected, framed to make woman
false.” The audience learns of Iago’s clever plan to destroy his enemies. This
teaches the audience of Iago’s deceitful nature.
As a true Machiavellian character, Iago is shown
to be honest, reliable and people count on him for his opinions. But, as the
audience learns through his soliloquies, he embodies the opposite of these
qualities, which gives the play some dramatic irony. Here the audience is
hoping that Othello can see his fault in relying and trusting in Iago before it
is too late. The jealous part of Iago’s complicated character is revealed to
the audience when he divulges to us why he detests Michael Cassio and Othello.
“I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets he’s done
my office. I know not if’t be true yet I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will
do as if for surety.” This shows the audience that Iago suspects Othello
has slept with his wife, Emilia. Iago’s jealousy is displayed when Iago admits
that he doesn’t know for sure if Othello has done what is rumoured but he will
get back at him anyway in case it is true. The audience see that he doesn’t
have any sustainable evidence against Othello but he will accuse him of sleeping
with his wife anyway. Iago also makes it clear of his jealousy for Cassio: “Cassio’s
a proper man: let me see now; to get his place and to plume up my will in
double knavery.” Iago wants Cassio’s placing at lieutenant and believes he
is better for the job. The audience can also see through this part of the
soliloquy how depraved Iago is as he wants to “plume up my will”, meaning he
wants to have a little fun while destroying Cassio, showing us that this is a
game to him and he gets enjoyment out of his plan. Through dramatic irony, we
get an understanding of Iago’s evil, deceitful and jealous character.
The audience also gets a deeper understanding of
the character of Othello, the eponymous protagonist, through dramatic irony. We
learn how trusting Othello is of others as he relies on his ensign Iago for
advice and trusts him greatly. He mentions the words ‘honest’ or ‘honesty’
in relation to Iago over 50 times in the play. This shows the audience how
assured he is that Iago is a reliable and reputable man. But what the audience
knows that he doesn’t is how corrupt and untrustworthy Iago is. Through dramatic irony we know that Iago, in
fact, despises Othello and the audience discovers that Othello must be very
trusting not to see or want to see through the mask of honesty and
companionship that Iago shows Othello. Othello is also very easily led, despite
his title as Army General. Because of his fatal flaw, jealousy, he chooses to
see what he wants to see. This makes him easily manipulated by Iago into believing
that Desdemona has cheated on him with Cassio. The audience knew that Desdemona
had been faithful and saw how easily Othello was tricked into believing that
she wasn’t because of the weak evidence Iago gave him. “but such a
handkerchief- I am sure it was your wife’s- did I today see Cassio wipe his
beard with.” And Othello was quick to believe him: “O that the slave had
forty thousand lives! One is too poor, too weak, for my revenge. Now do I see
‘tis true. Look here, Iago, All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven; ‘Tis
gone.” Because of dramatic irony, we see how easily manipulated Othello is
into believing what isn’t true.
In
Shakespeare’s play Othello, dramatic irony creates an understanding of
character. We get to understand how cunning, deceitful and jealous Iago really
is while he is perceived to be very honest and trustworthy. Through dramatic
irony, the audience also understands Othello as a character because we see how
trusting and easily led he really is. Dramatic irony shows us parts of characters
we would not get to see otherwise, through dialogue with other characters.
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