Iago and Desdemona's Juxtaposition

Richard Pho

Mr. George

Honors World Literature

2 December 2010

The Battle of Good vs. Evil

            Shakespeare has created a clash between right and wrong.  The play, The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare, depicts the tragic downfall of a noble moor known as Othello.  Othello faces several obstacles that seem to increase his rage, changing his personality from sane to insane.  His faithful wife, Desdemona, and his “honest” nobleman, Iago, physically represent conflicting pieces of evidence over the course of the play.  Desdemona and Iago’s conflicting beliefs demonstrate their juxtaposing personalities.  Since these two characters resemble foils of one another, they enhance the tragedy through the overarching theme of good versus evil.

            Desdemona and Iago introduce their conflicting personalities towards Othello.  Iago represents the embodiment of evil, while Desdemona represents the embodiment of good.  Iago motivationally desires to do wrong to many characters in the play by lying, scheming, and creating chaos.  On the other hand, Desdemona is described to be “one that excels the quirks of blazoning pens” (Shakespeare 2.1.69).  She appears faultless, pure, and meek.  These two characters symbolize the battle between good and evil.  The play not only demonstrates this conflict as physical, but also mental and emotional.  Physically, Othello demonstrates superb skills in fighting off his enemies.  Mentally, Othello struggles with both Desdemona and Iago’s claims.  Emotionally, Othello questions the validity of his marriage.  The reoccurring theme of good versus evil prolongs as these two characters influence their lord.  As Othello goes through his journey of discovering the truth, he enters fog as his search to ascertain the truth is clouded.

            In regards to Othello, Desdemona and Iago coincide with their varying degrees of truth.  Clouded by anger because of the perception that his wife is cheating on him, Othello believes Iago’s deceitful statement: “But this denoted a foregone conclusion. / ‘Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream” (3.3.486-487).  Iago claims he heard Cassio talking about his affection for Desdemona.  Even though Othello recognizes the purity in his wife, he cannot fathom Iago to be accurate.  Through manipulation, Iago takes every opportunity where Othello is vulnerable enough to implant the seed of Iago’s plan.  Othello is blinded by the truth, only looking at what is presented in front of him at the moment.  Those few moments unleashed Othello’s inner beast.  Othello’s change in sanity causes him to slowly release his grasp from his lovely wife.  Although Iago manipulates Othello, Othello still struggles to understand the truth as he sees Desdemona’s point of view.  She has never acted in a way to upset Othello.  She defies Brabantio and every other suitor of Venice.  She solely chooses a former black slave to be her husband.  Desdemona’s loyalty to Othello flusters him to determine the truth.  Othello “think[s] [his] wife be honest and think[s] she is not” (3.3.439).  Othello trusts his wife, but after his talk with Iago, Othello has some doubt.  Even with that instance, Othello is persuaded into the tragedy of the play.

            In addition to Othello’s confusion, Desdemona and Iago respond to Othello’s questions in unique manners.  Whenever Othello inquires information from Desdemona, she appears perplexed as if she does not know what to say.  In the end, Othello accuses his wife of committing sins.  Desdemona pleas to “say one [more] prayer!” (5.2.104). Throughout the play, Desdemona’s naivety shows how she does not think about these scenarios.  She cannot fathom what Othello is saying because she does not understand that Iago is manipulating her husband.  In contrast, whenever Othello questions Iago, Iago appears stealthy enough to answer Othello.  Iago is always one step ahead of Othello.  When Othello interrogates Iago about Desdemona’s disloyalty, Iago instantly states that he heard Cassio say “sweet Desdemona, / let us be wary” (3.3.475-476).  Iago takes every opportunity to incorporate another aspect of manipulation.  Iago always knows what to say to Othello.  Desdemona and Iago’s converse approaches highlight their differences.

            Even though Desdemona demonstrates affection towards her husband, the honor and loyalty Desdemona and Iago exhibit are different from one another.  Throughout the whole play, Desdemona has been nothing but faithful and honest towards her husband.  When Othello is enraged at his wife’s supposed affair, she simply responds by “ not stay[ing] to offend [him]” (4.1.277).  Desdemona has no idea for the reason of her husband’s rage, but it does not matter in her eyes.  She remains true to him from their elopement to her last words before dying: “Nobody. I myself, Farewell” (5.2.152).  She does not blame anybody for her death, as if it was her fate to die.  Even as she is dying, she remains loyal to her love with Othello.  Knowing that Othello is blinded from the truth, he believes Iago demonstrates more honor and loyalty than Desdemona.  Desdemona and Iago differ on who truly wields honor and loyalty.  Desdemona has those characteristics, but she does not display them. In contrast, Iago does not have those characteristics, but he purports to have them.  At Othello’s marriage celebration, Othello congratulates Iago for his honor and loyalty: “Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter” (2.3.263).  Through Iago’s manipulation, Othello believes Iago is more honest and loyal than Desdemona.

             Shakespeare implements Desdemona and Iago as contrasting personas of innocence and guilt.  Iago causes Othello to believe that Desdemona is having an affair with Michael Cassio.  He does this by revealing ocular and verbal proof, as Bianca introduces Othello’s missing handkerchief: “What did / you mean by the same handkerchief you gave me” (4.1.167-168).  That handkerchief is a symbol of Othello’s marriage with Desdemona.  The moment he had that ocular proof, he determined that his wife was guilty and that Iago must be telling the truth.  This is spurious because the guiltiest person is Iago, due to his lying and scheming.  Iago embodies this guileful character, as no character suspects him to be cynical until the end of the play.  His depravity causes many innocent people to encounter their demise.  In Desdemona’s case, she has been the most innocent character in the play. She simply tries to keep her husband sane, only to be trumped by Iago’s manipulation.  She is described to be virtuous.  When she talks to Emilia about adultery, Desdemona is shocked that “there be women [who] abuse their husbands / In such gross kind?” (4.3.68-69). Desdemona does not suspect society to contain people with those characteristics.  Her innocence demonstrates her belief that women should only be loyal to their husbands.  Desdemona does not exhibit any faults or sins because she is the epitome of purity.

            Finally, these two characters differ in the morals they present.  Desdemona expresses the ideal of Christian virtue.  She exhibits excellent values of faith, hope, charity, and love.  Throughout the play, she remains true to her love with Othello, no matter the circumstances.  Since she is the epitome of Christian virtue, she believes everything happens for a reason.  She is the type of character that lives life the way nature intended it to be.  On the other hand, Iago desires revenge and holds a grudge towards people in the play.  From the beginning, he disdains Othello for not promoting him and choosing Cassio because Cassio is a better strategist.  This is ironic because the whole play demonstrates Iago strategizing ways to get his revenge.  Iago “will wear [his] heart upon [his] sleeve / for daws to pick at” (1.1.70-71).  There will come a day where Iago makes himself vulnerable; he will do everything in his power to get what he wants, no matter what the cost is.

            Although Desdemona and Iago both shape Othello’s decisions in the play, these two characters embody contrasting concepts of good and evil.  Desdemona represents the good in nature, while Iago exhibits the forces of evil.  Through the actions of honor, loyalty, morals, friendship, and truth, Desdemona and Iago clash while trying to persuade Othello.  One character makes the other pronounced by fighting for the trust of Othello.  Without their juxtaposition, Othello would not have to choose which truth is valid.