William Shakespeare
The unique point of view leads to an abundance of dramatic
irony. I cannot count the times in the
first three acts that Iago was referred to as “honest Iago.” But since the point of view is told from the
view of Iago, the reader knows that Iago is the complete opposite of
honest. Iago is manipulating every
single person he comes in contact with, yet still manages to keep face in front
of Cassio, Othello, and others. “Othello:
Iago is most honest” (II.iii.7).
When Iago tries to convince Cassio to drink, because it’s a party
and everyone is doing it, Cassio replies, “Not tonight, good Iago. I have very
poor and unhappy brains for drinking” (II.iii.28). Iago knows that Cassio is a lightweight, and
wants to get him drunk so that he will start a fight and lose his job. And even when Cassio does lose his job because
of Iago, he still takes Iago’s advice on how to get back into Othello’s
favor. But Iago’s advice to Cassio will
simply make it easier for Iago to convince Othello that Cassio and Desdemona
have a relationship. The reason the
reader knows all this is because of Iago’s aside and soliloquies. Because the reader knows Iago’s motives and
plans, but he comes off as honest, loving and caring to the other characters,
there is constant dramatic irony.
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