28th Annual Student Research Conference
The Art of Deception: A Study of Othello's Iago
Priyanka Prabhu
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Othello begins with Iago stating "I am not what I am", making it clear to the audience that he is an imposter. A dark villain who has mastered the skills of persuasion and manipulation, scholars have nicknamed Iago everything from "sophist" to the "doctor from Hell". Romantic poet Coleridge referred to Iago as "a being next to the devil" driven by "motiveless malignity". However, at the beginning of the play, it seems as though Iago does have a sense of his future actions. Yet, as time progresses, Iago becomes ever-consumed with his hatred towards the Moor and this tragic state becomes the beginning of his undoing. This paper will assess the extent to which Iago can be seen as purely evil. It will examine the idea that perhaps Iago's manipulation exceeded his initial expectations, leaving even the wordsmith literally speechless at the end.
Keywords: Shakespeare, Deception, Othello
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 203-5
Location: VH 1224
Time: 12:00