Othello #2 Analysis

            Shakespeare deliberately highlights a clear, observable difference between Othello and Iago throughout his renowned work, Othello. The character foil between Othello and Iago are highlighted through the language they use while conversing with their wives. Shakespeare deliberately characterizes Othello as a man who continuously and willingly favors his wife whereas Iago is characterized as the complete opposite of Othello: insulting and denouncing.

            Iago’s condescending tone towards Emilia is emphasizes the contrast between the way he treats his wife as compared to Othello’s treatment of his wife. The way Iago denounces his wife and explicitly criticizes her is apparent when he mentions that “There’s none so foul, and foolish thereunto” (II, i, 141-142) and that “She never yet was foolish that was fair, / For even her folly helped her to an heir” (II, i, 136-137). Iago’s paradoxical language creates confusion in order to express his somewhat denouncing and condescending remarks toward Emilia. In contrast to Iago, as Othello appears in this scene he describes Desdemona as “soul’s joy” (II, i, 183) and explains that “e’re our hearts shall make!” (II, i, 198) The difference Shakespeare deliberately makes between Othello and Iago is that Othello’s descriptive, exaggerated language is symbolic of his favorable and wooing nature towards Desdemona whereas Iago’s simplistic yet paradoxical language ultimately criticizes and denounces Emilia.