explore how shakespeare presents iago and desdemona

thesis

• Shakespeare presents Iago and Desdemona as stark antitheses, constructing a conflict between unconscious desire and internalised misogyny

• As opposing forces of deceptive evil and innocent vulnerability, both are shaped by 16th century venetian views views on patriarchal control and sexuality

• Perhaps shakespeare aims to explore the destructive power of jealousy on the vulnerable individual

desdmona = innocence and purity vs iago = deceitful and manipulative

unconcious homoerotic desire OR ALT unconscious desire for desdemona

I follow him to serve my turn upon him" (Act 1, Scene 1). This highlights his obsessive need to remain close to Othello

the lusty Moor

• "I am your own for ever" (Act 3, Scene 3). After Othello makes him lieutenant, Iago pledges himself to Othello in a way that sounds like a wedding vow.

• "Witness, you ever-burning lights above, / ... Witness that here Iago doth give up / The execution of his wit, hands, heart, / To wronged Othello’s service!" (Act 3, Scene 3). [1, 2, 3, 4]

• envy of other intimacies

  • "An old black ram / Is tupping your white ewe" (Act 1, Scene 1).

  • "Your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs" (Act 1, Scene 1).

desire for desdemona

"Till I am evened with him, wife for wife." (Act 2, Scene 1)

• "For that I do suspect the lusty Moor / Hath leap'd into my seat." (Act 2, Scene 1) - perhaps not emilia but desdemona

• "Her eye must be fed." (Act 2, Scene 1)

misogyny

"You are pictures out of doors, bells in your parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens, saints in your injuries, devils being offended, players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds." act 2 sc 1

• summarising his view that women are hypocritical and deceptive and only exist for housework

‘it is common to have a foolish wife’

"She that was ever fair and never proud, / Had tongue at will and yet was never loud... She was a wight, if ever such wight were— / To suckle fools and chronicle small beer." (Act 2, Scene 1)

• Iago defines the "ideal" woman as one who is silent and obedient, reducing her life's purpose to raising children ("suckle fools") and keeping household accounts ("chronicle small beer").

"She did deceive her father, marrying you." (Act 3, Scene 3)

• twist Desdemona's autonomy into proof of her untrustworthiness.