B. Statement of Intent
The passage I chose to read for my
dramatic reading was Iago’s plot-twisting soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 3. I found this specific soliloquy remarkable
because it reveals Iago’s duplicity and multi-sided personality – he appears to
be supportive of Cassio but reveals himself to the audience as a villain in
disguise. To emphasize this disingenuous
personality of Iago’s, I chose to switch the tone of the character midway
through the speech, becoming dark and cunning as the character reveals his
plan. I included a slight pause before
this tone shift to indicate Iago’s villainous side to the audience. When speaking in Shakespearian, it is also
crucial to put emphasis on important words, so that there is at least some comprehension
of the archaic language. This is why I chose
to stress phrases like weak and divinity of hell, to demonstrate Iago’s
hatred of Othello. Lastly, I varied my
inflection of each sentence in the soliloquy to keep the speech exciting and
realistic.
By “becoming” Iago for a small period
of time, I learned much about the character and the play as a whole. I had realized in the start of the play that
Iago was not an ordinary villain, as he masks his jealousy towards Othello and
Cassio with kindness and amiability.
However, Iago’s willingness to share his plan brought about an outgoing
aspect his personality that I had never before seen. This openness differed greatly from Iago’s devious
attitude up until that point, and it exposed a new dimension which I actually
enjoyed. This soliloquy also taught me
the next phase of Iago’s ongoing plan to destroy Othello: while Cassio urges
Desdemona to help him, and Desdemona urges Othello to forgive him, Iago will
convince Othello that she “repeals him for her body’s lust,” meaning that
Desdemona is helping Cassio not out of sympathy, but because she is in love
with him. He believes that this will result in the downfall of all the other
characters.
The impact of Iago’s Act 2 Scene 3
soliloquy on the play is that it further complicates the relationships between
the characters. Because Iago formulates
his fatal plan in this soliloquy, it results in Othello’s suspicion of Cassio even
though Cassio has done nothing to Desdemona.
It also paves the way to Othello’s distrust and infuriation towards
Desdemona, which eventually leads to both characters’ deaths and Iago’s
incarceration. Furthermore, the soliloquy
characterizes Desdemona and Cassio, giving the audience a better understanding
of their dispositions. The speech
describes Desdemona as “fruitful as the free elements,” showing that she had a
kind nature filled with undying goodness.
It also criticizes Cassio, calling him an “honest fool,” which suggests
that he is slow and gullible. While most
of Iago’s monologues in Othello are
rather impractical, his soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 3 adds suspense to the plot as
well as characterization of himself and others.
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