IaGo aNd HiS pErCePtIoN oF wOmEn

In Shakespeare's, Othello, Iago is easy to detest. I almost immediately found myself despising his character in any soliloquies or plots he made clear to the audience. Not only is his character malicious, selfish, and deceitful, but his view of women is incredibly degrading and reinforced my hatred for his character.

Iago's perception of women can be defined by his description of his wife, Emilia, and Desdemona. In these instances, it is clear that he views women as deceptive and lazy. In act 2, scene I, Iago states, "you rise to play, and go to bed to work." The you refers to women, and in the context of this play refers to Emilia and Desdemona. In his opinion, women are lazy and deceptive human beings who show energy only in bed. The idea that women are only of use in bed and fanciful about sex is extremely demeaning and ignorant.

Women are also played as pawns in his intricate schemes and are used as tools to gain revenge against Othello. The one cause of Iago's hate towards Othello is unclear, but it is evident that his lust for Desdemona seems to be a result of the assumption that Othello slept with his wife. In this instance, Iago plans to get even with Othello "wife for wife." The feelings of Desdemona are not even considered and I feel he assumes that because she is a woman she will easily be manipulated into his bedroom. This lead me to believe that Iago not only viewed women as useless, deceptive, and lazy beings, but creatures unable to think for themselves and control their desires. These ideas not only portrayed Iago in darker light, but helped reinforced his role as the villain.