Talk:Iago

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Contents 1 Jealousy 2 "Best Friend?" 3 Most lines? 4 Iago's motivations 5 Character Analysis 6 Homosexuality?

[edit] Jealousy

In the Motivations section, it says that he might be jealous of Emilia and Desdemona. Why would he be jealous of them? SolidNatrix 13:15, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Best Friend?"

I'm not a Shakespeare expert, but is "Othello's best friend" factually based? It sure doesn't seems so from the text I have.

I agree. I do not see that Iago is "second in friendship" to Othello. It is an army situation. Iago is Othello's Ancient, not friend. --Wikiadam 08:45, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Most lines?

Is that really true about the most lines for a "non-title" character in a Shakespeare play? What about Julius Caesar (play)? Caesar himself had very few lines, as I recall, and Brutus and Mark Antony were the stars. Does Iago have more lines than Brutus and Antony? --UniAce

Iago is roughly the third longest Shakespeare role (see here) at 1097 lines. Brutus has 701; Marc Antony 766. - Nunh-huh 22:22, 22 Jul 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Iago's motivations

Hi im studying Othello for GCSE and i was wondering if anyone could offer any insights as to what Iago's motivations are, in a sense what makes him tick. I will be very greatful.--62.7.159.0 20:13, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

Just read the darn first scene, it tells all you need to... I wonder how come so many people wonder as to motives when it's one of the first things the playgoer or reader is exposed to, and he says it himself. If you don't get it yourself, I've spelled it out in the main article too... assuming it does not get edited off. --Svartalf 00:35, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Since several critics have suggested that Iago was motivated by his latent homosexuality, should that also be added to the list? Pyon 10:51, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

Iago is jealous of othello because the play is named after othello and not himself. Hey, it's a possibility.

The whole Iago being jealous of Othello because of the play title... now that's just dumb.

[edit] Character Analysis

Are you kidding me? This analysis needs a serious makeover by someone who knows what the hell he's talking about. Complicated my ass...

Although very good, the character analysis of Iago is far too complicated for a mere plebian to read, and I think it should be made more, dare I say it, normal. Not everyone is an english literature graduate!

Also, the huge block of text is quite off-putting and I think it could be broken up, again for simplicity and so it looks less like an essay and more like an encyclopedia entry. --Sclaydonuk 17:45, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

I agree. This looks like an undergrad lit paper that's just been copied here. It has no place in an encyclopedia.--64.230.78.95 11:37, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

pardon me if i interrupt, but what does that have to do with a NPOV tag? i mean, it may have style errors, but NPOV? Gorgonzola 17:42, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

Oh, please. What do you guys want? Pictures? Nellobanana 02:56, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

Given that the title of that section is "A character analysis of Iago" which sounds very much like an essay title and taking into account the content thereof with specific reference to WP:NOT I have removed the entire section. The information relating to the possible causes for his behaviour has already been stated more succinctly earlier in the article. Any section which contains a statement such as "In the end, it is Iago's failure to grasp the more basic concepts of love, trust, loyalty and spirituality which leads to his downfall" has no place in an encyclopedia. 81.179.227.183 23:43, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

I reinstated my end commment in the motivation section. a) it is not part of the character study, and had no business being deleted with it, unless the whole motivation section is to go. b) it is not an essay, nor original research, as it only recaps what is plainly said in the main text of the play. --Svartalf 19:55, 25 July 2006 (UTC).

Alright, but I have qualified the final comment which rather stated conjecture as fact, I grant I should have done that in the first place rather than ommiting it, it does state some important information. 81.179.227.183 20:45, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Homosexuality?

Can someone please provide a source for the statement that Iago is a homosexual? I don't remember coming across any indication of that in the play itself. RobbieG 10:34, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

The theory dates back to the 1940s in psychoanalytical accounts of the play, notably an essay in which Martin Wangh argued that Iago's resentment derives from "a projection of Iago's unconscious homosexual wishes for Othello and Cassio."[1] The main basis for it is Iago's highly eroticised description of sleeping with Cassio, when Cassio in his sleep is alleged to mistake Iago's body for Desdemona's. It has been repeated in numerous articles and debated and disputed ever since.[2] [3]

It is how Orson Welles directed Micheál MacLiammóir to play Iago in his film. LamontCranston 13:54, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

I doubt MacLiammóir needed much encouragement. Paul B 10:06, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

HA!