Tuesday, July 31, 2012

What is the relationship between Iago and Roderigo in Othello?

In Othello, Shakespeare begins the
play with two foils, Iago and Roderigo at night: one hidden and the other in plain
sight.  The former is a villain, the latter a fool, but both are be dark lords of
misrule.


Here's what they have in
common:


  • Both are targeting Desdemona (Roderigo
    as thwarted love; Iago as revenge bait against
    Othello)

  • Both are jealous of
    Othello

  • Both are expose Desdemona's secret elopement to
    Brabantio (Roderigo publicly; Iago privately)

  • Both lose
    their battle against Othello in Act I (the Duke condones the
    marriage)

  • Both seek revenge in Cyprus (away from the
    Duke's protection)

  • Both are id-based
    characters (exhibit child-like behavior and seek immediate pleasure: Roderigo=lust;
    Iago=suffering of others)

Here's how they are
different:


  • Roderigo is public in Venice and
    private in Cyprus; Iago is private in Venice and public and private in Cyprus: (as such,
    they are two halves of the hidden, dark side).

  • Roderigo
    is pure passion (he threatens suicide); Iago is calculated passion (he wants only to
    wound others)

  • Roderigo pays Iago.  Roderigo is the
    "money" and Iago is the "purse."

  • Roderigo is a fool.
     Iago admits, "I am not what I am" to Roderigo, and yet Roderigo continues to believe
    and pay him

  • Roderigo thinks his using Iago for his dirty
    work, but Iago is really using Roderigo to be his scapegoat.  Iago uses Rogerigo to
    expose Cassio.

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