Analysis Of Iago's Soliloquy In Othello

Throughout his soliloquy at the end of Act 2, Scene 1, Iago makes various attempts to evade accountability for his malicious lies and actions towards the other characters in Othello in order to clear his conscience of his crimes. He begins his soliloquy by positing “that Cassio loves her, I do well believe it,/That she loves him, ‘tis apt and of great credit” (Shakespeare 2.1.284-285). Obviously, Iago knows that Cassio and Desdemona are not actually having an affair because he is the one who invents and disseminates this lie; however, by telling himself that their affair represents a hypothetically possible scenario, he tries to avoid blame.
Iago further attempts to diffuse responsibility for his lie through the language with which he refers to the other characters. While he calls Cassio by his name, he primarily refers to Desdemona as “her” or with other non-specific terms like “wife.” Iago feels less guilty
He gives a soliloquy, which indicates that he is alone. Since he is alone, he has no reason to lie or manipulate the truth, giving credibility to the idea that he truly believes the things he is saying. Furthermore, prior to this soliloquy, Iago converses with Rodrigo in prose; however, once Rodrigo leaves and Iago begins his soliloquy, he switches into verse. This shift indicates how Iago reverts back to his authentic self. While Rodrigo is there, Iago uses his words carefully to manipulate Rodrigo but once he leaves, Iago no longer has a need to be dishonest. These aspects demonstrate how Iago truly is attempting to justify to himself his damaging actions, which contrasts with much of the rest of the play where Iago relies on deception and almost never tells the truth. Although many people regard Iago as one of Shakespeare’s greatest villains, this particular soliloquy illustrates his struggle with guilt, allowing the audience to see a different side of his