Hi, I'm glad I found your blog. My question is what do you think of Iago from Othello? Personally, out of the Shakespeare plays I have read, Iago is the most well crafted and brilliant character for me. I'd like to know someone else's opinion on him for the sake of curiosity.

I actually really love Iago as well, and I’m willing to bet that a lot of other followers do, too! Shakespeare had a talent for writing brilliant villains that are absolutely despicable and two-faced, yet so charismatic that you can’t help but be weirdly charmed by them…maybe you even end up rooting for them somehow. Personally, I think it’s got a lot to do with how such villains will address the audience/reader, sharing their plans and motivations with us while the rest of the characters remain completely oblivious. Who doesn’t like a bit of dramatic irony, which lets us feel like we’ve just been let in on a secret? Iago even steals the show from the titular character of Othello. He’s responsible for driving all of the play’s action while Othello is simply swept along in the tide that he creates. Iago is also one of the most fun characters to see being acted out on stage or in film, when he’s played well you never want him to stop talking. (I’ll list Rory Kinnear’s portrayal in the 2013 National Theatre production as an example, I’ve probably mentioned a million times on this blog how much I loved that performance!) 

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