Iago the Quintessence of Capitalism: An Inquiry into Shakespeare's Othello

Abstract

“Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus” so claims Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello. His character compresses multiple complex versions, soliciting a large assortment of deliberations. He is the concentration of evil who thrives in breaking moral imperatives. He is a reflection of bigoted racism, or hegemonic patriarchy. In other instances, his repressed homoerotic desires are at the origins of his hatred and violence towards Othello. Interpretations of Iago converge and diverge into a timeless maelstrom of critical scrutiny. Beyond the ethical, cultural, social, sexual, and political boundaries, Iago can be read within an economic girth. Shakespeare’s Othello is entrenched in a world of social struggle and political upheaval. Iago’s pursuit of happiness is contingent not on changing fortunes but rather on avid individualism. His intentions and motivations might be an expression of a nascent Renaissance entrepreneurial values. Instead of a struggling proletariat, Iago stands for hostile and aggressively ambitious capitalism. The purpose of this article is to show that Iago’s character is a manifesto of an emergent Early Modern capitalism. His ruthlessness foreshadows a similar merciless modern economic ideology. Concepts such as servitude, desire, and individualism will be patterns that attempt to break down the conundrum that is Iago within a capitalist dialectic.