Iago is one of the most brilliant characters of all time. His well thought out plan to get revenge on Othello worked almost seamlessly until the bitter end. He nearly killed off the whole cast with just a bit of convincing…and a bit of help from a higher power.
Dues ex machina: gift from the Gods; Heaven sent.
Look, Iago was brilliant, and his plan was pure genius, but there were still some loopholes.
Loophole #1: The handkerchief
That darn handkerchief seems to be showing up everywhere, but seriously, how coincidental is it that
a.) Desdemona dropped it without even noticing and
b.) Emilia was there to pick it up
That’s not luck; that is the work of a higher power. Emilia is “glad I have found this napkin” (3.3.334) because she knows how much it means to Iago, and it just magically fell into her hands. What is ironic about the whole thing is she even says later “What he will do with it/Heaven knows, not I”(3.3.341-342). Obviously Heaven knows, because HEAVEN PUT IT THERE!
Loophole #2: Cassio
When Iago tells Othello to eavesdrop when he talks to Cassio about Desdemona (which is really Bianca) Cassio never mentions Bianca’s name. Usually, when two people are conversing about someone, their name eventually pops up in the conversation. Bianca’s never did.
Cassio and Iago even get pretty personal, Iago mentioning, “she gives it out you shall marry her” (4.1.134) and Cassio claiming, “she haunts me in/every place” (4.1.150-151). This whole conversation, they only refer to Bianca as her/she. Now, what are the odds of them never actually referring to her by her name? If Cassio would’ve mentioned that it was Bianca, Othello would have had nothing to base his suspicions on, and the whole plot would have been ruined. That leads into loophole #3.
Loophole #3: Bianca
As the men are conversing, the strumpet herself struts in…with the handkerchief. Of course. OF COURSE. Like the Gods weren’t on Iago’s side enough already. The strumpet strolls in with the hankie. And confirming Othello’s suspicion, she says “a likely piece of work that you/should find it in your chamber”(4.1.170-171). Seriously? What are the odds that she walks in…with the handkerchief…and talks about where he found it? A higher power was seriously rooting for Iago.
It’s not that Iago isn’t brilliant, and still giving credit where credit is due: his plan was spectacular. It’s just that he had a few plot holes that weren’t thought out, yet they magically worked out. Yes, some of it was luck, but luck only takes you so far; this was the work of the Gods.
Dues ex machina.
Dues ex machina: gift from the Gods; Heaven sent.
Look, Iago was brilliant, and his plan was pure genius, but there were still some loopholes.
Loophole #1: The handkerchief
That darn handkerchief seems to be showing up everywhere, but seriously, how coincidental is it that
a.) Desdemona dropped it without even noticing and
b.) Emilia was there to pick it up
That’s not luck; that is the work of a higher power. Emilia is “glad I have found this napkin” (3.3.334) because she knows how much it means to Iago, and it just magically fell into her hands. What is ironic about the whole thing is she even says later “What he will do with it/Heaven knows, not I”(3.3.341-342). Obviously Heaven knows, because HEAVEN PUT IT THERE!
Loophole #2: Cassio
When Iago tells Othello to eavesdrop when he talks to Cassio about Desdemona (which is really Bianca) Cassio never mentions Bianca’s name. Usually, when two people are conversing about someone, their name eventually pops up in the conversation. Bianca’s never did.
Cassio and Iago even get pretty personal, Iago mentioning, “she gives it out you shall marry her” (4.1.134) and Cassio claiming, “she haunts me in/every place” (4.1.150-151). This whole conversation, they only refer to Bianca as her/she. Now, what are the odds of them never actually referring to her by her name? If Cassio would’ve mentioned that it was Bianca, Othello would have had nothing to base his suspicions on, and the whole plot would have been ruined. That leads into loophole #3.
Loophole #3: Bianca
As the men are conversing, the strumpet herself struts in…with the handkerchief. Of course. OF COURSE. Like the Gods weren’t on Iago’s side enough already. The strumpet strolls in with the hankie. And confirming Othello’s suspicion, she says “a likely piece of work that you/should find it in your chamber”(4.1.170-171). Seriously? What are the odds that she walks in…with the handkerchief…and talks about where he found it? A higher power was seriously rooting for Iago.
It’s not that Iago isn’t brilliant, and still giving credit where credit is due: his plan was spectacular. It’s just that he had a few plot holes that weren’t thought out, yet they magically worked out. Yes, some of it was luck, but luck only takes you so far; this was the work of the Gods.
Dues ex machina.