Iago begins his second soliloquy by suggesting that the lies he told to Roderigo are credible or believable and that Othello is such an innocent and unsuspecting individual that he will also readily believe the lies (lines 273-78). In other words, Iago is convinced that Othello will believe his lies as easily and quickly as Roderigo believed them. The careful reader should also note the pun Iago uses to describe Othello: Iago states that Othello will prove to be “a most dear husband” to Desdemona (278). The word dear means (1) affectionate. But it also means (2) costly or expensive. In this case, Iago is not talking about money. He is stating that the cost of Othello’s love or affection to Desdemona will too great; for, if Iago’s scheme works, it will cost Desdemona her life. Even at this early point in his plotting, Iago realizes that the consequences will be most serious and deadly.
Iago also reveals the cold and despicable aspect of his personality when he ironically states that he loves Desdemona too (line 278). Iago does not mean he has affection for Desdemona. He loves her because he can use her and manipulate her to bring serious harm to Othello. She is like a tool that he can use in whatever way he wishes and then toss away when he no longer has need for it. Once again, Shakespeare is indirectly bringing in the issue of fate.
If Desdemona did not love Othello, Iago would never have been able to come up with such an evil scheme against Othello. If Desdemona had not come to Cyprus, Iago would not be able to put his plot in motion. If Othello and Desdemona had been married at a later date, Iago would not be able to accomplish such a great act of evil. Likewise, if Cassio were not such a gallant man, the scheme would not work. But everything has come together in such a way that Iago is able to scheme and plot an act of terrible evil against Othello. Iago is an opportunist, and the opportunity is ripe.
An intriguing line that is open to some speculation occurs when Iago states that although he feels no lust (or love or affection) for Desdemona, he is guilty of “as great a sin” (280). What is that sin? Iago supplies one possibility himself when he adds the word revenge in the next line of his soliloquy. Revenge certainly could be viewed as a sinful act. But since lust is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, another of the seven sins might be what Iago is actually referring to in this line. A good possibility is envy. Iago is certainly envious of Cassio for taking the position of lieutenant away from him. However, since Iago’s main attention concerns Othello, perhaps another of the seven might be even more appropriate. Iago is not angry. He is extremely cool and calculating in his thoughts and actions. And Iago is also greedy, but that certainly is not a main concern of this play. But the reader may seriously want to consider the characteristic of pride in Iago. Iago clearly states that he is superior to Roderigo, and he also believes himself to be superior to Cassio. Further, Iago’s plots and schemes indicate that he believes that he is superior to Othello as well. Iago is certainly cleverer and more worldly-wise than Othello. Finally, Iago even believes himself to be superior to fate, as noted in the discussion of the first act. Iago is clearly a proud individual. Thus, a deconstructive reading of this play might position Iago as the central figure and as a man who falls from greatness because of his pride. Or Iago may also be viewed as a foil to Othello (a foil is a character in literature who functions to provide a contrast to the protagonist). Both Othello and Iago may be viewed as men who fall because of their pride.
In his soliloquy Iago again brings up the idea that he suspects Othello of being too friendly with his wife Emilia (lines 282-83), and he adds that maybe Cassio also is being too friendly with Emilia (line 294). But the addition of Cassio to this kind of suspicion reveals that Iago himself does not really believe it. They are more of his lies. He feels the need to justify or rationalize the actions he is about to take. He intends to commit an act of great evil. If he is found guilty, he will need a story or an explanation to tell others.
Iago’s evil is an act of fraud and treachery. Dante placed sinners of fraud in the eighth level of hell and sinners of treachery in the ninth level of hell. These were the deepest levels and the ones where the sinners received the most painful punishments. Iago’s act of fraud and treachery becomes all the more serious or grievous because, as he notes, Othello feels “love” for him (295). Othello treats him kindly and generously. But Iago wants to destroy his mind. Iago wishes to push Othello to the furthest extreme of “madness” (298). Iago wants to destroy Othello’s soul. And this is what makes Iago one of the worst villains and most treacherous characters in literature.