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Year 9

Exploring Iago from ‘Othello’ as a Machiavellian villain

I can evaluate Iago's presentation as a Machiavellian villain.

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Year 9

Exploring Iago from ‘Othello’ as a Machiavellian villain

I can evaluate Iago's presentation as a Machiavellian villain.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Niccolo Machiavelli's 'The Prince’ proposes that in order to get and maintain power you have to be prepared to be evil.
  2. A Machiavellian villain is scheming and operates in secrecy.
  3. A Machiavellian villain is a 'puppet master’, manipulating and using others as tools.
  4. Iago reveals his commitment to knavery, through his soliloquies.

Keywords

  • Machiavellian - Describes someone who gets what they want in cunning, ruthless and immoral ways.

  • Soliloquy - An act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud by oneself.

  • Knavery - A deceitful or dishonest act.

  • Treachery - Betrayal of trust.

Common misconception

Iago is simply a villain - unkind and evil.

Iago's character as a villain can be looked at through different lenses. One is Machiavellian.


To help you plan your year 9 english lesson on: Exploring Iago from ‘Othello’ as a Machiavellian villain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ask students if they know of any Machiavellian villains in stories they have read before.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is Iago bitter about in Act 1 Scene 1 of 'Othello'?
having Desdemona, who he loves, marry Othello
Correct answer: being passed over for a promotion by Othello
having his best friend Roderigo reject him
Q2.
What does Iago do in Act 1 Scene 1 of 'Othello' to get revenge on Othello?
Correct answer: Iago decides to tell Brabantio that Desdemona has eloped with Othello
Iago decides to organise a group of armed men to look for Othello
Iago encourages Roderigo to woo Desdemona
Q3.
In Act 1 of 'Othello', what does Iago refer heavily to when telling Brabantio about Desdemona and Othello's elopement?
Othello's military rank
Desdemona's promiscuity
Correct answer: Othello's race
Q4.
Which quote from Shakespeare's 'Othello' proves that Iago is planning to be duplicitous in how he acts towards Othello?
''We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly follow'd.''
Correct answer: ''trimm'd in... visages of duty, keep yet their hearts attending on themselves''
''Call up her father, Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight''
Q5.
Which quote from Act 1 Scene 1 of 'Othello' presents Iago as diabolical?
''Plague him with flies''
Correct answer: ''I am not what I am''
''Awake the snorting citizens with the bell''
Q6.
How does Iago reveal himself to be a bigot in Act 1 Scene 1 of 'Othello'?
He creates division between him and the Venetians.
Correct answer: He uses racial slurs against Othello.
He is overtly sexist towards Desdemona and Emilia.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a Machiavellian villain?
Correct answer: someone who gets what they want in cunning, ruthless and immoral ways
someone who repents for their wrongdoings
someone who is in alliance with the devil
Q2.
What does Iago scheme to do in Act 1 Scene 3 of 'Othello'?
Make Desdemona believe Othello has been unfaithful with his wife, Emilia
Correct answer: Make Othello believe Desdemona has been unfaithful with Cassio
Separate Othello and Desdemona by pretending there is a crisis in Cyprus
Q3.
Why is the form in which Iago reveals his true intentions in Act 1 Scene 3 of 'Othello' significant?
a monologue reveals he is trying to persuade others to join his schemes
Correct answer: a soliloquy shows that he is plotting in private, like a Machiavellian villain
a soliloquy reveals he is embarrassed to share his true views
Q4.
In the play 'Othello' what does Iago call upon to bring his 'monstrous' ideas to light?
evil spirits
Correct answer: hell and night
Roderigo and his brothers
Q5.
Read the following quote from Act 1 Scene 3 of 'Othello': "And will as tenderly be led by the nose As asses are.'' What is Iago saying about Othello here?
Correct answer: He is gullible.
He is too lustful.
He is a traitor.
Q6.
Why might Shakespeare characterise Iago as a Machiavellian villain so early on in the play 'Othello'?
Correct answer: to show Iago's detrimental effect on the tragic hero
to show Iago's descent into hell
to warn the audience not to be treacherous