Monologue

Iago Monologue from Othello

From Othello by William Shakespeare

male · philosophical · 1:08 min

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Virtue! a fig! ’Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners. So that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with many, either to have it sterile with idleness or manured with industry, why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills. If the balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our natures would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions. But we have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, our unbitted lusts; whereof I take this, that you call love, to be a sect, or scion.

About this piece

Iago reflects on the nature of virtue and the power of will, revealing his manipulative philosophy as he seeks to control the outcomes of those around him.

30s · determination · identity · power · love · reason

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