"But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at. I am not what I am." Iago, Act 1, Scene 1.
It is the second part of the quote that i am having the most difficulty understanding the deeper meaning. I am not what I am. I heard somewhere that this is kind of like saying that he was a decieving person, but i don't think it is that simple(or is it?) because he was talking to Roderigo and i don't think he would say that around him if that is what he meant.
I would appreciate any help, but please go into great detail because i am hopeless with this 'shakespeare language'.
2007-03-02 11:12:32 · 4 answers · asked by Erik C 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
This Cliff's notes article has an interesting take on it.
"Shakespeare has built the character of Iago from an idea already existing in the theatrical culture of his time: the Devil in religious morality plays, which developed into the villain in Elizabethan drama and tragedy. Iago says (I.1, 65) “I am not what I am,” which can be interpreted as “I am not what I seem.” But it is also reminiscent of a quotation from the Bible which Shakespeare would have known: In Exodus, God gives his laws to Moses on Mt. Sinai, and Moses asks God his name. God replies: “I am that I am” (Exodus,iii,14). If “I am that I am” stands for God, then Iago’s self-description, “I am not what I am” is the direct opposite. Iago is the opposite of God, that is, he is the Devil. Iago in this play, has the qualities of the Devil in medieval and Renaissance morality plays: He is a liar, he makes promises he has no intention of keeping, he tells fancy stories in order to trap people and lead them to their destruction, and he sees other’s greatest vulnerabilities and uses these to destroy them. Iago does all this not for any good reason, but for love of evil."
2007-03-02 11:16:16 · answer #1 · answered by Uncle Remus 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Iago was the jewish money lender and they had a terrible rep back then, the worst of the worst, ( I'm not refering to being Jewish, though most oft the money lenders were Jewish in that time and place. He is trying to get them to look deeper and see that he may be an ok guy underneath his dispicable behavior, just doing his job, so to speak. jb.
2007-03-02 11:30:25 · answer #2 · answered by TINY DANCER 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
haven't read the book but i think it basically means he doesn't believe in himself because he's putting his heart out where birds can peck at it. "i am not what i am" seems like he's saying he's given up on himself, like there's no reason to live. this contrasts the famous quote "i am what i am" people use today. good luck.
2007-03-02 11:18:04 · answer #3 · answered by I am a person 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It means you really show your emotions; you don't keep it a secret. That is what that means.
2007-03-02 11:17:17 · answer #4 · answered by layanne1 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋