Iago By Othello

[randomer]

I have read sources from the internet claiming that Iago in Shakespeare's play; Othello has 1097 lines yet I have also read that Iago has 272 lines. Which is it? Here are the links to the individual websites:

272 lines: http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/stats/

1097 lines:
http://www.shaksper.net/archives/1997/0030.htm l

Thanks for any answers.

[robbo82]

The only thing I could suggest is, in the first one, 'lines' refers to the number of times a character speaks, regardless of how many actual lines of verse/prose are spoken within each speech, whereas the second figure refers to the actual number of lines on the page the character speaks.

[dot.hawkes]

robbo is probably right, the one mistake people studying shakespeare make is that you are reading a play, not a book, and you have to have a sense of the stage when reading it. (actually there are loads more than one mistake I guess)

[jump79]

I studied this play for my A-levels (some time ago) and from what I remember, Iago had more spoken lines than Othello even though Othello is the main character/tragic hero of the play.


The fact that Iago is given more lines than the central character makes him much more of a 'mystery' character and casts doubt over his real role, motivation and importance in this play (as well as Shakespeare's intentions w.r.t. Iago's character).

[jump79]

[(cont.) ...sorry, AB is having problems today]

Despite Iago having more lines, the most powerful and poetic lines/soliloquies (sp?) are reserved for the sensitive Othello which reinstate his role as a tragic hero, so it all balances out in the end.

[randomer]

Thanks for your answers.