Regarding Shakespeare’s play, Othello, Othello is similar to the Greek god Dionysus, while Iago’s character resembles that of Satan in Christianity. For instance, Dionysus is “twice-born” like Othello. According to Greek mythology, Dionysus’s parents are Zeus and the mortal woman, Semele. After Zeus’s wife, Hera, discovers the pregnancy of Zeus’s concubine, she tricks Semele into gazing at Zeus in his full godly splendor; thus she bursts into flames because mortals can’t witness the true forms of the gods and live to talk about it. However, Zeus saves the unborn Dionysus from the womb and literally puts the baby into his thigh until he’s reborn. Similarly, Othello is reborn after losing everything in his youth and rising above the common folk in his later years. He defends his marriage with Desdemona by reminiscing about the telling of his life story:
Wherein I spoke of most disastrous [events],
Of moving accidents by flood and field,
Of hair-breadth scales i’th’ imminent deadly breach,
Of being taken by the insolent foe
And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence,
And [conduct] in my traveller’s history,
Wherein of [caves] vast and deserts idle,
Rough quarries, rocks, and hills who’s heads touch heaven. (1.3.133-140)
Othello’s story mentions mountain peaks reaching the heavens as if he himself has reached higher plains of existence. Moreover, Othello is related to Dionysus because the Greek god is the “protector of those who do not belong to conventional society and he thus symbolizes the chaotic, dangerous and unexpected.” Othello is labelled as the “Other” in society; he’s the Moor of Venice.
On the Other hand, the actions of Iago are comparable to the role of Satan. For example, Iago is jealous that Michael Cassio is promoted to lieutenant instead of him. Ultimately, Iago plots behind everyone’s back to fulfill his desires; he wants revenge against Othello to gain wealth, power, and status. Similarly, in Christianity, Satan attempts to overthrow God so he can sit upon the throne of Heaven. Iago works like Satan because he whispers wicked deeds and seductions in the ear of Roderigo like the little devil that sits upon your shoulder:
[If you must] damn thyself, do it
a more delicate way than drowning. Make all the money thou
canst. If [holy rite] and a frail vow [between a wandering] barbar-
ian and a [highly sensitive] Venetian be not too hard on my wits
and all the tribe of hell, thou shalt enjoy her; therefore make
money” (1.3.344-48).
Furthermore, Iago mentions the two-faced Roman god, Janus, which is ironic because he himself plays different sides to attain his goals (1.2.33). For instance, after instigating Roderigo to oppose Othello, Iago tells Othello that he considers stabbing Roderigo for dishonoring the “Moor” (2.1.5-9). Thus, Iago replicates satanic character by seducing Roderigo to the Dark Side of the Force and leading Othello astray as the “corrupter of words.”
This is a really interesting and well thought out post! I honestly do not know much about mythology, but I definitely wish I did. Reading your post offered me even more insight into the influence of mythology on literature and on our lives. Even if Shakespeare did not intentionally make Othello a Dionysian figure, there are still so many comparisons we can draw that actually further our reading of the texts. While I cannot add much to the idea about Othello as Dionysus, I do agree that everything you pointed out makes a lot of sense.
Regarding Iago as Satan, I can definitely see this being the case. In addition to all of the lies and evil tasks he performs throughout the play, he is one of the few characters who does not die at the end. He instead is imprisoned, vows that “From this time forth I never will speak word” (5.2.304), and we assume he will be tortured for the remainder of his life. This is extremely similar to the story of Satan, because after being exposed, he was forced to live in a horrible, painful place for eternity.