--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shakespeare's Iago could be played as a…" description: "\"“Shakespeare's Iago could be played as a soul in hell, driven, dark and desperate, willing to do anything, willing to use anyone, in order to escape fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/laura-lee-guhrke-16240_desperate_shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a_661795.jpg" --- # Shakespeare's Iago could be played as a soul in hell… ![“Shakespeare's Iago could be played as a soul in hell, driven, dark and desperate, willing to do anything, willing to use anyone, in order to escape from that hell.” quote by Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/laura-lee-guhrke-16240_desperate_shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a_661795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/laura-lee-guhrke-16240_desperate_shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a_661795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/laura-lee-guhrke-16240_desperate_shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a_661795.jpg) > ““Shakespeare's Iago could be played as a soul in hell, driven, dark and desperate, willing to do anything, willing to use anyone, in order to escape from that hell.”” [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character driven by desperation may betray anyone to escape inner torment. **In simple terms:** Desperation can make people betray others to escape pain. Key Takeaway Recognize when desperation fuels harmful actions. Themes despair betrayal escape morality Mood tense reflective Type analytical critical When to use this quote - personal crises - political manipulation - relationship breakdowns Key Concepts psychology ethical dilemmas character study Questions to Reflect On - What inner hell drives your actions? - How can one seek help without harming others? A Different Perspective Such motives may be rationalized, ignoring victim impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Iago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iago/) ## Related quotes > [“You don’t escape from Hell without learning some of the devil’s tricks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sansa-rayne/you-don-t-escape-from-hell-without-learning-some-of-the-devil-s-tricks/) [Sansa Rayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sansa-rayne/) > [Those who escape hell however never talk about it and nothing much bothers them after that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/those-who-escape-hell-however-never-talk-about-it-and-nothing-much/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I couldn’t escape the hell I was in; the push pull between hot & cold. Neither was better, just two extremes of the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-summers/i-couldn-t-escape-the-hell-i-was-in-the-push-pull-between-hot-cold/) Samantha Summers > [“All wicked men’s pains and contrivance they use to escape hell, while they continue to reject Christ, and so remain wicked men, don’t secure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/all-wicked-men-s-pains-and-contrivance-they-use-to-escape-hell-while/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“And now he was holding her shoulders as what sounded like a horde of demons tried to escape hell by way of her mouth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-bell/and-now-he-was-holding-her-shoulders-as-what-sounded-like-a-horde-of/) Jordan Bell > [What makes Iago evil? Some people ask. I never ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/what-makes-iago-evil-some-people-ask-i-never-ask/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“Iago shrugged his furry shoulders. “As you like. Saves me the work of picking the lock with my incisor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/iago-shrugged-his-furry-shoulders-as-you-like-saves-me-the-work-of/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“In scenes like these, any man could be Iago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-scenes-like-these-any-man-could-be-iago/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In complement extern 'tis not long after But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/for-when-my-outward-action-doth-demonstrate-the-native-act-and-figure/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Iago’s treatment of Othello conforms to Bacon’s definition of scientific enquiry as putting Nature to the Question. If a member of the audience were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/iago-s-treatment-of-othello-conforms-to-bacon-s-definition-of/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [Iago is the dominant trance state of our planet. It influences our relationships, our sexuality, our parenting, and our attempts to relax. It permeates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjuna-ardagh/iago-is-the-dominant-trance-state-of-our-planet-it-influences-our/) [Arjuna Ardagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjuna-ardagh/) > [“if I were the Moor I wouldn't want to be Iago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-i-were-the-moor-i-wouldn-t-want-to-be-iago/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [IAGO: She that was ever fair and never proud, Had tongue at will and yet was never loud, Never lack'd gold and yet went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/iago-she-that-was-ever-fair-and-never-proud-had-tongue-at-will-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Coleridge’s description of Iago’s actions as "motiveless malignancy" applies in some degree to all the Shakespearian villains. The adjective motiveless means, firstly, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/coleridge-s-description-of-iago-s-actions-as-motiveless-malignancy/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [“As his wife, Emilia must know Iago better than anybody else. She does not know, any more than the others, that he is malevolent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/as-his-wife-emilia-must-know-iago-better-than-anybody-else-she-does/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) ## More by Laura Lee Guhrke > [“This was why I did what I did," she whispered. "I looked at those men at the ball, and I thought of that night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/this-was-why-i-did-what-i-did-she-whispered-i-looked-at-those-men-at/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“Neamh," he murmered. '"Tis Neamh, you are, Olivia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/neamh-he-murmered-tis-neamh-you-are-olivia/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“Olivia watched him through a blur of tears, despising the futility of it. For there was nothing she could say to comfort a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/olivia-watched-him-through-a-blur-of-tears-despising-the-futility-of/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“Pardon me for not being willing to commit my entire future to you based on two kisses and a blueberry muffin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/pardon-me-for-not-being-willing-to-commit-my-entire-future-to-you/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“I enjoyed reading when I was a boy, but these days, I read all the time and it has rather taken the pleasure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/i-enjoyed-reading-when-i-was-a-boy-but-these-days-i-read-all-the-time/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“This was the dawn of a new day, and a new Emma Dove. Never again was she going to sit by while life went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/this-was-the-dawn-of-a-new-day-and-a-new-emma-dove-never-again-was/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“No one judging her by her appearance would dream that Miss Daphne Wade had a rather salacious habit of staring at her employer's naked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/no-one-judging-her-by-her-appearance-would-dream-that-miss-daphne/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“Ian!" she cried, afraid to believe it. "I don’t want you to ever regret that you married me." He smiled, and his fingertips caressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/ian-she-cried-afraid-to-believe-it-i-don-t-want-you-to-ever-regret/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“It's time love," he murmured, nuzzling her throat, kissing her ear. "I've waited so long. I can't wait any longer have you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/it-s-time-love-he-murmured-nuzzling-her-throat-kissing-her-ear-i-ve/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“He tilted her face upward as if he meant to kiss her. Shocked, Maria resisted, glancing toward the people at the table, some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/he-tilted-her-face-upward-as-if-he-meant-to-kiss-her-shocked-maria/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“As far back as I can remember, whenever you used to look at me, your face would light up as if someone had lit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/as-far-back-as-i-can-remember-whenever-you-used-to-look-at-me-your/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“He walked to Brooks’s, intending to drink a glass of port, eat a joint of beef, and read the Times. But even at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/he-walked-to-brooks-s-intending-to-drink-a-glass-of-port-eat-a-joint/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“Fading into the wallpaper was so much safer than being noticed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/fading-into-the-wallpaper-was-so-much-safer-than-being-noticed/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“Marriage is a partnership Phillip, not a feudal kingdom. Until you can accept that I have the right to dictate the course of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/marriage-is-a-partnership-phillip-not-a-feudal-kingdom-until-you-can/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) > [“Madness comes to us all. Even you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/madness-comes-to-us-all-even-you/) [Laura Lee Guhrke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) [Explore all 40 Laura Lee Guhrke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/) ## More Desperate quotes > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“I am a desperate romantic. I love the idea of random collisions of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-thompson/i-am-a-desperate-romantic-i-love-the-idea-of-random-collisions-of-the/) [Jessica Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-thompson/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [Never be desperate. Get rid of your insecurities. Know your worth. Believe in yourself and go get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-desperate-get-rid-of-your-insecurities-know-your-worth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She was stupid and lonely. So desperate to be touched and loved with a good love. I need you, don't leave me, you're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/she-was-stupid-and-lonely-so-desperate-to-be-touched-and-loved-with-a/) [Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/) > [You mostly know that you want to be funny, know that you have the desire. It's not like people who grow up beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-mostly-know-that-you-want-to-be-funny-know-that-you-have-the/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [The World Health Organisation has a lot of its medical experts sitting in Geneva while hospitals in Africa have no drugs and desperate patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/the-world-health-organisation-has-a-lot-of-its-medical-experts/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [“you think I"m that desperate?" "The raging hard-on jabbing at me says yes." ~Creed/Annika”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-croft/you-think-i-m-that-desperate-the-raging-hard-on-jabbing-at-me-says/) [Sydney Croft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-croft/) > [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [As a player, if a club is desperate to sign you, then you can benefit from that. Desperate clubs are prepared to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-player-if-a-club-is-desperate-to-sign-you-then-you-can-benefit/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) [Browse all 1,618 Desperate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Shakespeare's Iago could be played as a soul in hell, driven, dark and desperate, willing to do anything, willing to use anyone, in order to escape from that hell.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laura Lee Guhrke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a-soul-in-hell-driven-dark-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desperate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a-soul-in-hell-driven-dark-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/laura-lee-guhrke-16240_desperate_shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a_661795.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/laura-lee-guhrke-16240_desperate_shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a_661795.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/laura-lee-guhrke-16240_desperate_shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a_661795.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Shakespeare's Iago could be played as a soul in hell, driven, dark and desperate, willing to do anything…” — Laura Lee Guhrke", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Laura Lee Guhrke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lee-guhrke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Shakespeare's Iago could be played as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a-soul-in-hell-driven-dark-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lee-guhrke/shakespeare-s-iago-could-be-played-as-a-soul-in-hell-driven-dark-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```