I told him what I thought, and told no more Than what he found himself was apt and true

IAGO: I told him what I thought, and told no more
Than what he found himself was apt and true.
EMILIA: But did you ever tell him she was false?
IAGO: I did.

– William Shakespeare

Othello, Act 5, Scene 2. Iago, responding to his wife Emilia’s questioning, shows how villainous he is. When asked by her to address Othello’s claim that Iago told him of Desdemona’s infidelity, Iago dodges the question. Iago’s reply, that he only told Othello what he himself knew was true, highlights Othello’s hamartia. Othello’s jealousy and his readiness to jump to conclusions based solely on Iago’s lies lead to his downfall. Iago’s skillful manipulation techniques are shown here. When Emilia again presses her husband if he told Othello that Desdemona was unfaithful, he admits that he did.

William Shakespeare Quotes