In othello, why does iago say that he will never speak again at the end of the p

Question:Good question! Othello is my favorite book, and Iago is definitely the best villain ever.
The full quote of the event you are referring to is "Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word."
This is the point in the story where Iago realizes his gig is up and there is no way he can hide the fact he is to blame for all the tragedies. However, by holding his tongue and never giving away the reason behind his manipulations and why he wanted these people to be miserable, he in a sense still wins.
Everything Iago wanted to happen to Othello and ruin his life, did happen. Iago obviously didn't want to get arrested for what happened, but he is able to torture his victims farther by giving no explanations.
If Iago broke down and begged for mercy, or told all, it would have gone completely against his characterization in the play. Therefore Iago never speaking again is the perfect conclusion.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Good question! Othello is my favorite book, and Iago is definitely the best villain ever.
The full quote of the event you are referring to is "Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word."
This is the point in the story where Iago realizes his gig is up and there is no way he can hide the fact he is to blame for all the tragedies. However, by holding his tongue and never giving away the reason behind his manipulations and why he wanted these people to be miserable, he in a sense still wins.
Everything Iago wanted to happen to Othello and ruin his life, did happen. Iago obviously didn't want to get arrested for what happened, but he is able to torture his victims farther by giving no explanations.
If Iago broke down and begged for mercy, or told all, it would have gone completely against his characterization in the play. Therefore Iago never speaking again is the perfect conclusion.

Because of his wicked lies.

This is a great question.

Since "Othello" was written, critics have been puzzling over Iago's motivations for his actions. The ones that Iago offers early in the play ("I got passed over for a promotion," or "There's a rumor out there that Othello is having an affair with my wife") fall by the wayside, and clearly aren't nearly enough -- even if they WERE true -- to justify the carnage that Iago leaves in his wake.

Shakespeare had an uncanny ability to understand exactly how his audience would respond to his plays and his characters, and I think this ability is nowhere as evident as it is in "Othello." I played Iago for the better part of a year, and I was constantly amazed by Shakespeare's prescience.

[Example: after setting Cassio up for the drunken brawl and getting him fired, Iago persuades Cassio that he's his best friend, and offers to intercede on his behalf. Cassio leaves the stage with the line "Good night, honest Iago." More often than not, I'd get booed or hissed by the audience at that moment. Which was PERFECT, considering the first line of Iago's next great soliloquy: "And what's he then that says I play the villain?"]

When Othello says, at the end of the play, "Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?" he is acting as the audience's agent, asking the very question that is likely on everyone's mind. If only Iago would tell us WHY HE DID IT, we could all experience a little closure.

And, in Iago's response, Shakespeare basically tells us: Sorry, but it's just not that easy.

Iago refuses to divulge his TRUE motivations, leaving it to each member of the audience to fill in the blank according to his or her own understanding of the play.