The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 9.0113  Sunday, 8 February 1998.

From:           Skip Nicholson <
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Date:           Wednesday, 04 Feb 1998 22:21:56 -0800
Subject: 8.1134  Re: Iago
Comment:        Re: SHK 8.1134  Re: Iago

Why does Shakespeare have Iago say, "I am not what I am."? (1.1.65) The
line's not glossed in the Pelican, Riverside, nor Arden edition. If Iago
means he's not what he seems, why doesn't he phrase it that way? Is
there here a perverted echo of God's identifying himself out of the
burning bush to Moses as "I am that I am" (KJV)?

Cheers--and thanks for any thoughts,
Skip Nicholson