Character in Othello
Iago ♂ male
1,098Lines Spoken
1.1First Scene
5.2Last Scene
30.9%Of Play Dialogue
Iago is the #1 largest role in Othello, speaking 1,098 lines (30.9% of the play) across 13 scenes from Act 1 through Act 5. Below: scene-by-scene line counts, who Iago shares the stage with most, and key speech examples.
Iago’s position in the full cast
| # | Role | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iago (this role) | 1,098 | 30.9% |
| 2 | Othello | 887 | 24.9% |
| 3 | Desdemona | 388 | 10.9% |
| 4 | Cassio | 277 | 7.8% |
| 5 | Emilia | 245 | 6.9% |
| 6 | Brabantio | 139 | 3.9% |
| 7 | Roderigo | 114 | 3.2% |
| 8 | Lodovico | 76 | 2.1% |
| 9 | Duke Of Venice | 73 | 2.1% |
| 10 | Montano | 61 | 1.7% |
How Iago’s dialogue distributes across the play
Iago’s dramatic peak falls in Act 2 with 365 lines — the act where the role carries the most weight on stage.
Voice signature
Opening line (Act 1, Scene 1): “'Sblood, but you will not hear me:”
Representative speech (Act 2, Scene 3): “[Aside to RODERIGO] Away, I say; go out, and cry a mutiny.”
Who Iago shares the stage with
| Scene partner | Shared scenes |
|---|---|
| Othello | 11 |
| Cassio | 9 |
| Desdemona | 8 |
| Roderigo | 7 |
| Emilia | 7 |
| Brabantio | 3 |
| Lodovico | 3 |
| Montano | 3 |
| Bianca | 3 |
| First Officer | 2 |
Questions about Iago
Is Iago the lead role in Othello?
Iago is ranked #1 by line count among 28 speaking characters in Othello — a major role carrying 30.9% of the play’s dialogue.
What is Iago’s longest scene?
Act 3 Scene 3, where Iago speaks 219 lines.
Who does Iago speak to the most?
Iago shares the most scenes with Othello — 11 scenes together across Othello.