Othello V: Act 4 Scene 1

Iago frequently refers to himself as a villain; however, he uses very different connotations when he is speaking to the audience and when he is speaking to others of the play. Nevertheless, the frequency with which he refers to himself as evil can only lead to the conclusion that he is aware of the villainy of his own actions. Aside from the times when he speaks to the audience and calls his own plans hell-spawned, he frequently makes mild oaths that, if he is lying, he should be evil. For instance, when talking to Cassio, Iago states that there are rumors that Cassio will marry Bianca; when Cassio chuckles at the possibility, Iago replies, "I am a very villain else" (I.iv.144). While in context of the discussion, this is an innocent proclamation of Iago's verity, for an audience who is aware of the dramatic irony in context, this is, if taken literally, Iago stating that he is a villain (or, at least, given that he likely came up with this rumor in the moment rather than having actually heard such a rumor before hand, most likely stating that he is such), and thus, albeit mildly, acknowledging his own villainy. Thus, even in mild interactions, Shakespeare has Iago actively state his own evil - in the conversation, in jest, but placed in greater context, in truth.