Demand me nothing, what you know, you know
From this time forth I never will speak a word.
It would offer this blog up to a raft of criticism if we were to say that these words define Shakespeare’s Iago, the evil catalyst for the events of Othello. However, Iago’s final words are significant to the audience’s perception of his character, as, rather than expose the inner workings of his mind, Iago retains the ambiguity of his character until the end.
There have been many famously mysterious or ambiguous characters in literature, from Estella to Gatsby, and we at Biteback may even venture to say that the fascination with these figures stems from the inability to fully understand them. David Laws seems fascinated enough by one figure in his book, 22 Days in May, to dedicate a whole page to studying them:
“…For years, he crushed his Conservative opponents, and his Budgets won plaudits from across the political spectrum. This was a man who was probably right to keep Britain out of the euro, a man whose interest in and influence over economic and social policy was probably unmatched by any previous Chancellor, and someone who seemed to care deeply about delivering a better deal for some of the poorest people in the world – in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere.
How was it possible that this was also the person who was regarded as one of the most brutal and aggressive political operators of his age, a man who would scythe down opponents and plot against colleagues and indeed his own Prime Minister?”
I did wonder for a second why Laws was asking all these questions, as all great pieces of fiction usually leave the critics to explicitly ask questions, and then I remembered that 22 Days in May is not fiction, and that the complicated figure he was talking about is real.
“Who was the real Gordon Brown: the street-fighting, political thug or the idealistic visionary who wanted to rebuild society at home and abroad in a more caring and Christian image?”
Since Shakespeare had Iago dragged away in the final scene, numerous pieces have been written about the character, studying his words and actions in minute detail to help the audience better understand. However, there is only one piece today which helps to understand the most enigmatic politician of our time, equally as mysterious and frequently-debated as Iago, but without all the evil intentions.
Brown At 10 is a comprehensive study of the ex-PM’s time at Downing Street. Using unrivalled access to many of those at the centre of Brown’s government and hundreds of hours of interviews, Anthony Seldon and Guy Lodge create the most complete picture of Gordon Brown to date.
We all watched Brown perform as Prime Minister, whether we were sitting on a cushion or standing in the dust, and now is the opportunity to see behind the scenes.
Brown At 10 by Anthony Seldon and Guy Lodge is available here for £20
22 Days in May by David Laws is available here for £9.99
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