Iago is the antagonist of the play, and one of the most evil Shakespearean villains. Iago is extremely clever in the way he uses unsuspecting power- especially psychological power. He gets into people’s heads in many dishonest ways- by spreading false rumours, telling lies and psychologically tricking people and secretly controlling certain situations. His power to manipulate is a key point in the play, as it results in major consequences and the deaths of some main characters. Iago’s schemes are multi-levelled- he conspires with roderigo, and makes him believe that Desdemona will take him back. On another level, he leads Othello to believe his wife is having an affair with Cassio. He uses his wife Emilia (unknown to her), to bring back the handkerchief he uses to deceive Othello. Iago is an extremely resourceful and talented man, but he uses these resources and talents in detrimental ways. Iago is constantly referred to by numerous characters as ‘honest’. He himself also refers to honesty. Numerous characters believe that they know and trust Iago and that he would not lie, nor deceive them. Iago’s soliloquies also provide invaluable insight into his wicked mind and evil schemes and plans.
The play Othello by William Shakespeare showcases the unique characters of Othello and Iago. Othello commences with Iago: Othello’s general informing the audience of his hate for Othello. Next, the Duke sends Othello, Iago, Cassio along with Desdemona and Emilia to Cyprus to defeat the Turks. Once the Turks are defeated, Iago initiates his plan to ruin Othello’s life. He plants the idea of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness in Othello’s mind, which drives Othello mad. This leads to Othello murdering Desdemona and Othello’s death. Throughout the play Othello and Iago play key roles in the story’s plot. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago and Othello’s complex character development lead to continued conflict and their downfalls.
In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, the Iago is the most important character. It is his dreams, hopes and desires that turn him evil, bringing out the worst possible characteristics in order to achieve all the things he wants. Iago’s manipulative traits, deceitful actions and love for Othello eventually cause the death Emilia, Desdemona and Othello himself.
Othello may be seen as a tragic hero throughout William Shakespeare’s famous play, Othello. From the get go Iago masters manipulating Othello, he continues to do so until he suffers his major downfall. Iago is not remorseful for it at all, in fact, he’s doing it for revenge of the lieutenant position. He makes Desdemona the
No, I think Shakespeare meant for Iago to be seen as a significant part in Othello’s down-fall, but not the sole reason for his tragic demise. As Iago states the reason behind his hatred of Othello, it’s Othello’s hubris which is being described, how he “Off-capp’d” the three great ones of the city. Which shows that is is Othello’s hubris which leads him to his downfall, and not the power of words.
Iago is the whole reason there is any conflict in Othello . If he never had entered the play Othello would have married Desdimonia and they would have lived happily ever after. Right from the beginning of the play to the very end he causes conflicts. He is directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of: Othello Desdimona, Emilia, Cassio, and Roderigo. Which happen to be all of the main characters. I believe Shakespeare didn 't just want Iago 's character to be evil. I think he wanted him more to symbolize it. All of the problems he causes are through lies, treachery, manipulation, and a deep unknown hate. Some of his hate is fueled by jealousy and revenge. The ironic part is that he wants to be known as "honest Iago". Every act contains an evil plot set up by Iago. They all play into his "grand scheme". In the very beginning of act 1 Iago displays his hatred for Othello. He is angry at him for making Cassio the lieutenant. Jealousy is his first motif. He than tells Roderigo (a former suitor of Desdimonia) that Othello and Desdimonia are getting married. The two of them then go and tell
In one of William Shakespeare’s most widely known plays, Othello, the protagonist, Othello himself, is the tragic hero in this play of envy and manipulation. With Iago’s cunning intellectuality and Othello’s too trusting nature, this all plays out in his demise at the end.
In the play Othello, Shakespeare suggests that even the most trusted advisor can be dangerously manipulative. This idea is evident in Iago's traits and motivations, his interactions with others, his use of language and the use of others' language concerning him.
In the sixteenth century, William Shakespeare was, and still is an iconic playwright. One of his plays is named Othello. In Shakespeare’s Othello the main antagonist was a character named Iago. Iago is considered the evilest and most mysterious of Shakespeare’s villains. This is because his motives remain unknown at the end of the play. Iago started to unleash his terrible vengeful side began when Othello chose Cassio over him for luetinet. Iago could not accept the fact that Cassio was higher ranked than him with less experience, so he devised a plan to ruin Othello by gaining even more of his trust and being coming his “friend”. “In a nutshell, the plot of the play is as follows: Iago hatches a plan, tangentially involving Roderigo to make Othello
“Othello” is a tragedy play written by William Shakespeare in 1603. The play explains the story of a solider, Iago, that destroys a powerful general named Othello’s marriage, reputation, and overall life. The actions of the protagonist in the play, Iago, will be analyzed for their importance and domino effect throughout the play. Iago is a soldier of the army in Venice. He is a flat character in the play that is selfish, but on the exterior appears to value other individual’s concerns more than his. Throughout the play, readers notice that Iago is sexist, greedy, and racist. Iago is sometimes considered an archetype of the devil (quote about it) However, Iago is very intelligent in creating schemes that result in him receiving what he desires. All of the actions he commits throughout the play are to better him. Iago’s significance to the play is his desire for revenge. He portrays this pursuit of revenge toward Othello, Cassio, and the idea of revenge he planted in Othello towards Desdemona.
Iago is considered one of the most evil and memorable villains in literature. In the first scene of the play, Shakespeare started the play with Iago complaining to Roderigo how he didn’t get the lieutenancy. Iago thinks that cassio became Lieutenant because he thinks Othello favors him and he is disapproving about Cassio being Lieutenant because Cassio only knows strategies not to fight. Because of this Iago mocks Othello to Roderigo. Iago calls Othello things like “Thick Lips” which is a racist word towards Othello. First, Shakespeare shows the villainy of Iago when Iago talks to Roderigo that he is just acting like he likes and obeys Othello but in real he hates and hiding his real emotions towards Othello. Also, Iago talks about deceitful people who acts like they are loyal when they are not are better than people who are actually loyal and devoted because deceitful people will be rich and become a master of their own but loyal servants won’t. Second, Shakespeare showed Iago’s villainy in the first scene when Iago told Brabantio that Othello married to Desdemona. This was an evil act because Iago betrayed Othello and turned him in because of his hatred towards Othello for not making him Lieutenant. Third, through these acts we as readers can infer that Iago will do more evil things for his benefits and for his
The first act of Shakespeare’s works presents a conspiracy by the character Iago over his superior Othello and his counterpart Roderigo. In the evaluation of events, the three characters work in a way that seems private to each of them. They are all in the military in the Venetian Army where Othello is general, and the other two are his focusses. Iago is so much obsessed in two things, first one is to be a lieutenant, and the other is to marry Desdemona, the daughter of the most emotional character and a governor, Brabantio. The two problems become the triggers to the plans by this character to bring down Othello.
Iago is a very complex and manipulative character. This is what makes him a great villian.
In every Shakespeare play there was always an opposing voice acting as kind of foil to the hero and Iago play this role and here where he was the only one to blame for Othello destruction because he made Othello to transform from being strong soldier to an insecure, jealous murderer where believed that he has lost his honour and manhood because of Desdemona supposed betrayal so he become irrational animal or monster that the white Venetian accuse him of being. At first Othello didn’t believe that he himself can be so weak and and he thought that jealousy is only exotic feeling which cant effect on him but after Iago explanation and provoking he lost his mind and killed Desdemona. So
To begin with, Iago is the most villainy character created by Shakespeare, wearing the mask of honesty, gains everyone’s trust and consequently knows their weakness, and therefore controlling them as a puppet master. In fact, the whole play seems to be puzzle pieces of the cunning plan directed by Iago. He plays a fundamental role in the tragedy as the antagonist, which is without him, there would be no conflict.