How Does Shakespeare Present Iago's Character In Othello

Iago presents himself to the world as a faithful and honest man. In fact other people speak of him as “honest Iago”. Beneath the surface of his identity that he portrays to the world is his manipulation through lies. He uses his lies to manipulate other people and desperately wants revenge on Othello. He hates Othello so passionately because he gave the position of lieutenant up to another person instead of him. I think it could also be because of jealousy. I think he’s jealous of Cassio and Othello because later on in the story after he finally becomes lieutenant he brings up another reason to seek revenge on Othello, which was rumors of Othello sleeping with his wife. Iago is good at using people’s weaknesses to manipulate people and persuade

Iago's motive behind his evil plot against Othello all starts when Othello chooses Cassio as his Lieutenant, which leaves Iago feeling as if someone "stole his glory." Even further, Iago's jealousy is deepened by Othello's accomplishments and role he holds within his state. We are told that he [Othello] is of noble birth, that war and adventures have been his nurses, that he may be considered a [Moorish] barbarian and yet that the Venetian state has found him so valuable in action, that he cannot be expelled no matter what offense may be found in him (Jorgensen 25). This alone makes Iago surpass any sort of admiration of Othello, for it only feeds his jealousy and envy. Iago is infuriated and retaliates by making Othello question the degree of his wife's faithfulness. At last Othello is moved. Iago sees that is poisonous words are beginning to have an effect and knows better than to enlarge up the ideas that are already planted in Othello's mind-his own imagination will accomplish more...(Charney 213). The deceit has set in.

Shakespeare’s play Othello is based on tragedy of Othello’s jealousy, which ironically leads Othello to kill Desdemona, his beloved (wife). Evil Iago is above all Shakespeare’s villains. Iago is a person with evil emotions, and as a result he deceives everybody, he also is exceptionally influential character who has taken in everyone, above all his own wife Emilia. His public face of bravery and honesty conceals a satanic delight in manipulation and destruction, and he will stop at nothing. Iago’s opinion on women is that he detests women in all kinds and shapes, and finds faults even when they have little or no faults.

“But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve/ For daws to peck at: I am not what I am” (Shakespeare, Othello). Shakespeare has portrayed Iago in the play of Othello as a cruel character who intends to destroy any person who believes has wronged him. Iago is a manipulative character showing hatred especially to his superior. In the play, Iago is the destructive personage yet not all characters have known about his plots, he has been the reason of the demolition of Othello whom thinks himself to be an outsider to Venice. Iago has been playing in a way or another the role of the Devil in the play.

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.

Iago is one of the most misunderstood villains in Shakespeare literature. We side with Othello from the start because his name is on the cover of our paperback, we read Othello when learning about heroes, so we expect Iago to be a villain, a ruthless manipulator. We don’t know why, he doesn’t state it plainly or in simple English, so we assume that he’s evil, that he’s just a disgruntled sociopath out to exact his exaggerated revenge on good and noble Othello. Iago’s misunderstood reputation is a result of not truly examining his character, and answering the “why” factor behind his actions. After all, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. His goal in the play was not just to destroy Othello for the fun of it. His objective,

Iago is one of William Shakespeare’s most evil villains. From the very beginning Iago is out to destroy Othello. No one really knows why Iago hates Othello so much, but there are many theories to why he does, such as iago states he’s angry that othello looked past him for a promotion or the possibility that othello is having an affair with his wife. Iago’s ability to manipulate and deceive people is truly evil, yet also genious. Iago is absolutely evil and shows it throughout the entire play.

From beginning to end of William Shakespeare’s Othello, antagonist Iago is able to methodically exploit those closest to him and ruin several lives out of sheer animosity, all while maintaining a façade of trustworthiness. Iago’s awareness of his evil and his ability to draw on each character’s flaws and insecurities enables him to easily persuade others into doing and believing what he says. The blind faith that Roderigo, Cassio and Othello each place in Iago provides the perfect guise for Iago’s evil intentions. While Iago’s belief that he deserves a promotion to lieutenant is the root cause of this evil, as the plot develops he begins to relish in his manipulation of those around him and his wrongdoings expand beyond his initial motive.

Iago is Othello’s ensign, the villain of the play under a mask of trustworthy friend. Iago himself is fueled by hatred and envy, seeing Othello’s darling wife Desdemona and Cassio having taken over his rightful position as lieutenant. When he saw the lovely couple, the man knew just how to exact his revenge. This is where Iago’s silver tongue and tact comes into play - bring down Cassio through a subtle coaxing into drunkenness, have his wife and Desdemona attempt to console

To Othello he is benevolent, mindful and anxious to help, Iago yet talks straightforwardly to the group of audience (in his soliloquies) about his intends to wreck him. Iago puts on a show to be Othello's companion and friend but is attempting to undermine ,deceive and betray Othello the moor all through the play. Iago begin his conspiracy of Othello. He said many things at the beginning show us how much he hates Othello . For example : “These fellows have some soul, / And such a one do I profess

In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, the character Iago is known to be an evil villain, who naturally is able to manipulate a range of characters for his selfish gain. By spreading lies, he could get multiple people to turn against one another in order to satisfy himself from the betrayal caused by Othello. Brilliantly, Iago was able to use his jealousy, dishonesty, and vengeance to plot against Othello for giving Lieutenant to Cassio and not himself. Through vicious plotting, Iago caused a ripple of destruction, without the blame coming back to him.

Othello starts off as a noble and loving husband, but becomes jealous and crumbles in the end. Othello and Desdemona are happy in the beginning of the play, but later on he becomes convinced that his trustworthy wife is cheating on him. Iago manipulates Othello into believing his lies, even though Iago never offers any proof of Desdemona’s cheating. After Iago has made Othello jealous, Othello complains that he has a

In every tragedy there is a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force, such as fate, circumstances, or society, and reaches a mournful or ruinous conclusion. In Shakespeare’s novel Othello, Iago contributes to the circumstances that will soon lead to the mournful and ruinous conclusion. Iago’s soliloquies reveals his true evil and gains him pity from the audience. As the story progresses the audience gets to see the effectiveness of Iago’s soliloquies and the contribution they have on the audience and the plot of the story.

In William Shakespeare’s play Othello Iago has the ability to charm and convince people of his loyalty and honesty. Iago immediately introduced his malicious desire for revenge, but he had no proven reason for his actions. Throughout the play Iago devises a devious plan to convince the other characters of his cunning contrivance. Iago treats others as the fool with no intentions of caring about their feelings. Behind his deceitful trustworthy appearance, Iago is a multilayered manipulative villain. He manipulates the people around him by using their weaknesses against them. Roderigo, Cassio, Othello, and Emilia all have fallen for Iago’s tricks of manipulation and even mind control.

The reason for Iago’s malice towards Othello is attached to many of the things that Iago exacts his revenge for. One being that Othello passed him up for the chance to be his lieutenant, even though Iago claims to have a lot of experience and knowledge on all things military. His anger is towards Othello and Cassio who Othello has chosen as his lieutenant which aggravates Othello even more because Cassio has no knowledge of being a soldier. In addition to all this he suspects that his wife Emilia is cheating on him with Othello, although this is not true he spreads these rumors to slander Othello’s name and to make Othello’s wife question his loyalty. Iago not only despises Othello but he is also jealous of him, of his position, his power,