Iago Is A Wicked Person In Othello

Iago demonstrates his love for power when he explains to Roderigo why he hates the Moor. He believes that Othello has cheated him out of a deserved position. He explains to Roderigo, “Three great ones of the city,/ In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,/ Off-capped to him; and, by the faith of man,/ I know my price; I am worth no worse a place” (I, i, 7-10) Iago cannot stand being deprived of a powerful position. That feeling alone is enough to make him hate Othello, the person he is supposed to follow. He also develops hate for Cassio just because of his lieutenant rank, though Cassio did Iago no harm. Iago’s extreme and unnatural hatred for Othello and Cassio clearly shows how much Iago cares about the lieutenant position. Iago, like a psychopath, is obsessed with power. Interestingly, Iago also desires power and control subconsciously, as revealed in his true nature, which he shows when he is alone with his wife, Emilia. Emilia has just stolen Desdemona’s handkerchief to give to Iago. She presents him the handkerchief when he is alone. However, Iago shows extreme disrespect to Emilia, his own wife. He says to her, “You have a thing for me? It is a common/ thing-/ … To have a foolish wife.” (III, iii, 300-302) Iago is a cruel man who insults even his own wife by calling her a foolish prostitute. By making his wife seem inferior, Iago makes himself

In Act 1 scene 3, Iago uses Roderigo’s love for Desdemona as a weapon to manipulate him. Roderigo will do anything to have Desdemona and Iago sees this as a path to get his revenge. Iago states how stupid Roderigo is as soon as he leaves and how he hates Othello, “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse. For I mine own gained knowledge should profane if I would time expend with such a snipe but for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor” (1.3.---). It is obvious to see the two faces of Iago throughout the whole paly. Iago hates Othello which is Iago’s reality; however, he appears loyal and trustworthy in front of Othello. Iago is beginning his chess match. His strategy is much like that of a chess master to position his pawns to protect his reputation, while bringing down the beloved

Iago also knows that Roderigo will do anything for Desdemona’s love. Iago says, “Thus I do ever make a fool my purse” (1.3.355). Iago tells this to Roderigo which means that he is willing to manipulate anyone as long as he gives him jewels and money. This quote makes him look brilliant because he knows that Roderigo has a lot of money and will do anything to be with Desdemona. I agree when D. Madison says, “In Othello, he knows just what to say to sound innocent. Iago is the ultimate master of manipulation”. Iago uses his knowledge wisely and uses it to manipulate others for his own satisfaction, and knows how to manipulate them because he has analyzed them before, and that is what makes him so good at being evil. Iago is fully aware what he is doing and has no sympathy for anyone like he says himself; “And what’s he then that says play the villain, When this advice is free I give, and honest” (2.3.299).

With this thought of revenge playing in his arsenal, he never got off task on his mastermind plan to play the downfall of Othello, to make him suffer. One can say Iago is extremely gritty and has a growth mindset in the aspect of accepting all opportunities as the moment to add to his master plan, learning different ways to manipulate everyone in his way, stacking all the cards in his favor. One can say he’s extremely gritty because of his devotion to making sure Othello pays for his ‘wrongdoing’. Iago throughout the novel focused on his goal without a ounce of doubt in any of his actions and actually caused what he wanted to happen to take place, which was the death of Othello. He also refuses to speak on his actions regarding his actions and why he has done them, sticking with the original plan. “Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word”(Shakespeare ). He stays firm on his goal of getting revenge and if he ever gets caught, he won’t explain why, he’ll leave everything into a mystery. Iago shows his growth mindset when he learned everyone’s weakness and how to manipulate them into his plan. One example can be when Roderigo leaves the room and Iago brings his true feelings and

355,] By playing on his hopes, Iago is able to conjure money and jewels from Roderigo, making himself a profit, while using Roderigo to further his other plans. He also thinks stealthy on his feet and is able to improvise whenever something unexpected occurs. When Cassio takes hold of Desdemona's hand before the arrival of the Moor Othello, Iago says, "With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio." [II, i, 163] This language demonstrates the evil inside Iago’s goals of retrieving absolute power. He actually even says of himself, "I am an honest man...." [II, iii, 245] Iago slowly corrupts the character’s thoughts, creating ideas in their minds without implicating himself. His "medicine works! Thus credulous fools are caught...." [II, i, 44] "And what's he then that says I play the villain, when this advice is free I give, and honest," [II, iii, 299] says Iago. In turn, people rarely stop to consider the fact that old Iago could be deceiving and manipulating them; yet they are convinced that he is "Honest Iago." From these quotes from “Othello” it is proven that the dialogue used between Iago and the others is manipulative causing an evil outcome.

. . until the tragic end" (Bell 43). His mindset is purely based jealousy that Desdemona may be cheating on him followed by the fear that he will lose her. Ironically, Othello will lose Desdemona anyways. Iago is able to use imagery to further manipulate Othello. Othello would never suspect Iago to lie to him. He mentions Desdemona being "naked with her friend in bed," causing Othello to picture the scene in his mind's eye (IV.1.2414). With the nickname of "Honest Iago," he is capable of lying without spreading suspicion. He is able to steer Othello into " an intolerable position between hope and despair" (Nordlund). Because this is a Shakespearian tragedy, the audience knows that this plot will not have a happy ending. Othello's sexual jealousy is the main flaw that results in his downfall. It is the driving force that motivates several of the characters actions. Iago is jealous of Cassio's position so he uses it to destroy Othello. Roderigo helps Iago because he is jealous of Othello being with Desdemona. Most importantly, Othello is jealous because of his false belief that his wife is cheating on him. It can be argued that Iago is envies Othello's and

Initially Iago manipulates a character by the name of Roderigo. Roderigo is a Venetian gentleman that is in love with the wife of Othello, Desdemona and will do whatever it takes to win her over from Othello. Roderigo who is oblivious to the idea and fact that Iago is manipulating him to achieve his goal of getting revenge against Othello. Iago’s first implication of manipulation occurs when he advises Roderigo to go make money. Iago states "Thou art sure of me. Go make money. I have told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted: thine hath no less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him" (1.3.358-360). In this quote, Iago is constantly urging Roderigo to side with him in bringing down their common enemy, Othello. He is stating that his cause is sincere and heart-felt towards helping him win Desdemona. He is also telling Roderigo to literally go out and make money, and in exchange he'll have Desdemona under his arm because Iago tells him that Desdemona loves fancy things, and that the only reason she is with Othello is because he can buy these things for her. Secondly Iago convinces Roderigo to kill Cassio, a man who Iago tells him is sleeping with

The reader first catches a glimpse at Iago’s malicious ways when he and Roderigo are introduced into the play. Roderigo blinded by love easily falls for Iago’s lies. Wanting nothing more than to have Desdemona’s love he sells all his land, just as Iago told him to. “She must change for youth. When she is sated with his / body she will find the errors of her choice. Therefore, put/ Money in thy purse” (Othello I.iii.344-349). With the money he follows alongside Iago and helps him become lieutenant, all the while thinking Iago is

Iago is a cunning villain and as such, he is able to manipulate others into their own demise. For example, at the end of the second scene in act four, Roderigo enters to confront Iago. Roderigo has “wasted [him]self out of [his] means” for Iago to allocate money to gifts for Desdemona (4.2.216-217). However, Iago has not given her any gifts at all. In order to avoid further confrontation, Iago entices him with flattery. He says he sees the “mettle in [Roderigo who] is not without wit and judgement” (4.2.236, 4.2.244). Additionally, Iago tempts Roderigo with Desdemona and a promise that he can “devise engines” to take Iago’s life should he fail to deliver on his word (4.2.250). Iago has played to Roderigo’s weaknesses: beautiful women, money,

Iago has many reasons to hate Othello, including the fact that he had been passed over for a promotion, in which Othello had snatched the position, and he also suspects Othello had slept with Emilia. These reasons were given to the audience, as Iago, himself, reveals his reasons to Roderigo, “ I hate the Moor; and it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets 'has done my office. I know not if't be true; yet I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety.” (1.3.378-82). Iago is never turned back on his plan to ruin Othello and the people surrounding him, since he is always contemplating on how Othello doesn’t deserve his accolades, and how Iago is plotting revenge against him. This keeps Iago to consistently, and deliberately continue with his strategies, which keeps the audience empathetic for the rest of the story. Iago is also jealous of Othello’s ability to woo and lure Desdemona, “It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor ... She must change for youth. When she is sated with his body, she will find the error of her choice.” (1.3.340). However, Even if Iago had received the promotion; even if he had no suspicions or jealous feelings, he would still invent new motives for hating the Moor, as he is the devil of the story. Iago is not capable of performing good deeds, sustaining good relationships, or even

Iago is a good name for an evil character in another story. In Othello, Iago’s first characteristic from the story to make his name a good evil character is that fact that he lies. Throughout the story he falsifies information to try to maneuver his way to the lieutenant position. First he lies to Rodrigo. Rodrigo is “a jealous suitor of Desdemona” (Briggs) and tries to get Iago’s help in return for money. Iago tells Rodrigo that he will but does not tell him his true intent. Iago does not help Rodrigo. He makes it look like he is helping him but really he is using Rodrigo for his own plan. The second characteristic to make Iago a good villain name is the fact that he manipulates people. Iago manipulates both Cassio and Othello in Othello. He manipulates Cassio by getting him to

Iago is jealous, dishonest, duplicitous, manipulative, and evil. His jealousy is shown when he is furious of Cassio becoming the military lieutenant, instead of him. His dishonesty can be seen when Iago continuously lies to Othello about his wife cheating on him. His duplicity is revealed when Iago praises Othello in front of him, but badmouths him when around other characters. He is manipulative, as he uses Roderigo’s thirst for Desdemona to do his dirty work: fighting Cassio. His evil nature is portrayed when he ruins the life of Othello, through convincing him to kill his wife, Desdemona.

As we know, Iago is jealous to Othello, and it is his first motive. The second reason is stronger than the first one; Iago turns his suspicion about the relationship between his wife and Othello into his primary motivation to revenge Othello. For this kind of person, no matter how good we treat them, they will think differently and avoid our works. Likewise, he assumes his suspicion is right without considering other reasons. According to the story, we know his claim is entirely incorrect. Honestly, Iago is cruel and dangerous because he soon recognizes the powerful of jealousy. And then, he decides to use the same method to poison Othello and

It is not love that is blind, but jealousy. Many characters in William Shakespeare’s Othello face the “green-eyed monster” that is jealousy, but no one like the valiant Moor general himself, Othello. Othello’s trusted and honest ensign, Iago, instills the deep envy within Othello towards his once favorite lieutenant, Cassio. Iago serves as the play’s main antagonist as he expresses profound hatred towards both Cassio and Othello, calling for their demise. He manipulates many situations and words of others to make it appear to Othello that his lovely wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with Cassio. Based solely on circumstantial evidence Iago provides, Othello is fueled with anger and jealousy that completely deprives him of thoughtful judgement.

Iago uses Othello's jealousy of Cassio to make Othello believe that he is having an affair with Desdemona. Iago then uses Desdemona's trust and love for Othello to bring about her downfall. But, he also exploits Desdemona’s virtuous nature of helping people, making her talk on behalf of Cassio persistently in order to enrage Othello and develop his suspicion. Iago even uses his wife's trust to make her not notice his schemes. He makes her steal Desdemona’s handkerchief, yet, her trust of her husband fails to make her understand Iago’s plot against Desdemona and Othello. Iago also uses Cassio's fatal flaw, his admiration for Desdemona and his trust and friendship in order to exploit him. He also exploits Roderigo’s love for Desdemona. But, Iago has his own weakness too, greed. He is greedy for power and is jealous of Cassio for being promoted above him, and will do anything to stop Othello and