Essay on Iago; The Representation of Villainy in "Othello"

In Shakespeare's Othello, Othello's pride prevents him from finding the truth, eventually leading to his demise. Initially, Othello and Desdemona are deeply in love, despite her father's disapproval of their marriage. However, when Othello promotes Cassio instead of Iago to Lieutenant, Iago has his revenge by convincing Othello that Desdemona cheats on him with Cassio, destroying the marriage between Othello and Desdemona. Othello grows to meet his downfall when his trusted friend Iago causes him to think that his wife Desdemona is unfaithful.

Evil masterminds are always successful in their diabolical schemes, but each one does it in their own special way. Some may be highly ranked and powerful, but some may be simple people in a simple community. In the play Othello, the simple ancient, Iago is very successful at his schemes. Iago is able to get the trust of everyone around him, and to appear honest. He is also driven to continue with his schemes and to never quite.

Iago as Evil in William Shakespeare's Othello "Othello" is famously regarded as one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies. It explores the downfall of a great general Othello through a series of unlucky circumstances. Othello's character shows a man of high status whose job, marriage and life is ruined because of his insecurities by a man named Iago. Iago (Othello's ensign) is able to manipulate Othello,

Othello has finally been fully convinced of Desdemona’s infidelity, and plots to kill both her and Cassio. Iago jumps in, spurring him on and even saying that he will be the one to take care of Cassio. “OTHELLO: Get me some poison, Iago, this night. I’ll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again—This night, Iago! IAGO: Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. OTHELLO: Good, good, the justice of it pleases! Very good!” Othello has already planned on killing Desdemona, but Iago cannot resist jumping in one last time to suggest a new way of killing Desdemona, one of a twisted poetic justice. This does not really help Iago’s situation, as no matter how Desdemona dies, Othello would likely be caught. This is especially clear later as Othello is not even really secretive about it, at least partly because he believes he is morally right due to her supposed

Iago hatched up a plan to ruin Othello by pretending to be loyal as well as falsely portraying Othello’s wife to be false. As stated in Shakespeare’s play Othello, Iago stated in Act 1 Scene 3 that he planned to “ abuse Othello’s ear” that cassio is “ too familiar with his wife” which would allow him to frame Cassio and portray Desdemona to be false. This reveal that Iago has such hatred for Othello and interracial relationships that he would frame an innocent man and woman to ruin Othello. Cruel Iago used Desdemona’s handkerchief to falsely frame Cassio which would make it appear that Desdemona is committing adultery with Cassio. It would also appear to Othello as if Desdemona is committing adultery with Cassio because it is more natural and acceptable for her to be with someone of the same racial class and nature as her own. This would be evident in ruining Othello because of how much he cares for

She begins the play as a independent and thoughtful person, but she must struggle against all odds to make Othello believe that she is not too independent. Desdemona is a symbol of innocence and helplessness. However in the beginning of the play, she seems to be mature and quite insightful of events around her. Iago often tells Othello that she is unfaithful. It seems that she refuses to accept what Iago is doing. She has a tendency to be sympathetic towards other people's situations, like Cassio. This also further inspired Othello's jealousy when Iago pointed out that Cassio and Desdemona were speaking in private. She often pays attention to other people’s thoughts, yet remains distrustful if they differ from her own. She has a loyalty to her husband in all aspects of life,

Iago brain washes Othello about Desdemona having an affair with Cassio. Othello becomes enraged when Iago goes in perspective. While angered, Othello has made a decision to eliminate his own wife, Desdemona, and Cassio. “Damn her, lewd minx!/O damn her!/ Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw, to furnish me some swift means of death for the fair devil.” Othello is ready to kill Desdemona and his lieutenant, well, former lieutenant, Cassio; furthermore, jealousy has taken over.

Othello and Desdemona realize that they love each other and elope. Iago and Roderigo get the hatred towards Othello for two different reasons, Iago because he has been passed up for a promotion to Cassio per Othello command. Roderigo gets angry when he finds out that Othello has married Desdemona. Iago and Roderigo work together to get Othello back. Iago convinces Cassio drunk and fights Roderigo which causes Othello to demote him due to his behavior. Iago begins to manipulate Othello into believing that Cassio and Desdemona have an affair and are traders for what they are doing to him. Iago plants Desdemona’s handkerchief in Cassio’s room, this would lead to Othello confirming that Desdemona and Cassio are having the affair “By heaven, that should be my handkerchief!” (Shakespeare 533). “Hang her! I do but say what she is. So delicate with her needle! An admirable musician! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear! Of so high and plenteous wit and invention” (Shakespeare 533). Othello has no trust in Desdemona and he awakens her to accuses her of the situation again and smothers her to death, losing the wife that he loved “Killing Desdemona is an impersonal act, undertaken for honorable reasons, ``else she'll betray more men.'' Most recent critics have, however, rejected this reading and, following Eliot and Leavis, have viewed Othello as guilty

Iago quickly tried to come up with false evidence to apparently, to prove to Othello that this is indeed, reality, “I know not that; but suck a handkerchief – I am sure it was your wife’s – See Cassio wipe his beard with.”(3.3.496). Iago was supposedly ‘thickening his proofs’, and he insisted that Cassio has Desdemona’s handkerchief. Notice how Iago is exaggerating false allegations, only to make Othello think that Desdemona is unfaithful. It becomes fairly manageable for Iago to sell his tale to Othello, as he takes advantage of Othello’s trust, and reports what he ‘apparently witnessed’. After Iago successfully manipulates Othello, to consider his wife as a false-hearted woman, he doesn’t even think to reflect upon his sinful deeds, revealing his cold-hearted soul to the audience. By now, the viewers can only look down upon Iago with disgust, as he is also breaking a loving relationship between an honest man and his innocent wife. Why would Iago want to harm Desdemona when he clearly hates the Moor, and only the Moor? What was Iago’s purpose in slandering a beautiful, innocent woman? Well, Iago’s villainous schemes continue to leave the audience in disbelief. Then, Iago also vividly describes to Othello, about how Cassio is yearning for Desdemona, “There are a kind of men so loose of soul that in their sleeps will mutter their affairs. One of this kind is Cassio. In sleep I heard

Desdemona is the innocent and beautiful wife of Othello. She defies what her father Brabantio thinks about marrying Othello and boldly does so anyway. “The courage on both sides in marrying outside their race and social class testifies to the mutual trust and love which lie behind their marriage vows”(Caro, 17). Her naïve personality, however leaves her exposed to those who have learned how to take advantage of others, like Iago. He takes advantage of Desdemona’s good-hearted nature in order to manipulate the image that Desdemona is cheating on Othello with Cassio.

How does one create the perfect villain for a story? What qualities are needed in such a character? A good place to start when constructing a villain is to look at William Shakespeare’s villain in Othello, a man called Iago. Iago is wonderfully devious. Throughout the play, he not only poisons Othello’s vision of Desdemona, he does this with no one, excepting Roderigo, the wiser. There are several reasons that make Iago such a terrifying villain. Shakespeare gave certain qualities to his creation that made Iago more than just a evil character. These qualities transform Iago into the truly insidious character seen in the play. From the beginning of Othello to the time that Iago is revealed as the culprit, everyone trusts Iago and looks to

Iago has a whole plan to split up Othello and Desdemona. First, he puts evil cheating thoughts in Othello’s head. Then, for proof Iago took the handkerchief and framed Cassio. Othello lost all trust in Desdemona and was furious. He then had desires to kill her.

Desdemona foreshadows her own death by telling Emilia about the willow song. Desdemona thinks that no woman would be unfaithful to their husbands. Emilia thinks that if no one is looking she would cheat on her husband, she says women have the same desire as men. She also explains that if the women cheats it is the mans fault. In the meantime Iago torments Othello until he faints by continually bringing up that Cassio slept with Desdemona. Pish! Noses, ears,and lips. --Is't possible?--Confess--handkerchief!--O devil!--". Othello is very nervous that his wife is potentially sleeping with Cassio. Iago then makes sure that Othello hears Bianca and Cassio talking about his relationship but Othello thinks he is talking about Desdemona, here we can see that the character of Othello has changed a great deal. Cassio is killed by Roderigo which puts Desdemona in harm of being murdered. Desdemona still loves Othello but he murders her because he was tricked into Iago’s evil

The first symptom that Iago exhibits is deceitfulness. Iago spends the entirety of his time during the course of the play manipulation others and indulging in deceitful behaviors. Iago’s actions are constantly manipulative, self serving, and often proving harmful to others. The DSM 5 describes this trait as “indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or gain”. Throughout the plays run Iago puts forth a facade, making himself seem trustworthy in order to get closer to characters like Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello, whom he uses to inflict pain on others, or themselves. One scene in particular comes when Iago and Cassio are the party that is happening that evening. Iago attempts to get Cassio to drink, but Cassio is opposed. Iago tells him,“I have a stoup of wine” Cassio replies with “Not tonight good Iago” Iago counters with, “O they are our friends! But one cup; I’ll drink for you” (2.3. ). However, this is not an isolated incident, Iago is shown being manipulative and deceitful the entire play. Cassio was just a pawn in Iago's plan, for Iago no one has enough value to not be used. Iago displays habits similar to another sociopath, the infamous Ted Bundy. According to the website Weebly, “Bundy frequently manipulated his victims, using his good looks and charm as lures to trap his victims”. Iago’s actions are very similar to known sociopath Ted Bundy. Iago incidentally makes a comment very similar to what Weebly describes

In the play, Othello, written by William Shakespeare, the character that shows the most characteristics of a villain is Iago. The downfall of Othello is caused by Iago who is a manipulative liar. Iago is the main villain of the story and manipulates Othello and most of the other characters. Iago’s manipulative personality allows him to advance in his evil scheme leading to Othello’s downfall. Iago worked alongside Othello and Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant, for a long time and used his knowledge of their character to manipulate them. When Iago said, “And I of whom his eyes have seen the proof. At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and at other grounds” he claimed to have been witness to both Othello and Cassio’s weaknesses (I.i.25-26). He knew that he had the ability to manipulate them, and this foreshadowed his use of knowledge to ruin them. Iago is cruel and took pride in manipulating Othello and Cassio. Iago formed close relationships with many of his fellow