Analysis Of Iago In William Shakespeare's Othello

“For I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad, that ‘twixt my sheets, he has done my office: I know not if ‘t be true.” “In “Othello” by William Shakespeare, Iago represents the evil that is evident in everyday life and the difficulty to tell what is really true. Iago is motivated because of his hatred for the Moor, Othello. So, he builds trust with several characters to take him down, and the reader watches his plan executed almost flawlessly.

Iago’s desire for revenge was hardly justified. He did aspire to be the lieutenant and was expecting it. He tells Roderigo that he deserves the position, “I know my price, I am worth no worse a place.” He also has fought with Othello for 8 years and had built a strong friendship. Although Iago feels

First, his trust with Othello, which is already a strong bond after fighting with him for 8 years, builds when he tells Othello what happened between Cassio and Montano: as Othello notes that “Iago is most honest.” After this, Othello is obligated to trust Iago when he alerts him of the possible affair with Desdemona and Cassio, asking him, “Is ‘t possible my lord?” He also gains trust with Cassio after he got him drunk. Iago gives him good advice to speak with Desdemona, who would speak highly of him to Othello. He tells Cassio to “confess yourself freely to her, importune her help to put you in your place again.” However, Iago plans to use this against Cassio to give the appearance of an affair. Roderigo is the last victim of Iago’s deceit. Although Iago pledges to help Roderigo get noticed by Desdemona, he simply steals the valuable jewelry, and Desdemona gets nothing. Eventually, Iago persuades Roderigo to kill Cassio with very little evidence as Roderigo states that he “has no great devotion to the deed; and yet he hath given me satisfying reason.” The credibility Iago built with each of the characters had the intent to destroy for revenge. Although Iago seems to be doing the best for his friends, he is double sided and intends to

Following Cassio leaving the party drunk, he randomly treaded upon Roderigo and began to fight him. He then returned to the party and stabbed Montano after he told him, “come come, you 're drunk.” All of this was done in front of Othello, who then fires him, telling him that “I love thee, but never an officer of mine.” Iago was fortunate that Cassio couldn 't handle a drink and that he didn’t walk out unbothered. Next, when Othello was demanding proof that his wife was having an affair with Cassio, his wife found Desdemona’s handkerchief and gave it to Iago, telling him that Desdemona “let it drop by negligence and, to th’ advantage, I being here, took ‘t up. Look here it is.” Once again, Iago is fortunate that Emila finds it and gives it to him without asking too many questions. Lastly, when Othello is beginning to believe Iago about the affair, Iago gets Othello to hide and listen to the conversation between him and Cassio talking about Desdemona. However, Iago asks about his mistress, Bianca, and Othello does not hear it. Then, Iago lucks out again when Bianca enters with Desdemona’s handkerchief and throws it at Cassio, asking “what did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it.” This solidifies that Desdemona is indeed having an affair in Othello’s mind. So, with several strokes of luck, Iago now holds lots of power and