Iago's Characters Against Othello

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Iago is the main antagonists against Othello, throughout the entire play. Iago is not realistically motivated. Even though Iago makes many of his decisions with careful thought, he does have a main flaw that will come back to haunt him in the end. Iago unlike other characters, doesn’t have true honorable morals. Because of this, he makes many situations which are manageable, and takes them further out of proportion he does this for his own pure enjoyment to create havoc for sport. Iago manipulates the characters who trust too easily, such are Roderigo and Othello. Iago uses them as an addition to his plans, which he manages so they will work in his favor in the end, or so he believes they will. The lust for power which rushes through Iago, and the fact of him believing he is superior to others, is the main drive for Iago’s ambition to dismay others; however, these reason are not realistic …show more content…

The reader can see Iago’s drastic difference from what he said in the beginning of the play, compared to his actions in the end of the play. Iago says “Though in the trade of war I have slain men, Yet do I hold it very stuff o' th' conscience To do no contrived murder. I lack iniquity Sometimes to do me service.” (Act I, scene, ii, lines 1-4) Iago tells this straight to Othello’s face that he truly finds murder of another man sickening, and that even though he has killed men before, he believes it to be wrong and will not kill out of his own reasons but only when his is forced to. Contradicting Iago's on words, in Act V, scene I, line 65, Iago murders Roderigo out of cold blood. Iago also murders his wife Emilia in Act V scene ii, line 149, because she wouldn’t obey him to shut up, when she is telling the truth about Iago’s horrible ways he has manipulated Othello into believing Desdemona was unfaithful to him. “Be wise, and get you home.” (Act V, scene ii, line

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