Iago's Jealousy Character Analysis

In William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Othello, the power of jealousy rips relationships apart and destroys the peace amongst a once pleasant society. The principle character for the aggravation of the other characters is Iago. Iago is angry at Othello for not appointing him as his lieutenant and refuses to let it go. For selfish reasons, Iago plots an evil schemes of revenge towards Othello by making him, and everyone necessary to bring Othello down.

In the beginning of the play, Iago tells us of his plan against Othello. Cassio was promoted by Othello to lieutenant instead of Iago which is why Iago despises him. Iago says, “I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed.”

(1.1.40-43) This statement he makes clearly tells us that he believes that Othello shouldn’t be a leader and that his choice to promote Cassio instead of him was wrong. His plan for Othello was to put him into distress by making him think that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair. This “mistake” that Othello has made against Iago is the foundation of Iago’s jealous “flames...and it brings down catastrophe on the protagonists shoulder.”
In order to cause destruction to Cassio, Iago is determined to hurt Cassio’s status as lieutenant. Knowing that Cassio can’t handle liquor very well, Iago gets Cassio drunk and tells Roderigo to pick a fight with him. The outcome of this event was Cassio injuring Montano which led to Cassio’s dismissal as Othello’s lieutenant. Iago then advises Cassio to go to Desdemona for help explaining that “She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested.” (2.3.312-215) Cassio foolishly believes all that Iago says to him and obeys blindly. To further Othello’s suspicions about the affair between Desdemona and Cassio, Iago provokes Othello telling him Casio knows Desdemona a little too well. With the evidence that Iago presents to Othello, Othello finds it enough of a reason to murder Desdemona. He does so by suffocating her with a pillow and ignores her words of defense.
Another victim of Iago’s scheme is Roderigo, who is in love with Desdemona. However, Iago informs Roderigo that Desdemona and Othello are in love also which fuels Roderigo’s jealousy. Iago has no interest in actually helping Roderigo obtain Desdemona as his lover, but he pretends to help him for his money. Iago reassures Roderigo “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.” (1.3.359-362). Iago basically is saying that if Roderigo simply pays him, he will make Desdemona fall in love with Roderigo by bringing Othello down.