Character Analysis In Othello

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is a spurious, manipulative character that fabricates a scheming plan to use Michael Cassio as a scapegoat in ruining Othello’s life. Once again, Iago addresses the crowd with a soliloquy to formulate his plan. Iago seemingly takes on the role of a ringleader, pawning the rest of the characters throughout his act. Earlier in the play, Cassio and Desdemona share a friendly gesture of holding hands, after Desdemona’s debate with Iago. Iago expresses in great detail the prejudices against the female sexuality by claiming that all types of woman, whether beautiful or ugly, are deceitful and ‘sex-crazy’. Cassio reassures Desdemona by saying that she should “relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar.” (2.1.165-166)

As stated before, the tone that Iago expresses repeatedly throughout Shakespeare’s Othello is malicious revenge. However, aside from his hatred, there is a slight emotion of obsession that he expresses in his soliloquy. For instance, Iago is persistent on ruining Othello’s life every hour of every day, so that he would feel the pain that Iago feels. He wants to “put the Moor / At least into a jealousy so strong / That judgement cannot cure.” (2.1.298-300) In the Oxford English Dictionary, the term ‘jealousy’ can be expressed in a variety of meanings. One of the meanings is that ‘jealousy’ is a ‘state of mind that arises from suspicion, or the knowledge of rivalry.’ This definition pertains to Iago because he strongly believes that Othello is sleeping with his wife, hence why he wants to treat Othello as an enemy. Although, Othello did not have sex with Emilia, Iago’s wife, Iago still twists reality to make it his own. Additionally, another definition of ‘jealousy’ is that it is ‘vigilance in guarding a possession from loss or damage.’ This definition relates to Othello more than Iago because, Othello is protecting Desdemona from Cassio as he falls for Iago’s trap in believing that an affair is happening behind his back. A sense of jealousy and betrayal arouses in him as he realizes that his lover, his possession has “fallen” for someone else … when that is not the

However, what Roderigo doesn’t know is that Iago is a two-faced hypocrite that only performs actions for his own benefit. Roderigo repeatedly relies on Iago for his assistance to persuade Desdemona to love him, however Iago betrays him. He pushes Roderigo off a cliff through an emotional turmoil. He lives to have “this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash / For his quick hunting, stand the putting on, / I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip.” (2.1.301-303) Basically, if Roderigo can perform what Iago wants, then power can be brought over Cassio and his wrath can be brought to justice. In the OED, ‘hunting’ is a term that can be defined as ‘to go eagerly in search of or seeking something.’ Roderigo is constantly in search for Desdemona’s love, asking around for approval from Brabantio, and advice from Iago. Additionally, Iago is in search of gaining a higher position in the Venetian army, and Othello’s dismay from his