Flaws In Othello

In The Tragedy of Othello, Shakespeare uses the flaws in each character to use against them. Iago the main antagonist is able to use these flaws to his advantage. Iago uses Rodrigo’s love for Desdemona and Othello’s deep trust towards Iago to manipulate them to further his schemes of getting the lieutenancy back from Cassio. Rodrigo can be described as Iago’s lackey; he works and follows orders from him like a steward for a knight. Iago starts using Rodrigo’s obsessive love for Desdemona for his plan on getting Cassio terminated. Iago first tells Rodrigo to obtain income, this to be used for expenses for their revenge on Othello. “Go, make money. I have told thee often, and I retell thee again and again, I hate the Moor... Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him. If thou canst cuckold him” (i.iii.407-11). Iago starts his plotting

Feeling hurt and destroyed by this news, Iago is able to easily use the fact that Rodrigo’s guard is down and can now be manipulated without any issues. Iago uses Rodrigo’s infatuation for Desdemona unsparingly; he knows that if it has anything to do with Desdemona — even if it were false. He would not hesitate, but accept it very quickly. Rodrigo is very much delusional even after losing faith in Iago’s plan and seeing how he is misused, “I do not find that thou deal’st justly with me” (iv.ii.203-4), annoyed at the fact he has not gotten Desdemona yet. Noticing this he wants to cut ties between Iago and himself. Making it seem that Rodrigo has developed and finally understands how he has been used for Iago’s purposes, he is then sweet talked by Iago ¬— quite easily. Iago keeps Rodrigo in his fingertips, making it seem like they are close at achieving