“If you want to know the outcome of a game before the game has even started, you need to control each side.” (David Icke) In the play Othello by William Shakespeare the main antagonist Iago manipulates many characters using various methods. The play begins with Othello, the general of the venetian army secretly marrying Desdemona, the daughter of a prominent senator shortly after Othello and the rest of the venetian army are sent to cyprus to fight the Turkish fleet, while in cyprus Othello's ensign Iago manipulates him by convincing him that his lieutenant Cassio is having an affair with his wife this results in Othello being driven to madness causing him to kill Desdemona. In the play Iago manipulates Cassio, Desdemona, and Othello by exploiting their weaknesses. In the play Iago manipulates Cassio by exploiting his drinking problem. Shortly after they arrive in Iago convinces Cassio to drink, knowing that he can not hold his liquor very well, he then tells Roderigo to provoke him, this causes a fight to break out ending with cassio stabbing and wounding Montano, a …show more content…
After Iago suggest that Cassio speak with Desdemona, Cassio asks Desdemona to help him regain his position as they are talking Iago and Othello approach from a distance cassio notices them and leaves before they arrive “Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it, / That he would steal away so guilty-like, / Seeing you coming. ” (Shakespeare III.iii.38-40). Othello wonders if it was Cassio who left, Iago says he does not think so. Iago knows Cassio was the one who was speaking with Desdemona, he lies to hide the fact that he told Cassio to speak with her so that when Othello finds out it was Cassio he questions why he would hide from him. Throughout the play Iago slowly feeds Othello lies causing him to question Cassio and Desdemona's honesty, Iago knows that Othello trusts him over anybody and he uses that weakness against