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Iago In William Shakespeare's Othello

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Shakespeare’s Othello begins with Iago, who is disgruntled because the rank of lieutenant was given to Michael Cassio rather than to himself, already causing trouble for those in Venice by screaming out claims of Othello’s wrongdoings. The operations of Iago are what carry the plot of Othello forward and are what lead many to the fallacy of Iago being the lead. The actual lead Othello follows the inherent traits of mankind creating decisions based on morality, but Iago is unyielding to moral judgment and intends to complete his agenda no matter the repercussions. Iago wishes to take revenge on Othello and Cassio for stripping him of the position that he believes that he had earned. However, Iago does not desire the revenge he carries out to be swift, but rather in a long meticulous fashion in order to enjoy the suffering of his adversaries to the fullest. An unhuman personality is what leads to excitement being received from odious actions. Iago has put his pleasure in wicked deeds above all else and is willing to give up everything in order to achieve it. Through his own speech Iago refers to the pleasure that he covets and even uses animals to further convey his feeling of superiority over others. …show more content…

In a soliloquy, he clearly states his intentions of turning the tides of his misfortune upon those who had caused it. Iago aspires to make an “ass” out of Othello by tricking him into making Cassio his opposition. Iago displays his intention by saying “I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip, Abuse him to the Moor in rank garb”(2.1.327-328). He wishes to put Cassio in a state of disadvantage and then take that disadvantage and report it to Othello. Iago believes that by doing this he would be able to receive the rank that he truly deserves and get back at Iago for taking his rank, all while having his way with

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As the play begins Othello is looking for a new Lieutenant. Iago has always been dependable to Othello, but he ends up overpassing the position to Cassio, who doesn 't know anything about war duties. Although Iago wants to exterminate Othello over of his jealousy of his popularity, he also wants to sabotage him because of the promotion that he thinks was mistaken, he uses Desdemona as a sin. Indeed Iago is going to destroy Othello because of the promotion that was misconstrued.

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Often it is the dark side of human nature that brings a story to life, and there is no sounder proof of this than William Shakespeare’s masterpiece Othello. The tragedy of the Moor of Venice is inflicted by the cruelty of Iago, perhaps one of the most intriguing antagonists in literary history. Iago’s cruelty is a defining element of the play, in that it pushes the plot forward as the trigger for all of the major actions throughout the story, serves as the cause of the cruelty of others around him, and reveals the character of each person in the play through their responses to his cruelty. The action of the entire play is centered around Iago’s various acts of cruelty.

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In the beginning of the novel, Shakespeare describes Iago as a mastermind of manipulating others. Iago holds a grudge and resentment towards the Moor, Othello, because another soldier, lieutenant Cassio, has been promoted

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992 Words | 4 Pages

Iago saw himself as the best for the position just as a person would who wanted control. He never sees Cassio as the superior Lieutenant, but as a man who was no better than him. Iago wanted for himself what he couldn’t have, so he did what he knew best, took

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757 Words | 4 Pages

Iago’s constant animalistic language shows that he views others as animals rather than people, thus, Iago dehumanizing the other characters. In Act One, scene one, Iago describes Othello as an “old black ram” (Shakespeare 1276). This description of Othello is comparing him to a ram, and such animalistic references show that Iago does not view Othello an equal. In his view of Othello as unhumanistic, Iago is most likely willing to treat him as an animal. The audience sees this treatment through his constant manipulations of Othello’s mind, planting seeds of jealousy.

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1277 Words | 6 Pages

Iago is angry that Othello has promoted Cassio to be his lieutenant rather than himself for he explains that he has more experience as a soldier while Cassio is a soldier who boasts about experiences he never had. This is why Iago believes in taking down Cassio as well by breaking up his bond with Othello as displayed in act 3 scene 3 as Iago questions Othello about seeing Cassio leave Desdemona’s room, “Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it that he would steal away so guilty like, seeing your coming” (3.3.41-43). Iago appears to be as shocked as Othello after witnessing Cassio scurry away from Desdemona’s room, but in truth, it was he who presented to Cassio that he should talk to Desdemona about getting Othello to forgive him as taken place in act 2 scene 3, “Confess yourself freely to her.

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979 Words | 4 Pages

While Iago continues with discussing his thoughts, he brings up many reasons behind why he is planning to get revenge. First, he uses derogatory terms to describe Othello such as a moor. Because of these, the audience may suspect that his motive is due to him being black and in a high position. In addition, he suspected his wife Emilia to be having an affair with Othello which, to the audience, may be another reason why revenge is desired. Thirdly, Iago mentions his motive to try to get Cassio out of the lieutenant position.

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1272 Words | 6 Pages

While he knows that his actions are immoral, he embraces it fully by calling for evil forces to help in his plans to destroy Othello’s life. This imagery shows Iago’s true nature to the audience, one that wishes for the corruption of people’s lives and actively acting it out. Moreover, Iago refers to himself as a devil in a soliloquy after Cassio drunkenly --------, saying "When devils will the blackest sins put on, / They do suggest at first with heavenly shows, / As I do now" (2.3.351-353). He reveals his intentions to harm Othello to the audience, showing that he does not have empathy for Othello or those his actions would affect, showing his ------------------------------------------------------------------------.

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901 Words | 4 Pages

In the book Othello, Iago is a very manipulating man, throughout the book he manages to manipulate three main people, Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello. He uses all their weaknesses to bring them down. Iago wants revenge on Othello, because Othello overlooks Iago and his abilities, so Iago manipulates these three characters to get back at Othello in the long run. He comes up with a very good plan to get each other to turn against one another. So in the end he ends up getting what he wanted, revenge.

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750 Words | 3 Pages

In the play Othello, William Shakespeare creates an elaborate tragedy with various in depth characters, enhancing the story with powerful characterization. Iago, the main antagonist of Othello, exemplifies Shakespeare’s use of characterization to create in depth and complex characters. Using his manipulative nature, intellectual mind, egotistical attitude, and dishonesty, Iago controls the other characters in order to achieve his goal, leading Othello to succumb to an overwhelming jealousy causing his downfall. In order for Iago to gain control of the characters in the play, he manipulates Othello, Roderigo, Cassio, and more to believe false information and turn on one another.

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970 Words | 4 Pages

Iago is the mastermind behind all of the mayhem in this play, and it all starts in act one when Othello made Michael Cassio the lieutenant over him. This left Iago flabbergasted saying Cassio "never set a squadron in the field" (I.i.22) and he sarcastically says " And I-God bless the mark! His Moorship 's ancient" (I.i.33). Iago was more qualified than Cassio, in experience and also, as Iago thinks, ability.

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1474 Words | 6 Pages

Throughout the play, he would often talk about Iago in the same manner as in Act 2, scene 2, “a man he is of honesty and trust”( II,ii. 323-324). Given that Othello trusted who he thought was his best friend, it was easier for Iago to bring Othello down. The root of Iago’s evil intentions is jealousy, which he describes to be like a “green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on” (III,iii. 196-197). He speaks of it in a way that captures how it affects man because that is what he was going through after Cassio got the lieutenancy.

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517 Words | 3 Pages

He is manipulative and tells Othello to “observe her [Desdemona] well with Cassio” (Shakespeare, 3.3:197). Iago feeds Othello with countless lies and makes him miserable with something that is not factual. He is determined to get revenge and he does not realize Iago stands insincere. Furthermore, Iago is selfish when he tells Othello, “I am yours for ever” (3.3:479). He betrays Othello yet still let’s him depend on him for his own

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446 Words | 2 Pages

Iago himself offers many explanations and reasons for his behavior during the play, his reasons may not be right but he is intending to destroy people’s lives in the process of completing them. His character is eroded with jealousy and hatred (Anon., n.d.). He is feeling angry and humiliated because he didn’t get the promotion, a chance to be in a higher position in the army. These feelings were obvious from the beginning. He also doesn’t seem to respect Othello much.

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1007 Words | 5 Pages

Iago is by far the sneakiest character in Othello. By using an (act innocent and blind) approach to seek revenge on his commanding officer and colleague who took his place. Iago’s deception can be spotted as early as act two. “I do love Cassio well and would do much to cure him from this evil” (Shakespeare 2.3.150-151). This is where Iago tells Montano how much he loves Cassio and wants to help him, but as the reader you know that he hates Othello and Cassio bit tricks Montano and others to get his revenge.

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