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Iago's Evil

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Pride, revenge, jealousy, and love; all cornerstones throughout time as to why people commit atrocities to one another daily. Time has still not changed sadly as we look out and still see what these feelings bring some of us to do to others. In Othello we first handly get to see the actions and plans that go into place to make something of this nature happen, but we never truly get to know why Iago decided he was done. Shakespeare makes sure of this when he ends on Iago being shipped away to be tortured until he answers for why he has done such evils (Act V, scene ii, line 3740) and this was meant to be done by Shakespeare. Shakespeare wanted the audience to come up with his or her own opinions on why a characters like Iago would risk everything …show more content…

You can almost call Iago half a “motiveless malignity” because in the story he does do things to people that seems to just happen because of his true evil nature. At the same time he isn’t completely due to his plan for why he is doing this in the first place. The fact he also doesn’t reveal why he has went forth with his plan at the end is also a major point for this argument as well. People say Shakespeare wrote that because he wanted the audience to know that even Iago wouldn’t say why he did it because he doesn’t know why. He had no motive and just wanted to see Othello and everyone else around sink in complete and utter chaos. Shakespeare wrote the ending this way so the audience could have their own view on why Iago did this and where the evil originated from. Reinstating the idea that Iago did not act without motive and did have a reason to carry out the horrific plans. With the term “motiveless malignity” disproven as the main reason for Iago’s evil there has to be a reason for why he is doing these things and risking so much. We see early in the story that Iago has a disdain and unlovable relationship with his boss Othello. Whether it is when he is walking with Roderigo gossiping and saying racist things about Othello or when he uses racist and weirdly sexual statements to describe the marriage

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Similarly, it's revealed that there is another reason why Iago hates Othello so much. In act two, we see Iago lamenting to himself about his motivations. Iago says to himself, "For that I do suspect the lusty Moor / Hath leaped into my seat. The thought whereof / Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards, / And nothing can or shall content my soul / Till I am evened with him, wife for wife" (2. 1.

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From the very beginning of Othello, he was plotting and formulating every conversation and sabotage so it would execute perfectly. He lives his life for revenge and to get at people and bring them down, even people that he knows trust him. He has already formulated a plan and starts putting it into motion within the first three acts of the book (Zender and Omer). Iago is so invested in destroying people that he even takes notice to everyone’s weaknesses and uses them against the individual. This falls into the category of emotional shallowness and glibness, more psychopath

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Othello’s confidence for a loyal man to maintain honesty and morals are contradicted through Iago’s actions: “in a man that’s just / They are close dilations, working from the heart, / That passion cannot rule” (3.3.123). Iago, due to the understatement to his name, is not perceivable as hateful. Othello’s willingness to sense Iago’s distress, and to believe his accusations, is because of the lack of awareness Othello has for his vengeance. Iago is of such little power and relevance within societal ranking that if he were to have intentions to sabotage anyone, which he does, are not considered, thus making him easily trustworthy to those of greater dominance. Society’s view of an individual determines how others consider and surmise their persona, though these conclusions may be false.

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Is Iago a evil person? Let 's find out but to find out if he is a truly evil person have to see who Iago is. Iago has a reputation for honesty, for reliability and direct speaking. Othello and others in the play constantly refer to him as "honest Iago." . He is married to Emilia.

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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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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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According to what happens, Iago is enormously confident that he gains victory in this struggle. However, good fortunate leaves Iago in that important night. When his schemes are almost absolutely perfect, the secret is suddenly out. Take a look at Othello, he receives punishment by Lodovio’s speech:

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Iago is a unique and complicated character. He is intelligent in that he is able to manipulate people and events in his favour, which he thrives on throughout the play, classifying him as the antagonist of the play. Driven by jealousy and hatred, Iago plots against Othello to destroy his character and reputation. Knowing that if he foolishly attacked such a respected man directly, he would be sentenced to death. As a result, he devises to use other people to obtain what he desires by influencing the characters in the play to suit his plan.

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While Iago fills the characters’ minds with lies, the characters will act according to the lies thinking he is honest. Although his lies are sometimes subtle it affects the Othello is one of the victims who believed Iago. You can already tell that Othello has been fooled when he calls him “a man [of] honesty and trust”. The audience already knows that Iago is a liar and loathes Othello, so the audience can tell when Iago is being two-faced and that Othello truly believes in him. Iago’s impact on Othello makes him lose control of his

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In the play Othello, written by William Shakespeare, Iago appears to be a clever and manipulative character from the beginning. He attempts, and succeeds, to sabotage the Othello’s, relationship with his wife Desdemona. Throughout the play, he conceals his true character and as a result, other characters see him as honest, reliable, and trustworthy. He gains Othello’s lieutenant Cassio’s trust, then backstabs him. He also uses Roderigo, a Venetian, as a piece in his puzzle to ultimately take down Othello.

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