Iago's Use Of Deception In Othello

Throughout history many of the great generals often had a right hand man or lieutenant to help make important decisions. When Iago was passed over for this great position he was willing to go to any length to achieve the position he felt he deserved. In the play, Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago became the antagonist in one of Shakespeare's most well-known plays. Iago used manipulation, deception, and creative thinking to hatch a plan that would cause the death of nearly every main role in the play. In this play Iago is able to manipulate practically everyone around him. Manipulation is easiest for the reader to see when Iago speaks to Roderigo anytime throughout the play. Roderigo feels that he and Iago are truly friends, it is very

Iago knew that Othello trusted his character to the point that he would believe essentially everything Iago told him. "I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, And let him find it. Triffles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writs. This may do something."(III.iii.320-324). At this point in the play Iago had told Othello just enough to make him start to doubt his relationship with Desdemona. Iago realized that the small details would begin to drive Othello mad and he would believe anything, even if it was not real evidence of a relationship between Desdemona and Cassio. Othello will eventually let the Jealously take over and kill his wife over the lies told by

Do but encave yourself, And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns That dwell in every region of his face. For I will make him tell the tale anew Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when He hath, and is again to cope your wife. I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience, Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen, And nothing of a man."(IV.i.78-88). In these lines Iago tells Othello that he will question Cassio about Desdemona, he tells Othello to watch from afar and pay attention to Cassio's facial expressions when he speaks of her. The reader knows Iago is actually asking Cassio about Bianca, however, Othello is too far away to hear what is actually being said and thinks Cassio is talking about Desdemona. This added to Othello's jealousy, making him more certain that his wife was cheating on him with