The Irony Of Honest Iago In Shakespeare's Othello

Though given the nickname “Honest Iago”, his acts throughout William Shakespeare's, Othello, is not so honest. Iago is an intelligent, convincing, and manipulative man. He enjoys feeding off of people's misery especially when something is in it for him. His intelligence allows him to convince people using the sway of his words so fluently and make them blind to the truth by eluting them with false appearances and telling half truths. This allows him to numerous characters throughout Othello by using their personal beliefs, jealous tendencies, and misleading them into false assumptions by twisting the truth around in his own words in a way that will be beneficial to himself. Throughout the story, Othello, we learn of the anger and hate

In the one scene, Iago quickly shows his hatred for Othello while talking to Roderigo alone, “I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets has done my office. I know not if't be true, but I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety.” (1.3.329-433). Iago began to hear rumors that his wife Emilia and Othello had been sleeping together. Iago reasons that even though he has no proof of the incident to weather it happened or not, he doesn’t care for the mere rumor of it is enough for him to seek revenge. In the same incident, after Iago finishes ranting about his hatred for Othello to Roderigo, himself and Roderigo arrive at the house of Brabantio, Desdemona’s father. There Iago enacts his revenge by getting Brabantio’s attention, getting him to come to his balcony, and telling him, explicitly, how Othello and Desdemona were together. “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, or else the devil will make a grandsire of you: Arise, I say.” (1.1.97-101) This is the first time that

His hatred for Cassio comes from Othello picking him over Iago to be his lieutenant although Iago strongly believes he is best suited for the job since he has more experience. “says he, ‘I have already chose my officer.’...one Michael Cassio, a Florentine...never set a squadron in the field, nor the division of a battle knows more than a spinster...as he: mere prattle, without practice, is all his soldiership...And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof at Rhodes, at Cyprus and on other grounds...” (1.1.17-30). 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.