The majority view him as an ordinary villain who seeks revenge on those who out wronged him, or an ambition man looking to ruin his rival life because of jealous. the other interpretation assumes Iago as a being who hates all that 's good because it 's good, his actions aren 't for revenge but aimless as A.C.Bradley puts it "motiveless malignity", or a disinterested delight in the pain of others . Bradley emphasizes on Iago having two faces and one can 't see through his lies. one of many examples is Emilia in all this time they are married she never dreamed that his the villain, not suspect who was poisoning Othello mind with scandals and that as Bradley say it "scoundrel" was her husband and for any doubts about this subject her words to Othello was displayed with tears and repeating "my husband" and then Othello realization is shown in "thy husband know it all" . In another report by Iftikhar Hussain Lone, he addresses a great scene in act five when Othello asks him, Iago remain speechless Iftikhar shows that as a cold man Iago lets he inner demon lose in order to destroy or ruin happiness to others, in doing so he destroys his own too.
Iago was a highly motivated character in this play and was able to justify his actions without feeling any remorse for the misery he had caused and the people he was responsible for killing. Although his reasons were wrong, Iago had enough to rationalize what he did. Some of the reasons he used to fuel his hate was his suspicions about Emilia and Othello having an affair, Othello’s promotion of Cassio instead of Iago even after all Iago’s loyalty, and a possible desire for Desdemona who fit the description of a perfect wife. I have concluded that the main reason behind Iago’s hateful actions was Othello choosing Cassio over Iago.
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
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.
As it has been presented throughout the whole play, the hatred Iago has towards Othello has always been to get rid of him due to him being awarded Lieutenant. However, it seems that once Iago got promoted to Lieutenant shortly after Othello’s death, he stills seems to feel hatred. It maybe because Iago does not like himself and always was jealous of Cassio and Othello’s actions and how they were. Therefore, telling lies and creating schemes to make himself believable which he successfully does with Othello. They have known each other for a long time and the reason he trusts Iago because he is noble, smart with his words to allow others to have trust in
He betrayed the privacy of Othello and Desdemona, and set the play up by showing that he didn’t care for what they wanted. Right off the bat, the reader saw that Iago was comfortable making others uncomfortable, a quality that many betrayers possess. Iago’s betrayal allowed Othello’s insecurities to be used against him by other characters throughout the play, which contributed heavily to his suspicions against Desdemona—and, eventually, their deaths. All in all, Iago’s betrayal of spreading Othello and Desdemona’s secret marriage led to prejudiced statements against Othello—like Desdemona’s father calling him a “black ram”—which eventually led to anguish heavy enough to betray his wife, killing Desdemona and then
When he does not get the position he wants and also heard that Othello has been sleeping with his wife Emilia, Iago’s manipulation increases. Iago plans his scheme based on, “[Othello] 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” (I. III. 431-433). This use of manipulation is all based on an assumption that Othello has slept with Iago’s wife, and this assumption leads to even more horrible events.
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.
As the audience receives more information about his hatred for Othello, it is still vague on how and why exactly Iago wants to destroy him. Because of the lack of clarity, it creates a spark of interest to hear more of Iago’s
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.
Iago was originally only trying to make Othello feel what he felt when he believed his wife was sleeping with Othello, however; Iago’s jealousy caused his plan to take more drastic turns and develop more villainous goals. He planted the idea of murder into Othello’s head when Othello was the most vulnerable, saying that Othello should “strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated” after he successfully manipulated Othello into believing that Desdemona had slept with Cassio (4.1.206-207). Although he did not originally plan for the murder of anyone, Iago’s jealousy caused him to escalate his plan to involve the murder of several people. His corruption became the most apparent when he explained how “whether [Roderigo] kill Cassio or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, every way makes my gain” and how he has gotten to the point where he only sees everyone else as mere pieces of a game that he attempts to win (5.1.12-14). Iago had transformed from a person who simply wants revenge to a villain who believes he should be the only person who does not suffer a tragic end out of
His suspicion that Othello slept with his wife gives him jealousy that stays with him through the whole play giving him one out of many of his reasons to set up Cassio and Desdemona to get back at Othello. As Iago’s jealousy gets bigger, he keeps spreading rumors which leads Othello to snap and Emilia to find out his rumors are fake. Both of these cause chaos by Othello killing himself and Iago killing Emilia. But before this chaos unfolds Iago finds Roderigo who also hates Othello and helps him with his
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
As Iago spends time complaining about him not being promoted to Roderigo, Iago says, “I follow him [Othello] to serve my turn upon him... Others there are/Who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty,/Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves,/And throwing but shows of service on their lords,/Do well thrive by them, and when they have lined their coats,/Do themselves homage” (I.i.45,53-59). The hatred of Iago towards his superiors is clearly revealed through his negative speech about Othello due to his unhappiness about not being promoted. Iago only wants to work in order to serve his own diabolical goals and make a lot of money. Also, Iago believes that acting two-faced demonstrates admirable quality, instead of an evil and disloyal trait.
Here, he tells the audience he hates “the moor” because he has overheard a rumor that Othello is sleeping with his wife, which only strengthens his reasons to manipulate and kill Othello. On the other hand, Othello is oblivious to the fact that Iago is trying to murder him because Othello is to trustworthy. “So please your grace my accent. A man he is of honesty and trust”(1.3.281). Thought the play characters blindly follow what they are being asked to do.
