'Iago, The Villian In Shakespeare's Othello'

Johnson
English 102
TR 12:30
Essay 3
Iago, the Villian The play Othello, by William Shakespeare, resolves around Othello and his underlings Cassio and Iago. During the play, one of Othello’s subordinates, Iago, develops a very deep rooted jealousy toward a man named Cassio and his commander Othello. Iago seeks out the weaknesses of other characters in the play to get what he wants. Shakespeare unveils that even though Iago is a very intelligent character, he is to blame for the disaster that takes place throughout the story. Iago is a very bold and crafty character. He uses his intellect to manipulate anyone who may interfere with his quest to become a leader. He destroys and conquers anything or anyone that gets in his way. Iago is
quick to seize the opportunity to influence Roderigo when he realizes that Roderigo is in love with Desdemona. Roderigo shares his feelings with Iago as he wonders if he will get Desdemona or not. Roderigo states this worries to Iago when he says, “What will I do, thinkest thou” (Act 1, Scene 3, pg.18). Iago uses Roderigo’s feelings to plot against his fellow nemesis, Cassio, by instructing Roderigo to taunt Cassio after he has a few drinks which results in a brawl that leaves a very high ranking official Montano wounded. Iago is quick to influence Montano by telling him that Cassio is a drunk as he says, “Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep:He’ll watch the horologe a double set,if drink rock not his cradle.” (Act 2, Scene 3, pg.32). Iago’s never-ending manipulation also results in Roderigo’s death. Roderigo is convinced that the only way of gaining Desdemona’s love is by showering her with gifts and killing Cassio. Roderigo fights with Cassio, but the battle does not go as planned, leaving Roderigo wounded. When Iago discovers that roderigo is wounded by Cassio, he feels that Roderigo may unveil his plot, so he betrays Roderigo by killing him with his own sword. Cassio also falls victim to Iago’s manipulation and trickery.
Throughout the play, Shakespeare hints that the root of Iago’s jealousy starts when he hears the news of Cassio has being promoted to Othello’s second lieutenant. In his effort to bring down Cassio, Iago seeks and exploits Cassio’s weakness by tempting him to take another drink. Iago knows that Cassio cannot hold his liquior causing him to go into a drunken rage and attack Roderigo. Iago’s inner thoughts are revealed to the audience when he thinks out loud saying, “If I can fasten but one cup upon him, with that which he hath drunk to-night already, He’ll be as full of quarrel and offence” (Act 2, Scene 3, pg.30). Being told he is drunk, Cassio then goes on to attack Montano and stabs him in the back. Consequently, Cassio loses his favor with the Moor and he is in need of regaining his reputation. He seeks sympathy from Iago as he yells out, “Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost, my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestal. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!” (Act 2, Scene 3, pg.36). This results in Cassio’s downfall. Iago’s plans then fall into place suggesting to Cassio that it would be a great idea to talk with Desdemona about persuading Othello to give him back his rank. Iago also, takes the opportunity to plant,that Cassio may be in love with Desdemona and that they are having an affair. This accusation of infidelity creates a heavy atmosphere of betrayal
and distrust between Othello and Cassio. Similar to every other character, Othello also falls for Iago’s schemes.
Iago is to be blamed for the death of Othello and Othello’s wife, Desdemona. Iago’s jealousy and hated worsen when he hears a rumor that Othello might have slept with his wife, Emilia. Iago says, “For that I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leap’d 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 even’d with him, wife for wife, or falling so, yet that I put the Moor at least into a jealousy so strong that judgment cannot cure.” (Act 2, Scene 1,pg.28). These thoughts only fuel Iago’s hatred toward the Moor. Iago sees a chance to mislead Othello by planting a seed of suspicion in his heart that his wife, Desdemona, and Cassio might, in fact, be having an affair. Therefore, though anger and uncontrollable emotona, Othello devises a plan to kill Cassio and confronts Desdemona about her affair with Cassio. Othello is manipulated by Iago to believe that the handkerchief he gave to his wife as a token of love is given to Cassio which strengthens Othello’s belief that Desdemona is in fact having an affair with Othello’s second hand man, Cassio. For his reason, Othello is blinded by an uncontrollable jealousy and rage which leads him to kill Desdemona. Because of this outcome, Emilia unveils Iago’s scheme and brings her husband to trial in front of Othello. Full with regret, Othello is in despair and offers a speech of how he
should be remembered before bringing an end to his own life. Othello says, “Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate/ Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak / of one that loved not wisely but too well/of one not easily jealous, but being wrought/perplex’d in the extreme” (Act 5, Scene 2, pg.91). Iago’s jealous and manipulative ways sabotage the life of Othelo and Desdemona. In conclusion, the play “Othello” resolves around Othello and his comrade, Iago. During this play, Iago develops a deep jealousy toward Cassio and uses his fool, Roderigo, that he later on betrays and kills, as a puppet to substain his plan of ruining Othello. William Shakespear hints how the motives of a jealous and manipulative man, named Iago, is to blame for the death of Roderigo, Emilia, Desdemona and Othello.