What Role Does Iago Play In Othello

All the main characters in Othello think Iago is honest, but they also see him as he presents himself to them. How do individuals see him and how does this help him control the action of the play?
Iago plays the villain's role in Shakespeare's tragedy Othello and an entertaining one to the audience due to his multifaceted schemes throughout the play. Iago is notorious for his manipulative abilities and clearly uses his uncanny ability to register other character's weaknesses and insecurities to pull strings and get what he desires - power. Repetitively, the very characters he deceives name him "Honest Iago" because he proclaims himself to be so and is exceptional at appearing so as needed in the presence of different people. Among these characters
Iago mentions in Act One, Scene One how he fought with Othello in wars in Cyprus and Rhodes and is very well trusted by Othello. Iago presents himself to Othello as a trustee and someone who would always think in his best interest even after Cassio is appointed lieutenant instead of him. Iago uses his prior knowledge of Othello's character and the trust Othello places so entirely in him to his advantage and creates conflict between Othello and Cassio and, consequently, between Othello and Desdemona as well. Iago convinces Othello that Cassio has been sleeping with Desdemona, Othello's wife, and Othello believes him – not Desdemona or Cassio – because of how craftily Iago presented himself and the situation to Othello. Instead of approaching Othello and blatantly stating his false suspicion, Iago gets Othello to pry the information from him so that Othello would piece together the even the most innocent gestures between Cassio – the chronic gentleman – and Desdemona – the compassionate and naive young lady – and enrage Othello towards Cassio and Desdemona so he could get his malicious joy out of such power he had. Iago skillfully toys with Othello's mind to provoke conflict between Othello and Cassio and Othello and Desdemona. He uses Othello's weakness of self-consciousness against
He states in Act One that he is "worth no worse a place" than the position as Othello's lieutenant. Even with the all the dismay and anger and rage Cassio caused, Iago manages to convince Cassio that he is his good friend. Iago states that he "would rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do harm to Michael Cassio." During this scene, Othello requested Iago to explain the drunken brawl (that Iago had every intention to induce) that has left the governor of Cyprus, Montano, and his lieutenant, Cassio, bloodied and maimed. Iago is so skillful in this scene that he manages to tell the truth in a manner that no one is upset with him in the end. He pardons himself to Cassio and offers Cassio advice after the brawl, tells an undeniably truthful story to Othello which pleases Montano (who was afraid Iago would place the blame on him to protect his alleged friend Cassio) and Cassio still loses his position which pleases Iago himself. In order to accomplish the brawl at all, Iago uses Cassio's inability to intake much alcohol before becoming intoxicated against him, but all the while Iago "helps" Cassio console himself in his new lack of "reputation" while still appearing as only trying to help but in reality he leads him to another trap that will counteract any "intentions" Iago promised to Cassio. Iago gives him truly honest advice so he sounds legitimate and sincere to