Shakespeare's Othello - Troubled Iago Essay

In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, the Iago is the most important character. It is his dreams, hopes and desires that turn him evil, bringing out the worst possible characteristics in order to achieve all the things he wants. Iago’s manipulative traits, deceitful actions and love for Othello eventually cause the death Emilia, Desdemona and Othello himself.

In Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’, the reader is introduced to the character Iago. There are many different interpretations of his character, was he a ‘skillful villain’? Or was he a ‘mysterious creature of unlimited cynicism’? Or just a ‘wronged man’ who is more sinned against than sinning?

In the classic tale of Othello written by the famous William Shakespeare, Iago was the main antagonist and a horrible villain, also many would argue that he was the most atrocious villain that Shakespeare wrote. In Othello, Iago is shown to be a manipulating master puppeteer.

First, Iago’s evil is shown through his choice of words that demonstrate his vulgarity and his sinister intentions.  Iago’s language is extremely base and forward; he does show any remorse or sympathy in any situation.  For example, Desdemona has recently married Othello; when Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, hears the news he becomes enraged.  To make the situation much worse, Iago says to

These opening lines of “Othello” between Iago and Roderigo sets the stage for the rest of the play and in turn introduces the audience to motives for which Iago desires to undermine Othello. Throughout this essay I will present textual evidence that suggests Iago was motivated by racial prejudice, as well as by other means, including jealousy, greed, and rejection.

Iago’s worry that he cannot do what Desdemona asks implies that his dispraise of women was candid and easily produced, while the praise requires labour and inspiration from a source beyond himself. His insufficiency is more surprising because elsewhere in the play Iago appears as a

Iago, the conniving and witty character of the shakespearean play Othello presents himself a loyal and trustworthy man to others around him, but though the use of dramatic irony he reviles to the audience as a man that likes to see others fall from power in villiness ways. one of and the most used trick to insure his victims crumble from the inside out, Iago learned to be a master

     Iago, the villain in Shakespeare’s Othello, is a round character of great depth and many dimensions. Iago works towards an aim that is constantly changing and becomes progressively more tragic. Yet, at times, "honest" Iago does actually seem honest. This essay will explore the complex character of "honest Iago.

People of all sorts make discouraging remarks, doing things to seek revenge and to take and manipulate others like lab rats, sucking the inner good from one another all because of simple jealousy. A brief overview of what ill be going to discuss is how Iago, Apassive character he soon shows himself to be the villain of the play; although Iago isn’t your conventional “villain” and is instead can be seen as a far more complex character, this self exposing feature of Iago also helps us as an audience

The critic A.C Bradley suggests that Shakespeare’s portrayal of Iago as a mischievous man is exceptionally good, he states, “Evil has nowhere else been portrayed with such mastery as in the character of Iago.” Bradley believes that pictures of Iago are wrong in two ways, Iago was an ‘average villain’ who enforced only out of revenge, and that like Coleridge’s ‘motiveless evilness, he was an evil human being ‘who hates good simply because it is good,’ and he enjoys evil only for itself.’ I don’t agree with what Bradley has stated as he talks about Iago causing others discomfort as he does multiple times, I believe that it was Iago’s jealousy that drove him to become the worst version of himself, it was his loneliness and hardest times that took made him commit these sinful acts, and it was Iago’s deceived way of achieving power the same power that was deprived away from him when Othello named Cassio as lieutenant instead of

In Othello, and a world created by Shakespeare, where men and women are never what they seem, readers are introduced to the character of Iago, a suspicious, egotistic and deceitful figure who feels no regret or guilt. The gratification that Iago appears to gain from his insidious behavior and his alarming malevolent disposition show the man himself and also the results of such an essence upon others. Iago’s inherently evil nature is illustrated by both his actions and through the act of talking to oneself and the methods of informing the audience of what is to come. It is through Iago’s soliloquies that his true attributes appear and by the dissatisfying excuses he makes to justify bringing about the emotional destruction of the Moor, Othello.

Through each soliloquy, Iago allows the audience into his thoughts and mindset, which helps to build their perception of him while developing theories of his underlying motives (Othello, 2012). In doing so, Iago ostentatiously believes he has gained their support, which in turn feeds his unhealthy thought process. Iago is full of evil and uses manipulation throughout the play for everyone he is in contact with, even his wife, Emilia. Iago speaks of hell, which is conducive to evil in Act 1 Scene 3 lines 358-360 as he states nothing is too hard for him to accomplish as he is resourceful in his mind. Iago clearly takes pleasure in doing wicked acts but has a purpose in mind (Bevington, 2012, p.607). Iago is so deceived by his unhappiness and misery that he is blinded to his demonic actions that have destroyed the innocent lives of Othello, Desdemona, and

In any story, the antagonist always scheme their way into getting what they want by any means necessary. In Shakespeare’s play, Othello, Iago is a prime example of this. In fact, he is one of the greatest villains Shakespeare has ever created. Some even believe that he is the source of immorality like in other work Shakespeare has done. According to Sholokhov and Tolstoy, author Helen Muchnic states that the Vice of the morality plays who evolved into Shakepheare’s Iago. He also states that “If Iago, like Falstaff, may be considered a continuation of the Vice figure, he seems, also like Falstaff, to elude the role at every point.” But besides this, Iago is indirectly responsible for the deaths of Othello, Desdemona, and Roderigo. Every act in Othello contains an evil plot set up by Iago. It is ironic because throughout the play he is known as “Honest Iago”(II.iii.7). The readers are the only spectators that understand Iago’s true feelings. Each character believes that he is a trustworthy and noble man, but they are unaware of his thoughts and schemes. Iago is so wicked because he takes advantage of people; he lies while making himself look admirable and he is able to manipulate characters through his words and actions. A very formidable character that can easily do harm without blinking an eye.

    Who can compare in depth of evil to the villainous Iago in William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello? His villainy is incomparably destructive on all of those around him.

It’s a commonly accepted notion, that, because Iago’s insinuation, Othello’s love was astray, which depicts the frailty of Othello and his love. But it has been observed that Othello himself was somewhere pre occupied