Character Of Iago In Othello - 894 Words

To be consummately evil requires a capability to completely lack all strains of human morality. A nearly perfect example of this is the antagonist Iago in Othello by William Shakespeare, who cunningly works his evil throughout the whole play, especially in Act III. Iago is an intriguing and complex character who instigates the tragedy of the play, but also is the embodiment of the negative traits of the main protagonist, Othello. Iago is a master manipulator who excels in revealing and exploiting peoples weaknesses, such as Othellos insecurities and credulousness as well as Cassios general flirtatiousness and intolerance to alcohol, only to further his own agenda. Iago has been so successful in manipulating Othello’s loyal entourage†¦show more content†¦Iago later plants it for Cassio to find, condemning him to Othello’s wrath. Even though the handkerchief is a just a trifle, once Othello discovers it in Cassio’s possession, he sees it as indisputable a nd divinely true proof that Desdemona is being unfaithful. Iago utilizes the tools of society’s racism and expectations for women as evident in his monologue in Act III, scene iii. â€Å"Not to affect many proposà ¨d matches/Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,/Whereto we see in all things nature tends—/Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank,/Foul (-- removed HTML --) thoughts unnatural† (III.iii.269-273). He suggests that there is something wrong with Desdemona if she would fall in love with a Moor instead of someone like Roderigo, a wealthy Venetian gentleman of her own clime, complexion, and degree. Essentially, Iago implies that Desdemona must be a wanton degenerate to have truly fallen for a man like Othello. Iago doesn’t just play on Othellos fears about his wife, but also on Othellos insecurities about his status as a black Moor in sixteenth century Italy. The idea of Desdemona being an allegedly lascivious woman coupled with Othello’s insecurities about being an older black man waning i n attractiveness and drive, delivers a fatal blow to his self-esteem. Being reaffirmed in this notion makes him more pliable to be manipulated by Iago into making a fatalShow MoreRelatedThe Character Analysis Of Iago Of Othello1075 Words   |  5 PagesAt first glance, Iago of Othello can appear to have little motivation for his destructive tendencies; however, when viewed through the lens of antisocial personality disorder, his incentive takes on a twisted internal logic. His all-consuming desire for revenge is not necessarily because of any outside influence by Othello himself, but rather the fact that Othello disrupts Iago’s conception of himself and is a pawn whom he can manipulate for pleasure. His arrogance and entitlement are also classicRead More Shakespeares Othello - The Character of Iago Essay840 Words   |  4 PagesThe Character of Iago      Ã‚   In Othello, by William Shakespeare, one of the most intriguing characters is Iago. At first glance he seems to be pure evil, but I think his actions are much more complex. Through thought-out words and actions Iago is able to manipulate others to do things that benefit him and move him closer to his goals. This character is consumed with envy and deceit that leads to theft and killing. Iago is the main driving force in this play, pushing Othello and the otherRead MoreOthello - Iago Character Analysis Essay772 Words   |  4 PagesIago, in Shakespeares Othello, is a deceiving character because he tells lies in order to get what he wants. He interacts with people only to manipulate them, but most importantly he never reveals his true feelings or motives. 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Although Iagos true motives cannot be determined, some moti ves could be jealousy, the enjoyment of seeing peopleRead More The Character of Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay1620 Words   |  7 PagesThe Character of Iago in Othello   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the play Othello, the character Iago plays a paramount role in the destruction of Othello and all of those around him.   Some critics state that Iagos actions are motiveless and that he is a purely evil character.   However, during the course of this paper, certain motives for Iagos actions will be discussed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For the first motive to be understood the reader must become knowledgeable of Othellos heritage and the setting of the play.  Read More The Character of Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay1145 Words   |  5 PagesThe Character of Iago       The old clichà © One bad apple ruins the bunch is what enters ones mind when discussing the villainous, deceitful, protagonist Iago in Shakespeares tragedy Othello. It is amazing how one person alone can completely destroy, or deteriorate a group of good natured, trusting, loyal peoples lives in a matter of days- three to be exact. What is the motive behind Iagos heinous, selfish acts, one may ask? A rather obvious theme in the Shakespeares tragedy, OthelloRead More The Character of Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay1865 Words   |  8 PagesThe Character of Iago in Othello      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   No one has ever failed to appreciate the skilled art with which Shakespeare has defined the characters of his plays; great and small alike, their distinctiveness, their dignity, their misery, and their integrity are captured and displayed.   In particular the depiction of certain characters in Othello have been universally acclaimed.   Identified by many scholars as one of Shakespeare great tragedies, along with Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear,Read MoreEssay on The Character of Iago from Othello4183 Words   |  17 PagesThe Character of Iago from Othello The character of Iago is crucial for the play, and its essence has often been presented as ‘the evil taking a human form.’ What is important to any attempt to understand this play is the mechanism that makes the action moving forward. If this is ‘the force of evil’, represented in the character of Iago, this gives him the most relevant role, the power to forward the entire course of the play in certain direction. A number of fortunate circumstances helps hisRead More Shakespeares Othello - Character Development of Iago, Desdemona and Othello1052 Words   |  5 PagesCharacter Development of Iago, Desdemona and Othello  Ã‚   The three characters of Iago, Desdemona and Othello are gradually revealed to the audience as Act One unfolds. All three are linked to one another and talk to and about each other. Their characters unfold through their interaction with others and how they behave in isolation. The first impression formed of Iago comes from what Roderigo says. Being gullible, Roderigo has given Iago his purse. A character who accepts an offer like this isRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Iago In William Shakespeares Othello705 Words   |  3 PagesKarla Morales GRASP 10/23/17 Iago is the most interesting character in Othello, by William Shakespeare. With his carefully thought out plans, he is able to manipulate others to do things in a way that helps him and moves him closer towards what in his mind is revenge against Othello. He is the main antagonist in this play, pushing Othello and everyone else towards their end. Iago manages to commit all seven deadly sins. He constantly uses his good reputation for dishonorable purposes. His talentRead MoreThe Evil Character of Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay630 Words   |  3 PagesIago is a complex character that takes evil to a whole new level in the 1600’s and plays a key role in this tale. Iago’s main goal is to get Othello and Cassio out of the army, but in the end fails to ruin Cassio’s life, only Othello’s. He uses many characters to his advantage, realizing how trustworthy and oblivious these people are. Iago cannot be relied on and has many masks, behind which he hides. He has many disguises and secrets that he hides from everyone and his acting skills come in handy