Iago

A detailed Summary of Iago

Iago, the evil villain of Shakespeare's Othello, is more than just a villain. In many ways he is the most intelligent and appealing character in the play. Iago shows superiority over the rest of the characters in the play. He has the ability to manipulate the characters in the play, therefore controlling the play with every sequence of events. His intelligence shines through his ability to deceive, his ability to strategize, and his ability to twist the truth. Iago is appealing to the characters of the pay because he gives them what they want. Iago is appealing to the reader as well. His character is totally unconflicted about being evil, making him known to some authors as the villain of all villains. Iago is, in many ways, the most intelligent and appealing character in the play.

Iago has a sophisticated way of deceiving the characters of the play, making him a very intelligent person. Early in the play Othello introduces Iago to the Duke of Venice as, "My ancient / A man he is of honesty and trust" (!. iii. 284-85). This is but one of the times in the play that Iago is referred to as honest and true. Throughout the play Iago is considered to be honest, but is actuality the villain. In order to

maintain this false image one has to have a beguiling character. After Othello and his lieutenant, Michael Cassio, return from the war against the Ottomans, there is a celebration. At this celebration Iago puts his manipulation to work. He knows that Othello and Desdemona's love for each other is very true, but he tells Rodrigo that Desdemona had love for Cassio: "With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. / Ay, smile upon her, do..." (II. I. 164-65). This quote shows that Iago deceives Roderigo into believing that Desdemona loves Cassio!

Iago uses his strategically apt abilities to come up with a very intelligent system that will eventually destroy Othello. After Iago and Rodrigo find out about Othello and Desdemona's marriage, Iago manipulates Rodrigo into making him angry, because Rodrigo has feelings for Desdemona. Iago and Roderigo go to Brabantio's abode to enrage him by telling him about Othello and Desdemona: "Call up her father: / Rouse him, make after him, poison his delight... / Plague him with flies / though that his joy be joy, / Yet throw such chances of vexation on't..." (I. i. 68-74). The significance is that Roderigo makes him upset by telling him of Othello and Desdemona. Iago's deceiving plot makes Rodrigo as if he is an honest nobody who wants to help Rodrigo and his "lost " daughter. Rodrigo calls to Brabantio's window and pours out his emotions on this subject. "... Your fair daughter... / Transported with no worse nor better gaured / But with a knave of common hire, a grandolier / To the gross cl!

Iago shows that Casio is in fact in love with Desdemona, and that Cassio is in fact doing dishonesty to Othello. Othello does get discouraged by this advic

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Approximate Word count = 1155
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English