Iago Essay, Research Paper
Iago is a fascinating character in the play Othello. He seems to be the
main character as everything seems to evolve around him, he makes
mischievous plans towards Othello because he hates him.
?I hate the moor,?
He is also being paid by Roderigo, (a dim but wealthy character) to make
Desdemona (Othello?s wife) fall in love with him so he can marry her. In
this essay I will go through some thoughts of Iago and what he is like and
why.
Iago is intelligent so he knows that he is trusted by most people, so
therefore uses it for his purposes. Throughout the play he is often called,
“Honest Iago.” He even says so of himself.
“I am an honest man”
Trust takes a long time to achieve and takes a few seconds to destroy.
Iago is a master of destruction in this case using other characters trust
to enforce his own plans. Iago slowly manipulates people’s brains, creating
strange ideas in their heads.
“And what’s he — and honest,”
Iago says here that he is a master of deception, and that he is acting the
part of a villain. People never consider that Iago could be manipulating
them, because he is known as “Honest Iago.”
In act 1 scene 3 Iago thinks of a plan, to get revenge on Othello.
He wants revenge because he suspects that Othello has slept with his
wife. So to get him back he will make Othello suspicious of Cassio by
making it seem that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio.
?He?s done my — if for surety.?
Also this shows that Iago has no faith in his wife and thinks that she will
cheat on him, but he doesn?t like the thought that it could be with
Othello. But Othello trusts Iago so it could be easy to convince him.
?Honest Iago?
?He holds me well; — work on him.?
Iago sets the affair up with Cassio because it will be believable for these
two to be having an affair, the way Cassio acts is enough proof.
?That I extend
It is also said that Cassio is a ?Proper man? this means that he is
handsome so most girls are attracted to him.
Iago easily fools Roderigo, right from the start Iago has already
taken advantage of him, by taking his money to set him up with
Desdemona.
“That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse.”
Throughout the play, Iago tells Roderigo that he hates the Moor and
wants revenge on Othello himself.
?I hate the moor?
He tells Roderigo to ?make money? so that he can give gifts to
Desdemona to win her over. But what Iago is really doing is taking money
from Roderigo for himself. He does not see this and goes along with it
thinking that Iago will bring the two together in the end. At one point
Roderigo talks of killing himself as he has no chance with Desdemona.
Iago cunningly advises him not too, but to buy a fake beard and come to
Cyprus with them.
?follow though — usurped beard;?
Iago also plays Cassio for a fool to in the play because Cassio
trusts him like Roderigo. Iago wants to take Cassio?s job so he forms a
plan that involves Roderigo. On the night that Cassio is on watch Iago
convinces him to have another drink so he can make him drunk. Cassio
takes another drink even after disagreeing.
“I’ll do’t, but it dislikes me.”
Iago is able to make him have another drink because he is clever enought
to. Roderigo follows the plan that Iago has set, making Cassio chase him
for a fight, Cassio is then stopped by Montano who gets injured. Iago is
asked what has happened and he tells Othello which leads to the sacking
of Cassio. Cassio is distrought by this decision Iago sets another of his
plans up by convices Cassio to beg Desdemona to help him get his job
back.
“she holds it a — she is requested.”
With this Cassio?s hopes were risen and he goes of on his journey to ask
Desdemona.
“You advise me well.”