Essay on Iago Character Analysis - 1141 Words

William Shakespeares Othello is a play that mostly revolves around jealousy, trust and revenge. Throughout most of Shakespeares plays, evil characters are not uncommon, but in my own opinion, Iago has to be one of Ââ€" if not the most - interesting. Even though Iago might be described by some as being just pure evil or even intolerable, the truth still remains that people will read deeper into the play just to see what Iago will do next. Through his words and actions, which are carefully thought out, Iago is able to manipulate others for his personal benefit. Not only that, but he also manipulates people to get him closer to his goals. He is no doubt the driving force of the play, pushing Othello and everyone else towards the tragic†¦show more content†¦He figures this will make Cassio lose his position as Lieutenant, thereby making him the new Lieutenant. Cassio falls for the trick, fights Roderigo, and loses his position. This leaves Iago with what he wanted all along- which is to be Lieutenant. With all of Iagos actions throughout the play, it is clear to see not only is he evil, but he has no conscience. As the play unfolds, Iago constantly lies and deceives people. From his wife, to his friends, it doesnt matter. In just about every scene of the play, one can point out his deception or scheme. In one scene, Iago actually tricks Othello into believing that Desdemona, his own wife, is having an affair with Cassio. Then he ironically warns Othello about jealousy: O, beware my lord of jealousy; It is the green eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on (3.3, 165-167) and manages to convince Othello without any concrete proof, which is amazing. After this, Othello is so filled with rage and caught up in Iagos lies that he refuses to believe Desdemona when she denies everything. Othello knows that he cant let her live knowing that he has been ridiculed: But alas, to make me the fixed figure for the time of scorn. To point his slow unmoving finger at! (4.2, 53-55) Since he cant live in such a role, he murders Desdemona. At this point, much credit has to be given to Iago - even if people dont like him. His manipulative power, which gives him the ability to bendShow MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis Of Iago1870 Words   |  8 Pagesbe most drawn to Iago. His eccentricity and borderline sociopathy is enough to draw the eye of any trained professional. Iago would quickly be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. There is an extremely long list of traits that Iago has that prove this disorder is something he has, with the main trait being manipulation. Throughout the entire play Iago is seen as the master of manipulation and does an incredible job at bending those around him to do his will. Because Iago displays manipulationRead More A Character Analysis Of Iago Essay855 Words   |  4 Pages Iago is one of the most interesting characters in the tragedy quot;Othelloquot; by William Shakespeare. Through some carefully thought-out words and actions, Iago is able to manipulate others to do things in a way that benefits him and gets him closer to his goals. He is the driving force in this play, pushing Othello and everyone else towards the tragic ending. Iago is not the typical villain in any story or play. The role he plays is unique and complex, far from what one might expect from aRead MoreThe 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 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. Iago might say things that suggest what his motive is, but he soon contradicts himself with another suggestion making it extremely difficult to understand him. Although Iagos true motives cannot be determined, some motives could be jealousy, the enjoyment of seeing peopleRead 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 MoreOthello: Good vs Evil1525 Words   |  7 PagesGood Or Evil: A Critical Analysis of Othello’s Main Characters William Shakespeare’s Othello is a classic depiction of a struggle between good and evil. In the play,, the characters are faced with the choice to either conquer or succumb to the overpowering force of evil. Shakespeare places his characters on a sort of spectrum in which a character’s amount of god or evil can be represented by a shade of color: black representing pure evil, white representing absolute goodness, and a shade of greyRead MoreThe Antagonist, Shakespeare1405 Words   |  6 Pagesstoryteller to leave an impact of each who hears their tale. The idea is to have a plot interesting enough to hold the attention and then to develop conflict those experiencing will remember. Part of the way this is accomplished is through the characters, not always the protagonist, but the antagonist as well. The villain of the story is an individual the audience will pay close attention to and attempt to understand as the storyline unfolds. â€Å"There’s something abo ut antagonists that, I think, Read MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Othello 1131 Words   |  5 PagesAn Analysis of Othello by Shakespeare Shakespeare is known for his use of recurring themes throughout his work, including love, death and betrayal. These themes are present in his work of Othello. However, the most fundamental issue is jealousy. The lives of the characthers in Othello are ruined by jealousy from the beginning to the end of the play. The telling of the story is carried out by passion, jealousy, and death. Shakespeare’s Othello reveals devastating tragic inevitability, stunning psychologicalRead MoreGender in Othello716 Words   |  3 PagesOf all the characters in Shakespeare’s works, none fall harder or faster than that of Othello, The Moor of Venice. Easily swayed and wrought by jealousy, Othello’s downfall is brought on by the fact that he doesn’t believe in himself. This uncertainty is the basis upon which unfolds one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. Through the in depth analysis of both Othello and Iago, I will serve to prove that Shakespeare was illustrating t he fact that disaster is the only outcome of men lead by wild emotionRead MoreTheme Of Jealousy In Othello979 Words   |  4 Pagespeople’s lives and can lead to a series of tragedies in the life of a hero. A good example of this is in Othello by William Shakespeare, it is shown Iago is infuriated with that fact that Othello is in the upper class while he is stuck in the lower class. A Marxist analysis is shown here because Iago does everything in his power to convince the other characters he should have a higher position. Jealousy comes a long way it started before shakespeares time and is still here today. The thought of being