Ancient Iago
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- Iago is the villain in the play. He is a very manipulative character who seeks revenge over Othello's actions; passing him over for promotion to lieutenant, since he believes that he deserves it.
If I do not. Three great ones of the city
In personal suit to make me his lieutenant
Off-capped to him, and by the faith of man
I know my price, I am worth no worse a place.
But he, as loving his own pride and purposes
Evades them with a bombast circumstance
Horribly stuffed with epithets of war,
And in conclusion
Nonsuits my mediators. For “Certes,” says he,
“I have already chose my officer.”
And what was he?
Forsooth, a great arithmetician,
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine (I.i.7-20)
- Iago's jealousy causes all the strife.
- Iago uses love leverage. For instance he uses his wife's "love" for him to manipulate her into stealing the handkerchief. He uses Othello's love for Desdemona to his own end. Iago uses Roderigo's love for Desdemona to exploit him.
- Iago is a very deceiving character. In the beginning of the play, he is seen as Honest Iago. Everyone asked him for advice but they did not know that he was causing all the events.
- Whenever Iago plans, he always use soliloquies. He tells the audience what he plans to do and how he is going to execute it. This soliloquies are extensions of isolation. We can see how Iago isolates himself. Although his plan to isolate everyone is clever, isolating himself isn't because it ended up screwing him over.
- Iago despises women. He thinks that they are all whores who are only good as a tool for their own pleasure.
- Iago underestimated his wife who ended up bringing him down.