Simao Alves English101-301 Prof.

Shalan Pages: 4

Treacherous Iago

Perhaps the most interesting and exotic character in the tragic play "Othello," by William Shakespeare, is "Faithful" Iago. Through some carefully thought-out words and actions, Iago is able to manipulate others to do things in a way that benefits him and moves him closer toward his goals. He is the main driving force in this play, pushing Othello and everyone else towards their tragic end.

Iago is not your ordinary villain. The role he plays is rather unique and complex, far from what one might expect. Iago is smart and an expert judge of character which he uses to his advantage. His main motive is to rid of Othello the Moor. In his hatred towards Othello he intentionally ruins others lives as well. Take Roderigo for example, Iago knows he is obsessed with Desdemona and would be willing to do anything to have her by his side. Iago mumbles to himself with a evil tone about Roderigo, "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse." (I, III, Line 355) By playing on his hopes, Iago is able to swindle money and jewels from Roderigo, making himself a substantial profit, while using Roderigo to forward his other goals. Hes also a quick thinker and is able to

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improvise whenever something unexpected occurs. When Cassio takes hold of Desdemona's hand before the arrival of the Moor Othello, Iago says, "With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio." (II, I, Line 163) Indeed his devilish cleverness keeps revealing as the story goes. Iago speaks with such ease of horrible acts, even convincing the reader at times that indeed Cassio and Othello did do the things he stated. Being as smart as he is, Iago is quick to recognize the advantages of trust and uses it as a tool to forward his purposes. Throughout the story he is commonly known as, and commonly called, "Honest Iago." He even says of himself, "I am an honest man...." (II, III, Line 245) Trust is a very powerful emotion that is easily abused. Othello, "holds [him] well;/The better shall [Iago's] purpose work on him." (pg. 1244, Line 362) Iago is a master of abuse in this case turning people's trust in him into tools to forward his own goals. His "med'cine works! Thus credulous fools are caught...." (pg. 1284, Line 44) Iago slowly poisons people's thoughts, creating ideas in their heads without implicating himself. "And what's he then that says I play the villain, when this advice is free I give, and honest," (II, III, Line 299] says Iago, the master of deception. And thus, people rarely stop to consider the possibility that old Iago could be deceiving them or manipulating them, after all, he is "Faithful and Honest Iago."

Iago makes a fool out of Roderigo. In fact, the play starts out with Iago having already taken advantage of him. Roderigo remarks, "That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine." (I, I, Line 2) Throughout the play, Iago leads Roderigo by the collar professing that he "hate(s) the Moor" (I, III, Line 344) and telling Roderigo

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to "make money" (I, III, Line 339) so that he can give gifts to Desdemona to win her over. During the whole play however, Iago is just taking those gifts that Roderigo intends for Desdemona and keeps them for himself. Roderigo eventually starts to question Iago's honesty, saying "I think it is scurvy, and begin to find myself fopped in it." (IV, II, Line 189) When faced with this accusation, Iago simply offers that killing Cassio will aid his cause and Roderigo blindly falls for it, hook, line, and sinker! "I have no great devotion to the deed, and yet he has given me satisfying reason," (V, I, Line 8] says the fool Roderigo. With this deed, Roderigo is lead to his death by the hands of none other than, Iago.

Cassio, like Roderigo, follows Iago blindly, thinking the whole time that Iago is trying to help him. And during this whole time, Iago is planning the demise of Cassio, his supposed friend. On the night of Cassio's watch, Iago convinces him to take another drink, knowing very well that it will make him very drunk. Cassio just follows along, though he says, "I'll do't, but it dislikes me." (II, III, Line 37] Iago is able to make him defy his own reasoning to take another drink! Another example of how deceiving Iago is. When Roderigo follows through with the plan Iago has set on him, Cassio is made to look like an irresponsible fool, resulting in his termination as lieutenant. After this incident, Iago sets another of his plans in motion by telling Cassio to beg Desdemona to help his cause, saying, "she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested." (II, III, Line 287) And thus, Cassio is set on a dark path which leads to trouble and mischief. Yet, Cassio follows it blindly telling Iago, "You advise me well." (II,

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III, Line 292) With this Faith, Cassio is eventually led into a trap where Roderigo maims him, and all along, Iago is his supposed friend behind it all.

Lowly Iago, is a psychopath capable of anything, with no emotion not even Othello is safe from this villain. Othello holds Iago to be his close friend and advisor. He believes Iago to be a person, "of exceeding honesty, [who] knows all qualities, with learned spirit of human dealings." (III, III, Line 257) In essence Iago does grasp the reality of human feelings but truly ignores them in his search for the end of Othellos reign. Wikipedia describes a Psychopath as a personality disorder characterized by the inability to form human attachment and an abnormal lack of empathy, masked by an ability to appear outwardly normal. Could Iago have a Psychological disorder know as Psychopath? Throughout the play hints of his psychopathy ways unravel. One also begs to question his willingness to be so conniving. Where did he learn this? Regardless, in a world of good and evil one should always expect the unexpected.

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