Iago One of Shakespeares Most Misunderstood Villains Essay

Iago is one of the most misunderstood villains in Shakespeare literature. We side with Othello from the start because his name is on the cover of our paperback, we read Othello when learning about heroes, so we expect Iago to be a villain, a ruthless manipulator. We don’t know why, he doesn’t state it plainly or in simple English, so we assume that he’s evil, that he’s just a disgruntled sociopath out to exact his exaggerated revenge on good and noble Othello. Iago’s misunderstood reputation is a result of not truly examining his character, and answering the â€Å"why† factor behind his actions. After all, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. His goal in the play was not just to destroy Othello for the fun of it. His objective,†¦show more content†¦This is evident through the multiple conversations between Iago and Othello, where Othello asks for Iago’s advice- including advice on how to punish Desdemona and Cassio for their alleged affair. OTHELLO: Get me some poison, Iago, this night. I’ll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again. This night, Iago! IAGO: Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. OTHELLO: Good, good! The justice of it pleases. Very good! IAGO: And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: you shall hear more by midnight. (IV.i.200-208) Since the two used to be so intimate, the key to understanding Iago’s superobjective is to understand what made him harbor such hatred for Othello. To put it simply, Iago was hurt that Othello gave Cassio the lieutenant job instead of giving to him. At face value, that reason doesn’t seem to be a strong enough motive to destroy another man’s life. There had to have been more to this than just the fact that Iago didn’t get a promotion. Iago â€Å"believes Cassio got the appointment because of an old friendship with Desdemona, and probably because he carried messages between Othello and Desdemona during their courtship.† (Crawford). Iago, knowing this, felt as if the entire system of military honor and merit had crumbled. Had the promotion been based on merit, Iago would’ve gotten the job, because â€Å"†¦[Othello’s] eyes had seen the proof/ AtShow MoreRelated The Theme of Control in Shakespeares Othello Essay996 Words   |à ‚  4 Pagescorrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. William Shakespeares Othello, the Moor of Venice (reprinted in Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. Arp, Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense, 6th ed. [Fort Worth: Harcourt, 1993] 1060-1147) contains several themes, but one theme in particular supports the truth of this knowledge. In Othello, the Moor of Venice, the theme of control is one that causes corruption. Othellos control is stolen by Iago and, Iagos overbearing control of Othellos emotionsRead MoreIagos Description And Identity In Othello1932 Words   |  8 Pagesmany forms of literature. Iago, one of Shakespeare’s most infamous villains, uses this line to warn Othello of the dangers of jealousy, although it is later revealed that Iago is the most jealous character in the play. Is Iago’s description of the green-eyed monster only a symbol? How real can it become to those who become too obsessed with it? How does this fit together with race? I aim to answ er these questions by examining the relationship between William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello and KwameRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare2395 Words   |  10 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Othello, uses various events and techniques to express the nature of evil throughout the entire play. In Othello, Iago is portrayed as the main villain or the antagonist in the play. Despite the fact that the play is named Othello, it is the character of Iago that drives the action within the entire play. Shakespeare utilizes Iago to set the stage for evil in the play. In each interaction with a character in Othello, Iago finds a way to be manipulative and evil. â€Å"In the first