Iago is a character in William Shakespeare's play Othello, and is one of literature's most infamous villains. Iago is a manipulative and deceitful character who is driven by his own jealousy and desire for revenge.
Throughout the play, Iago manipulates and deceives nearly every character, including the titular character Othello. Iago is able to convince Othello that his wife Desdemona is unfaithful, leading to the tragic events of the play. Iago's manipulation is so effective that he is able to convince Othello to kill his own wife, believing her to be unfaithful.
Iago's motives for his actions are complex and multi-faceted. He is jealous of Cassio, Othello's lieutenant, and desires to take Cassio's place. Iago is also resentful of Othello for promoting Cassio over him. In addition to these personal motivations, Iago also harbours a deep-seated hatred for Othello, due to Othello's race and the fact that Othello has married Desdemona.
Iago's manipulation and deceit are ultimately his downfall, as his scheming is eventually uncovered and he is punished for his crimes. Despite this, Iago's ability to manipulate and deceive those around him makes him one of literature's most memorable and formidable villains.
Understanding Iago From "Othello"
However, he is sometimes forced to battle his conscience despite respectively saying in The Return of Jafar that he never had one , and generally does the right thing even when he doesn't have to or could just as easily leave the city alone altogether: when Sadira used memory sand that somehow caused her and Jasmine to switch lives, with animals unaffected, Iago leads Abu and Rajah in finding Jasmine to restore the world to normal. He is taken back to Venice and imprisoned. He ridicules the idea of people putting their trust in others or having loyalty to someone, and in his eyes, the only good kind of servant is one who is only feigning loyalty to make their masters easier to manipulate. The plan works, as Iago and Cassio have a jolly discussion about Cassio's mistress and their exploits with one another, and sure enough, Othello thinks they are talking about Desdemona. Emilia arrives on the scene and finds her lady murdered. Personality Iago presents himself as an honest and nobleman, but this a front to hide his true colors, and gain the trust of others around him, most notably Othello, whom he despises "I follow him to serve mine own turn. Iago is not in love with Desdemona.
Thief in the palace! Alternatively he might be a man who used to be honest in the past, but has decided to abandon this virtue. Othello makes the decision to disown his Christian God and makes Iago his new lieutenant. God replies: "I am that I am" Exodus,iii,14. Iago convinces Othello to strangle Desdemona in her bed and promises to arrange the death of Cassio. The Salt Lake Tribute. But while Shakespeare's Iago kills Roderigo before being ousted, Jafar drags his Iago into the lamp with him. That night, Iago sends Roderigo to kill Cassio in an ambush attack.
He claims a reputation for honesty and plain speaking, yet he invents elaborate lies in order to exploit and manipulate other people. What is clear is that he enjoys the suffering of others, even though he may not want to get anything out of it apart from pleasure. Common Questions About Iago Is Iago in love with Desdemona? Retrieved August 15, 2011. There is no suggestion whatsoever in the play that Iago might be in love with Othello Why was Iago jealous? New York City: South Atlantic Modern Language Association. He has no qualms or concerns for the lives of others around him and shown to have an incredible talent for manipulating and exploiting the weakness of his enemies.
Iago is arrested and taken back to Venice where he is to be imprisoned and tortured for what he has done. Why does Iago kill his wife? He also has no notable fears beyond doing his best not to incur Othello's wrath until the time is right. The two of them then stir up Desdemona's father Brabantio, informing him that his daughter Desdemona has run away with Othello. Iago is the main antagonist of the tragedy play Othello by the late William Shakespeare. Once Othello calms down Iago takes him to overhear Iago and Cassio, claiming he will, to aid Othello, figure out from Cassio where, when and when next he will sleep with Cassio, but then reveals to the audience that his real intention is to get Cassio talking about his mistress or 'whore' Bianca, tricking Othello into thinking they are talking about Desdemona.
I didn't want to play him as initially malevolent. Iago has a reputation for honesty, for reliability and direct speaking. Iago then plants the handkerchief in Cassio's quarters. Iago's common schemes involve trying to sell anything with any value real or not , trying to steal things, and trying to treasure-hunt; he can usually convince Abu to be his partner in crime, but Abu is more likely to leave at the first sign of danger and often lacks the Iago and Thundra the rain-bird had feelings for one another, despite a rocky start and him admitting his manipulative personality made appealing to others difficult; Aladdin has occasionally exploited the latter fact, since antagonists are more willing to accept Iago as being more ruthless and amoral than he actually is, though, given Iago's villainous origins and upbringings in the underworld, this is rational. He builds up Roderigo's hopes again, telling him to go and "Put money in thy purse" Iago, Act 1 Scene 3. The one man who survived Iago's attempt to kill him, Cassio, is the only major character left standing at the end of the play.
Aladdin Platinum Edition Disc 1: Walt Disney Home Video. Retrieved August 15, 2011. Users who misuse the template will be blocked for a week minimum. Iago has very few redeeming qualities. He then tells Othello that whilst sharing a room with him Iago heard Cassio dreaming of having an affair, and says he's certain he saw Cassio wipe his beard with the handkerchief. Quick in motion as in thought; lithe and sinuous as a snake.
It is better not to search for reasons but simply to accept that he just wants to destroy the happiness of others. Iago plots to manipulate Othello into demoting Cassio, and thereafter to bring about the downfall of Othello himself. The ensign then seeks revenge by disclosing to "the squadron leader" the tale's Cassio counterpart the Moor's involvement in Desdemona's death. Later on, Iago is brought in by Desdemona and Emilia, with Desdemona lamenting the change in her husband, and tells Iago that she has been accused of infidelity. He tries to understand why he wants to destroy Othello beyond an irrational hatred of him.
The audience believes that he will be punished, but it's left open for the audience to wonder whether he will get away with his evil plans by concocting another deception or violent act. YOU WANT MY TWIN BROTHER, OTHELLO! Othello, a black man, has gained the love of Iago decides that the way to destroy Othello is by convincing him that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him. Retrieved 6 September 2017. Iago is a very modern character in that he has been diagnosed by critics as a psychopath or a sociopath, or an extreme narcissist. On two occasions his soliloquies offer some insight but only confuse his motives further. He also states that a rumor has been going around that Othello has slept with Iago's wife, Desdemona's lady Emilia, and make the decision to ruin Othello's life by convincing him that now Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio.
Don't act the villain, don't look it, or speak it, by scowling and growling, I mean , but think it all the time. He is a master manipulator who excels in pinpointing people's weaknesses, such as Othello's jealousy, Brabantio's racism, Roderigo's love for Desdemona, or Cassio's low alcohol tolerance, and uses these to his advantage. Iago is a man with an obsession for control and power over others who has let this obsession take over his whole life. This could be due to his belief that she has had an affair, but his character is so consistently unpleasant that the audience does not assign his malignancy to her behavior. Even after his scheme didn't go the way he planned, Iago never showed remorse; his decision not to speak being more because of shattered pride than anything else.
