Iago in Othello Essay

Timed Writing

William Shakespeares play, Othello, truly shows that a persons desire for power is one of the strongest human drives. The antagonist of Othello, Iago, seeks to gain power over others through revenge and manipulation, because he feels that he has been wronged by the Moor and his lieutenant. He uses this reasoning as justification to lie, cheat and mislead others in the play even though he later veers off on a rant about the Moor sleeping with his wife. Shakespeare often focuses on the inconsistency behind Iagos reasons to take down Othello and Cassio, making Iago even more frightening as a villain since he lacks a valid explanation behind his thirst for blood. Nonetheless, the actions he undertakes for power and revenge mold the tragic play that Othello is.

Iago is truly one of Shakespeares most manipulating and heartless characters, who will stop at nothing to attain power. As he slyly gains the trust of every important character in the play, he manipulates them in order to eventually gain what he has always wanted, dominance. Although his motivations arent quite clear in that he refers to multiple reasons for what he does, what is clear is that he wants nothing more than revenge on Othello (his general) and in turn take his position. Iago plots and connives a plan to at first make Desdemona seem as if she was cheating on her husband with Cassio, then get Cassio drunk and violent making him seem unreliable as a lieutenant and lastly uses the jealousy Othello has built up in a final rage against his wife. Although the way he tries to attain power may seem excessive in its cruelty, in the end it is fitting to his villainous character.

The deception and manipulation carried out by the character Iago, furthers the story by revealing the flaw in the protagonist and its unfortunate effects on others as is the nature of a tragic play. When he plotted his revenge on Othello, the most effective action he seemed to have taken was making Othello feel as though his new bride was unfaithful. This, made him desperate and in turn made him seek the advice of Iago. As Iago plays with Othellos already fiery emotions, Othello reveals his tragic flaw in that he does not think things through. Shakespeare shows that even the most admirable heroes have flaws.

The actions which Iago undertakes for power and revenge truly mold Othello into the tragic play that it is. This antagonist gives readers and/or the audience understanding to the human desire for power. In the things he does and the soliloquys he states, he makes it clear that he wants nothing more than to manipulate and have power over people. The power struggle he has, is almost all to himself, except when he discusses it with his coconspirator Roderigo. His intentions are not clear to anyone besides the audience until the end of the play. It is then revealed that the web of lies Iago has created amounted to so much tragedy. The lies he tell, ultimately enhance the meaning of the work as a whole through its development in plot.