Iago

6 Pages 1422 Words

The Deceitful Nature of One Man
Iago is arguably the most deceitful character known to literature. While Shakespeare’s Othello is full of devious acts of immorality, Iago is behind each one of them. By way of his deceptions Iago is able to entrap Othello into believing that his wife is sharing a bed with Cassio. Through many suggestions and deceits Iago is able to embed images of unfaithfulness in Othello’s mind. These images and the rage that they bring about ultimately lead to the demise of both Othello and Iago. Iago is motivated by his need for revenge and the genuine hatred that he has for Othello, Iago’s hatred then becomes contagious and is passed on to Othello as he increasingly becomes more distraught. Othello and all of the immoral acts that it contains are the direct result of Iago’s hatred for Othello and the insecurities that Iago has about his own achievements.
As Othello opens the first notions that Iago has an extreme hatred of Othello become abundantly clear. Iago shows his displeasure with the promotion that Othello gave to Cassio as opposed to him. After explaining that Cassio is not qualified because he has never set foot on a battlefield, nor lead men, Iago tells Roderigo that “I follow him to serve my turn upon him. / We cannot all be masters, nor all masters / Cannot be truly followed” (1.1.42-44). In saying this Iago is letting it be known that he would not follow Othello except to exact his revenge on the moor. Further in the scene Iago brings another of his reasons of hatred of Othello to the fore front when he declares that Othello has slept with his wife. When he tells Roderigo “I hate the Moor; / And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets / H’as done my office” (1.3.367-369) it is almost possible to feel compassion for Iago. He has lost a promotion to a man less qualified and apparently his General has had an affair with his wife. However, with the next line Iago shows...