Lago, a Life of Revenge

Kenneth White
English 102
Professor Berry
May 4, 2013

Lago, A Life of Revenge

Lago is a character in the play “Othello” by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare presents Lago as a villain. Lago claims a reputation for honesty, yet he creates elaborate lies in order to exploit and manipulate people. But is this a villain? He cares for no one, cheating, lying and living his whole life just for revenge. Many times throughout the play others refer to Lago as “honest Iago.” Lago’s achievements and reputation helped him rise through the ranks of the military, which is why he is Othello’s ancient. But, Shakespeare shows us a character who acts against his reputation. Why would other characters always believe in him? Lago does say true things, but it is the way he phrases the actions of the true things to the other characters. In Act Three, Lago mumbles under his breath that he did not like what he said, which was that Desdemona and Cassio had been together, Othello asks him what he said and he basically says “oh nothing.” Othello goes on to ask if that was Cassio he saw with his wife, and Lago says no but Othello still believes it was Cassio. It is not until later, when Othello and Lago are done sparring, that Lago begins manipulating the General. Othello asks Lago if Cassio is honest, Lago says “yes,” which is the truth but Lago uses Cassio’s youth, good looks, and friendship with Desdemona to play on Othello’s insecurities about Desdemona’s fidelity.
Lago is filled with bitterness; he is not what he seems. He is bitter toward Othello for sleeping with his wife, so he lies to become close with Othello just so he could betray him and get revenge on him. Lago wants to sleep with Desdemona to get even with Othello “wife for wife” (Act 2 Scene 1 Lines 286). Once his plot against Othello starts coming together, he loses control of it, and takes extreme risks and must attempt kill Roderigo. Lago has to have power over people if he does not he does whatever it takes to have the power, even if it takes killing. In order to destroy Othello, he must also destroy Roderigo because he is the one who supplied Lago the money, and Lago could not repay him back. Also, Lago must destroy his own wife, Emilia because she knows the truth about how the handkerchief got into Cassio’s room. Ultimately, Lago manipulation and lying brought him no power. The jealousy Lago has of Othello is why Shakespeare presents him as a villain. His want for revenge has led him to nothing, but ending up getting stabbed by Othello for all his manipulation. It is unclear if Lago actually dies in the play, but the person who does not get severally injured is Cassio, who at the end, took Othello’s place as the Moor.
Work Cited:

Shakespeare, William. “Othello, the Moor of Venice.” Literature: Craft and Voice. Ed. Nicholas Deblanco and Alan Cheuse. 2nd Ed. New York: McGraw, 2012. 1202- 1271. Print.
Ali, Prof. Niamat. ""Othello" A Critical Review." Diss. Govt. Islamia College, Kasur Pakistan, Web.

Ralph.P.Boas and Edwin Smith Enjoyment of Literature
Harcourt, Brace and
Company New York Chicage

I.A.Richards Principles of Literary Criticism
Routledge and Kegan Paul LTD Broadway House; 68-74
Carter Lane

Cited: Shakespeare, William. “Othello, the Moor of Venice.” Literature: Craft and Voice. Ed. Nicholas Deblanco and Alan Cheuse. 2nd Ed. New York: McGraw, 2012. 1202- 1271. Print. Ali, Prof. Niamat. ""Othello" A Critical Review." Diss. Govt. Islamia College, Kasur Pakistan, Web. Ralph.P.Boas and Edwin Smith Enjoyment of Literature Harcourt, Brace and Company New York Chicage I.A.Richards Principles of Literary Criticism Routledge and Kegan Paul LTD Broadway House; 68-74 Carter Lane