Preview

Iago's Nature Of Evil

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
279 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Iago's Nature Of Evil
Iago is presented as one of the most striking characters in this tragic play and from the beginning of the play; we realize that Iago is the essence of viciousness. As we can see in act 1 scene 3, Iago expresses his feelings towards Othello by telling Rodrigo: "I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted. Thine hath no less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him". However, the motivation behind Iago's actions lies more in his pursuit for personal advantage, as opposed to just being evil for evil's sake. Iago's greediness can be validated by examining his manipulation of Roderigo, Cassio and Othello. Iago's main concern is to ruin Othello because Othello has chosen another man, Cassio, as his deputy, preferring him to Iago. This hatred suits Iago's made-up accusations of adultery and his obvious racism, and cause him to hate Othello, and shortly after, begin to contrive against him.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Iago's Cruelty

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Iago is one of the most notorious and mysterious villains of all time. He spends all of his time plotting against Othello and Desdemona, eventually convincing Othello that his wife has been cheating, despite the fact that Desdemona has been completely faithful. Iago's capacity for cruelty seems limitless, and no motivation he gives for his actions seems enough to explain the incredible destruction he wreaks on the lives of the people he knows best.…

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iago vs Krogstad

    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In Othello, Iago is a villainous person who is filled with hatred, jealousy and an undeniable lust for power. He influences and manipulates everyone close to him for the sole purpose of destroying their lives.…

    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iago Character Analysis

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Iago is manipulative and also very cunning however what led to his downfall is him underestimating others. He has a talent for understanding and manipulating people around him desires and that makes him both a powerful and a heavily admired character. Shakespeare display Iago as an evil character who’s willing to drag innocent character into his revenge- Roderigo, Desdemona and Emilia. Iago is able to hurt Othello deeply because he understands Othello so well and as the ply progress on seem to grow even closer to Othello as his revenge progresses. He frequently refers to Othello as the 'Moor´ this statement show…

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iago is a cruel and evil man who uses ways to ruin Othello and Desdemona’s relationship. Othello appointed Cassio, to be his lieutenant. Iago was mad when he heard about it, he believes that he should be the one for the position since he knows more. This started off with his jealousy of Cassio. When Othello and Desdemona got married without letting anyone knowing, Iago begins to plot his plan. He used Roderigo to help him throughout the process of his plan to bring down Cassio. He then told Othello lies to ruin his own relationship. He also use Bianca as his part of the plan. Iago got people into thinking he was a nice honest guy, but he uses other people's jealousy and gullibleness for his own benefit.…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    | Initially, Iago tells us of his hatred for the Moor is because Othello chose to promote Cassio to Lieutenant, instead of his, thus leaving the audience to thinks that Iagos reason for wanting to destroy Othello is because of that. However later on in the play, in Act 1, Scene 3, Iago reveals another possible motive for wanting to take down Othello. Here he says that “ ‘twix my sheets/ he has done my office”. Iago insinuates here that he hates Othello because he’s heard a rumour that Othello has committed adultery with his wife, Emilia. Iago states that isn’t positive if its true, yet he will go along with the plan to ruin Othello’s life nonetheless.…

    • 575 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iago is the villain of the tragedy Othello but to what extent is he a tragic villain?…

    • 345 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the play ,Iago comes off as a diabolical character who sets everyone's lives on fire .However, his motives are often questioned as they seem relatively vague in the play.Throughout the play he cites various reasons to hate Othello.Firstly, he is upset by the fact that Iago chose Cassio over him and promoted Cassio.He feels that he was the perfect candidate for Cassio's position and feels insulted by Othello's choice.He confesses this to Roderigo in the following lines:…

    • 1897 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iago plots to destroy the lives of others by interfering with relationships. “Tis here, but yet confused. / Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used” (II.i.305-306). Iago is plotting his evil plan to destroy the marriage between Othello and Desdemona. Iago infers that his plan is evil, and the evilness will shine through, once the evil acts are completed. This makes Iago evil because he is planning destruction. Iago’s goal is to devastate Othello’s life.…

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iago In Othello

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Throughout Act I, Iago lists several reasons for his hatred and subsequent desire to ruin Othello, beginning with the fact that he wasn’t promoted to lieutenant while Cassio was, despite him having more experience. One Michael Cassio, a Florentine / (A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife), / That never set a squadron in the field / But he, sir, had th' election ... (1.1.20-27). It is then quickly suggested that Iago’s rage is infused by his jealousy of Othello, and his suspicions that he has slept with his wife, Emilia. This may be a stronger motive than the latter, as Iago directly states that he “hates the Moor”.…

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    english

    • 475 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Iago shows himself as a two faced person, he seems loyal and respectful toward Othello; however he is totally opposite person behind Othello’s back. “I hate the Moor.” This quotation given by Iago is short and simple, and straight to the point. Iago has hatred towards Othello due to the fact he had given Cassio the promotion that was rightfully his. Furthermore, Iago is manipulating everyone’s thoughts so he can gain the rank that was ‘taken’ from him.…

    • 475 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Iago's Exceptional Villain

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In stories, villains play a major part; they move the plot forward and without them, something feels missing. Among the ranks of villains, there are many different tiers of their abilities. There are the villains whose plots are easily foiled; whose minds are only focused on one thing and disregard anything else that could potentially be of use to them. Then there are villains whose plots are further meticulously planned, yet thwarted in the end. And finally, there are the villains who are perfect in every way. They are the ones who scheme and until the end of their nefarious acts, their position as the string puller is still unknown. Those villains are the perfect villains. Although he is an exceptional villain, Iago is not at the level of…

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello study question

    • 1535 Words
    • 5 Pages

    1. There are three main reasons for why Iago hates Othello. The first being that Iago deeply believes that there used to be an affair between his wife Emilia and Othello. While there is no actual evidence to support the affair, the fact that Iago believes it happened supports the fact that he is very paranoid and might be searching for reasons to hate Othello. The second is that Othello denied Iago a promotion he believes he very much deserved. The fact that Othello gives the promotion to Cassio is what leads Iago to take out revenge on both. The third (and most obvious reason to me) is the simple fact that Othello is a Moor (black) and Iago is angry act the fact Othello has authority over him and is praised by the other characters. On line 1.3.322, Iago meant that we get to choose who we want to be and that whatever we nurture becomes our nature. Iago chose to warn Othello because he is two-faced and wants to remain on Othello’s side just long enough to take him down.…

    • 1535 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello's Jealousy

    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages

    It is Iago's goal, seemingly, to transform the perception of almost every character in the play--from Cassio to Roderigo--to the opposite of what it had been. Even Desdemona shall not escape his injury, "If [Desdemona] be black, and thereto have a wit,/She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit." (II.i.130-1) Desdemona acknowledges the paradoxes in Iago's words, yet still she is unable to prevent these from becoming the paradox of her life. The universal effect of Iago's actions furthers the level of sympathy Othello receives in the text. He is not the only one; they are all victims. In this way, Othello's decline cannot be held up to him because they have all made wine of Iago's dishonest juices. Iago's lures Othello beyond judgment, "I [will] put the Moor/At least into a jealousy so strong/That judgment cannot cure . . . /[And m]ake the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me/For making him egregiously an ass/. . .practicing upon his peace and quiet/ Even to madness." (II.i.300-310) This is Iago's formula. In the face of such, there can only be sympathy for the simple, good 'other' Othello is in the process of…

    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thought and Iago

    • 392 Words
    • 1 Page

    In this play there is no time wasted introducing the real characteristics of Iago. We see his self-serving anger issues from the beginning. Iago is quick to mention his hatred for Othello (1.3.365). Iago’s ego has been hurt by Othello claiming Cassio as his lieutenant and passing up Iago. Iago feels that he has way more experience in battle than Cassio and just pretends to serve Othello until he can get his revenge (1.1.10-40). Iago mentions later that Othello slept with his wife, Emilia: “And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets he’s done my office” (1.3.366-367). Roderigo is the first person to fall to his deceitful ways. Iago’s craftiness get Rodergio to trust him with his with his money; Rodergio says, “That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were mine…”. Iago states, “Put money in thy purse” (1.3.328) so that he might be able to win Desdemona’s love with gifts Iago will buy her. But the dishonest plan is here because he plans on keeping that money for himself.…

    • 392 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Iago’s hatred for Othello goes above and beyond, the hatred consumes him the peculiar part of this play are Iago’s motives are not as significant as the results of his manipulation. In once scene of the play, Iago exposes his true self to Rodrigo and the readers as a dangerous and evil individual who will do everything he can do to achieve his “peculiar end”(I.i.62). Iago is more than determined and willing to destroy Othello. It requires motivation that is more captivating than just being denied a military advancement. Racial attitudes in conversation and references lie in the deeper and more captivating…

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays