The Malicious Character of Iago From Othello by William Shakespeare

Every man wants something. Some want power, some want tame, but some just make the world burn, Occasionally in literature and pop culture we are shown characters that seem to want to wreak havoc upon the world they see around them, but if there was a man to take the crown of who did it best, it would be William Shakespeare’s Iago of M. Some say that Iago is a power hungry soldier in search of a higher position, or even a cuckold who desires revenge, but contrary to popular belief, he is a man who takes pleasure in lashing out against the world around him and watching it fall apart, Iago is a character of vice, a man moved by corruption and seeing his debauchery play out within the world around him Through his artistically malicious plotting, manipulative abilities, and twisted motives, Iago demonstrates that he is one thing, maliciousi In many ways one can say that [ago is a master of the art of villainy, Iago seems to enact his revelries with a sort of craftsmanship that is unrivaled by anyone else within the story of Mg Iago seems to appreciate the elegance of his malicious acts and their execution much like a serial murderer pleased with the method and technique he used to accomplish his crime Iago muses on his cleverly evil plans here and says, Virtue?

A figl ‘Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thusi Our bodies are our gardens to the which our wills are gardeners.

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So that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of hers or distract it with many, either to have it sterile with idleness or manured with industry, why the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our willsi  Iago seems to bask and rejoice in disclosing his plans to the reader.

Iago plots his destruction of the people around him, and through soliloquies and other passages, he takes the time to share his revels with the reader. This contorted form of self-satisfaction comes with no reasoning and shows Iago’s sense of twisted self-indulgence that comes with the satisfaction of enacting his carefully crafted schemes. Iago’s manipulative capabilities are second to none and show themselves to be so time after time.

The most prevalent of the examples is when Iago first plants the seed of jealousy in Othello. Iago begins by subtly suggesting that Desdamona might be having an affair with Cassio, and slowly but surely through his manipulative abilities, Iago makes Othello’s tragic flaw more and more apparent. And although straightforward manipulation is something to be commended, lago’s use of indirect control shows his real mastery of manipulation At one point during the manipulation process, Iago begins to speak with hesitation and this causes Othello to insist on Iago sharing his complete opinion. The interaction went as such, OTHELLO. What dost thou say? IAGOI Nothing, my lord: or if—I know not what. OTHELLO. Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? IAGOI Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like, Seeing you coming.

At this point, Cassio was just with Desdamona and exited the moment Iago and Othello were to enter. Iago manipulates Othello in pretending to be hesitant in his accusations and essentially causes Othello to attempt to probe information out of [ago Its genius really; Iago uses a type of reverse psychology to play Othello like a fiddle and plant ideas in his head to no end. If one was to argue what Iago’s most villainous trait is, the first aspect would be his motives for all of his malicious acts, or moreover his lack thereof. Throughout the play, Iago gives various hinting reasons as to why he does everything he does, but he never gives a clear concise reasont Throughout Shakespearean writing, villainous characters do evil acts in order to achieve goals or enact revenge, but Iago has no clear goal as to why he destroys Othellot.

At one point, Iago refers to being aggravated about being overlooked for a promotion, at another, he speaks about Othello possibly having sex with his wife Emiliat Iago says, “It is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets / He has done my office” (Iiiii.369—370)i These reasons lack the ability to be an adequate explanation for Iago’s hate of Othello. This lack of real motivation makes Iago’s actions all the more malicious; lago is willing to destroy lives, whether it is Othello’s, Desdamona’s , or Cassie‘s, on a whim for some sadistic pleasure he derives from watching the world around him burn, Iago. The man of vice, fueled by the desire to watch the world burn around him. Through his plotting, manipulation, he throws on the gas and lights the fire, and through his sadistic motives, he sits and revels in the pleasure he derives from the destruction. Iago, One malicious mant