Iago: A Manipulative Character In Shakespeare's Othello

There is more than what meets the eye. Iago is a manipulative character in the play, Othello. He manipulates all of the characters in his master plan to become the lieutenant. In Othello, Iago is upset because Othello, the military leader of Venice, gave Cassio, an arithmetician who was inexperienced at war, the position of being his lieutenant. Iago began to devise an infallible plan. This plan was to manipulate Othello into thinking Cassio and Desdemona were having an affair so he could denote Cassio and give Iago the position of lieutenant. This plan involves manipulation, lies, and pre-domination. At first, he succeeded, however, his lies will catch up with him, revealing his true, schemer way. In the play, Othello is the main

During this time, a handkerchief was a symbol of a woman’s romantic interest in someone, if given. Othello gave Desdemona a handkerchief, which symbolizes Othello’s love for Desdemona and Desdemona’s fidelity. This is why Iago will manipulate the meaning of the handkerchief. Emilia got the handkerchief because Desdemona carelessly dropped it and decided to take it and give it to Iago since he was begging her to steal it. Thus, Iago wants to use the handkerchief to convince Othello that Cassio gave it to Bianca, which in turn convinces Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. This twisted plan works accordingly in Act 3 Scene 3. Othello has become suspicious of what Iago’s actions and motive is to tell him that his wife is having an affair with Cassio and threatens him: “Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore! Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof, or, by the worth of mine eternal soul, thou hadst been better have been born a dog than answer my waked wrath.” Iago eventually manages to give Cassio the handkerchief. Cassio then gives it to Bianca and Iago has convinced Othello to observe Cassio and hear him talk about his relationship with Bianca. Cassio goes on to describe Bianca as a “poor caitiff wretch” (4.1.108), a “poor rouge” (4.1.111), a customer” (4.1.119) and a “monkey” (4.1.127) However, Othello thinks that Cassio is talking about having an affair with Desdemona and is describing her as such horrific