Iago's Personality In Othello

Iago is a jealous, devious, manipulative character in Othello. His drive is controversial but his essential traits are certain. Shakespeare chose to assign these qualities to Iago to display the devil within and that most people are not who they seem. The motifs present contribute to the dramatic irony of Iago's personality. Iago is a distressing character and who gains pleasure from other's destruction.

Although Iago presents himself as a strong character, he is deceptive in order to disrupt the contentment of others because of his lack of satisfaction. Throughout the entire play, Iago does not change his thoughts or actions. He continues to manipulate and carry out his jealously until the end. Although, it can be argued that Iago has an inner frustration that is brought out by his devious actions. No audience or other character understands his anger. Iago chooses to ruin other’s lives so he is not the only dissatisfied one. Iago is jealous because Cassio received the position of lieutenant over himself. Iago believes he is qualified more than Cassio, “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damned in a fair wife, That never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows more than a spinster,…Mere prattle, without practice, Is all his soldiership, And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds” (Act 1 Scene 1 Lines 18-27). Iago’s words in this passage scream the quality of jealously. He has fought in more wars than Cassio; Iago’s words are merely an act of jealously.

Iago is perceived as the devil. Shakespeare added a character of this nature to displays the fact that many are not what they seem. Iago, similar to a devil feels no remorse for the trouble caus...

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...feels no remorse for his complications he caused. The handkerchief is a prime example of this. He uses the handkerchief and his knowledge of the importance of it to Othello to create chaos. While Iago further pushed Othello into believing his stories about Desdemona’s unfaithfulness, he states, “Her honor is an essence that’s not see: they have it very oft that have it not” (Act I, Scene I, Lines 16-17). Iago does this because he is devious and gets enjoyment out of other’s destruction. Yet, he seems to never be satisfied because he continues on. If Iago was seen as a dishonest person, then Othello would not believe that Desdemona slept with Cassio and nobody would have been killed. Shakespeare chose to have the dramatic irony to have the audience experience a tragedy. Iago manipulates, shows his jealousy and devious actions until the end of Shakespeare’s Othello.