Othello

In the story of Othello we see how the actions of one man go on to ruin the lives of multiple people. The villain Iago single-handedly creates the tragedy of Othello through his puppeteer like control of the other characters in the play. Iago captivates the audience as his plan progresses. Readers are anxious to know what will happen next in the play. What makes Iago so fascinating is his mysteriousness as a character, his fully devious ways, and how magnificently clever he is in organizing the demise of Othello.

An important reason that makes Iago is such a fascinating character is the fact that there is little known about him. Unlike the other characters in this play, Iago cannot be given any clear description about who he is as a person. Desdemona is the typical pure virgin type, Roderigo is a rich fool in love, and Cassio is a handsome Venetian army Lieutenant. For Iago there is no other apparent about his character other than his snake like personality. The information about him is that he is a general to Othello, and is married to Desdemona’s hand maiden, Emilia. This is all that is known about Iago, the reader is given no background. The main mystery about Iago is why he executes his devious plan. Through the whole play, the reader is looking for reasons or hints as to why Iago has become so evil. By the end of the play there is no clear reason for him going after Othello. When describing why he plans to ruin Othello he gives two reasons; rumors about his wife having an affair with Othello, and a hint about affections for Desdemona. Both of these reasons are said in a vague off-handed type manner, giving the reader no true motive for Iago. Even in the very end of the play, after he’s been caught Iago refuses to give a...

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.... Bianca’s timing with the scarf and Cassio’s reaction to marrying Bianca are opportunities not created by Iago. He is shown to possess amazingly quick wit when manipulating his environment around him. Iago’s sly ways of manipulation are what changes him from a dislikeable villain to an almost anti-hero type of character.

Iago’s mystery behind his actions, fully evil intentions, and cunningness throughout Shakespeare’s tragedy are what makes him a fascinating character to readers. Iago is the instigating fact for the majority of the important events of the play. Without Iago the would be no driving factor for the attacks and deaths of the other characters in Othello. Without Iago Othello would not be a tragedy.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice. Ed. Tucker Brooke and

Lawrence Mason. New Haven: Yale UP, 1947. Print.