The Peculiarities of Iago as a Character in Othello

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Envy is the tax which all distinction must pay”. Iago was a mere
individual who had been revoked high position in favor of Cassio. The reason why this makes the
whole play compelling is that this rejection led to a well-planned tragedy all the ways towards its
ending. Although Iago is clever, his intelligence synergizes greatly with his deadly weapon composed
of envy, pride, ego, and deceitfulness. In this paper not only will I identify his negative traits, I will also
prove how it led to his future actions with detailed examples. Iago is a personification of envy, one of
the deadly sins and how he is a player of games, a chess master for whom games and winning are
more important than reality.

In my view Iago had a grudge against Othello because of his promotion of Cassio to a lieutenant while
believing that Othello slept with his wife, being the reason why he was seeking revenge against both
Cassio and Othello. When Iago said: “… I hate the Moor: And it is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets

He’s done my office. I know not if ’t be true,” this quote had a tone which shows his deep hatred
towards Othello. Iago lives in his own world; he betrays everyone who was convinced by his loyalty
and honesty. Just as if he is the puppeteer with everyone wrapped around his fingers, doing exactly as
he wills them to do. Iago’s own wife, Roderigo, Cassio, and lastly Othello had all fell into Iago’s long
planned scheme. To get to Othello, Iago had to improvise with the people in his surroundings. Iago
started off with both Cassio & Roderigo. Iago said, “Cassio’s a proper man: let me see now; To get his
place, and to plume up my will In double knavery,--How, how?—Let’s see”. This shows that Iago has
been plotting his revenge since the beginning. Later in act 1, scene 1 Iago approached Roderigo.
Roderigo was one of Iago’s puppets, he was in love with Desdemona; Iago offered to help win her in
exchange for money. Then, Iago guided Roderigo to murder Cassio, he fails to do so in a brawl and
gets injured; Iago stabs Cassio in the leg himself. Cassio states that his attacker (Roderigo) is in the
immediate area, Iago is aware that he must murder Roderigo because he is at risk of being exposed if
Roderigo is captured and interrogated. Iago is a player of games, a chess master for whom games
and winning are more important than reality. Iago doesn’t know what he will do after getting the sweet
revenge against Othello, but he uses who and what he has to fulfill his morbid desires. During when
Roderigo was injured Iago said,

“Now, whether he kill Cassio

Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other

Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,

He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him

As gifts to Desdemona.” This shows that Iago believes Roderigo will be a burden to him as Roderigo
will ask Iago for all the gold and jewelry he gave for Desdemona. Iago assumes that Roderigo has
fulfilled his needs and he needs to be slain. After Iago finishes using Roderigo, he murders him; it is
obvious that Iago is a narcissistic and solipsistic sociopath who interpret variations of others personally
as a self-protection. His self-regard is based upon the unbecoming diminution and dismissal of others.
Iago then gets revenge on Cassio by having his rank remoted by Othello for breaking guidelines. Iago
lies to Othello about his wife being unfaithful. When Iago tells Cassio to ask Desdemona to tell Othello
to be reimbursed the worthy lieutenant position, Iago then makes Othello believe that they are secret
lovers. Othello promotes Iago and orders him to kill both Cassio and Desdemona. In the ending when
everyone finds out the truth about Iago, it was tragic. The reason for this is it let to the suicide of
Othello and the murdering of Emilia. Although Iago was able to accomplish what he had plotted, he
lost everything he had that made him happy and complete. What made him happy and complete was
his secret cynical actions, not the people in his life he pretended to be friends with or love. By being
taken away in the ending he is exposed of his fraudulent schemes, he will never be able to attempt
such acts again. His word choices allow him to arouse the minds of others giving him the chance to
manipulate anyone he wishes to. For example: Iago deceives Othello with a wise choice of words,

“O, beware, my lord of jealousy!

It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock

The meat if feeds upon” this also pleased Othello, making him believe Iago.

To conclude this essay Iago Is indeed a personification of envy, who is a player of games, a chess
master for whom games and winning are more important than reality. In the main paragraph The
reason why I stated that Iago lives in his own world In the main paragraph, is that he did anything he
could regardless of outcome just to take revenge against Othello. Shakespeare might have also
shown how dangerous people can be in his play. Even though Iago is intelligent, it doesn’t seem that
he has any other traits that involve morality or empathic feelings. In my opinion, the fact that Iago only
has negative traits makes him a special antagonist like no other villain. Iago followed his soul, he
plotted a very secret but vague plan that led to the death of almost everyone