Iago as the Perfect Villain of Shakespeares Othello Essay -- Othello

Iago as the Perfect Villain of Othello Iago, the villain in Shakespeares Othello, is a round event of great depth and many dimensions. Iago works towards an aim that is constantly changing and becomes progressively more tragic. Yet, at times, honest Iago does actu all(prenominal)y seem honest. This essay impart explore the complex character of honest Iago. One of the most interesting questions that crops up is concerning Iagos motives. What are his reasons to kill every major Venetian in Cyprus? Shakespeare seemingly sets the stage for Iagos actions, giving him two distinct reasons to avenge Othello. The first is the fact that Othello promotes Cassio, an arithmetician to the rank of lieutenant and passes over Iago who is just a sergeant. Secondly, Iago is distrustful of his wife, Emilia and thinks she is sleeping with every other man but himincluding Othello. There are other reasons that Iago talks about in his soliloquiesthe primary one macrocosm jealousy or the green-eyed mon ster. Iago resents the love that Othello and Desdemona share and also takes offence at the fact that Othello is older, yet he has a young and beautiful wife, power, and respect, all that Iago desires. However, all these reasons seem to be false and made-up just for the sake of being excuses for his malice. He also uses these reasons to convince Roderigo to hate Othello. The real motive seems but a slip on Iagos part when he says in act five, as he waits to stab Cassio If Cassio do remain, He hath a free-and-easy beauty in his life That makes me ugly... He refers to Cassios goodness here and realizes that he lacks his gentlemanly traits. They are not quite of the same class and Iago resents that, for he knows that the promotion was not ... ... that people, who all along look up to him and call him honest Iago, realize this. Being a Shakespearian tragedy, Iago andultimatelyevil, triumphs. Works Cited and Consulted Bradley, A. C.. Shakespearean Tragedy. New York Penguin, 1991. Di Ya nni, Robert. Character Revealed Through Dialogue. Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from Literature. N. p. Random House, 1986. Mack, Maynard. Everybodys Shakespeare Reflections Chiefly on the Tragedies. Lincoln, NB University of Nebraska Press, 1993. Shakespeare. Othello. The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. Rossi. New York Longman, 1999. 312-379. Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The voltaic Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http//www.eiu.edu/multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos.