User talk:Hendrix2212

Iago Othello’s ensign and the antagonist of the play. He desires Othello’s demise because he has been overlooked for a promotion to lieutenant, Iago’s motivations are not clearly expressed and appear to be for his love of manipulation and destruction.

Description of character
At first glance Iago's character seems to be pure evil. However, he is against morals, as opposed being without them. Iago's entire scheme begins when Cassio is given the position he desired. Iago is consumed with envy and plots to steal the position he feels he should of had. Iago deceives and manipulates to gain that position. One thing left undetermined is if Iago pushes aside his conscience to commit these acts or that he lacks a conscience to begin with. Iago's personality can be seen throughout the play by examining his lies and his intentions.

Important Quotes
"Were I the Moor I would not be Iago. In following him I follow but myself; Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, But seeming so for my peculiar end. For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In compliment extern, ’tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at. I am not what I am."

Iago explains his tactics to Roderigo. He follows Othello because he feels he can trick him. By this he avengers himself since he suspects Othello slept with his wife. The time he expresses these internal feelings, Iago explains, will be the time he makes himself most at risk.

"Ay, there's the point: As (to be bold with you) Not to affect many proposed matches Of her own clime, complextion, and degree, Whereto we see in all things, Nature tends: Foh, one may smell in such, a will most rank, Foul disproportions, thoughts unnatural. But (pardon me) I do not in position Distinctly speak of her, though I may fear Her will, recoiling to her better judgement, May fall to match you with her country forms, And happily repent."

Iago says that nature eventually sorts things out. By this he means Desdemona may eventually revert back to a white husband. He's saying that this could have happened, but that he believes that this person will never match Othello. Thus Desdemona will come back to Othello.

"I should be wise; for honesty's a fool, and loses that it works for."

Iago has been honest his entire life, and has nothing to show for it. So he attempts to get the life he desires by seeking revenge against Othello and Casio who have, in his mind, wronged him. Iago seems to be jealous and vengeful by rejecting the honesty and loyalty that have gotten him nowhere. Iago turns from honesty to deceitful.

Motives
Iago is without doubt one of the most mysterious characters in Othello. This is because his motives for manipulating and ultimately destroying Othello are unclear.He manipulates the gullible, such as his wife, and even the most intelligent, such as Othello.

One motive I've found that he receives some sort of enjoyment by manipulating characters into bidding his will. He enjoys playing with people's emotions, desires and fears. The feeling of pulling the strings is one of the main reason he manipulates people. He also seems to enjoy predicting what the other character do.

It can be debated that Iago's motive for destroying Othello is that he is jealous of Desdemona. This would of course mean Iago is a homosexual and feels rejected by Othello. Evidence supports this argument when Iago states 'I love you to Cassion' after he was sacked by Othello. Although he is incredibly racist, by the end of the play he professes his love and loyalty to Othello.

Another theory could be that Iago is the embodiment of a conservative racist society, and takes pride in being white and hating Othello, mainly because he is black. Perhaps he is so engulfed in hatred that he is willing to manipulate anyone and to any length to spite Othello.