Iago The Villian in Shakespear's Othello - Book Report/Review Example

Iago was a marvelous murderer but mostly he used others to fulfil his desires rather than using his own hands in completing any of his devious desires. He has a great power in compelling and convincing others to act in a way which would lead 'his' success. However, Iago killed Roderigo by stabbing (Bloom, 1992). Iago was striving hard to get the position of lieutenant and could not get that position as Cassio was offered and granted that position. Iago was much angry and outraged but Iago used his wits and went through many situations to make Cassio drop his place as Othello's lieutenant.

In each scene wherein Iago verbalize one can reveal his misleading manner. Iago traps Othello into considering that his own wife is having an affair, exclusive of any solid evidence. Othello is so bogged down in Iago's falsehood that he rebuffs to deem Desdemona when she refuses the whole matter. Much glory must be given to Iago's diabolical ability which allows him to turn and twist the lithe brainpower of his friends and wife. In present era Iago would be named as a psychopath without scruples not the evil spirit personified.

Despite the fact that Iago does slay when he attempt and kills Roderigo, he formed nearly all of his destruction during the use of others who unsuspectingly go behind their own plan which Iago defies to get a web of proceedings which thrives in making Cassio first drop his place as Othello's substitute, then request Desdemona to be re-established which permits Iago to propose Desdemona's disloyalty and afterward to egg on Roderigo to kill him (Cassio). Iago's character is multifaceted, but in performance I, Scene I, where he explains his revulsion at being disregarded for Othello's lieutenant, we can see that a most important incentive for Iago's clever exploitation was vengeance and fury; vengeance for Cassio replacing him, fury that Othello disregarded him.

Therefore it can be seen that Iago's exploitations are motivated by a fundamental desire to punish those who hurt him but also to achieve what he supposes is his, certainly Iago's implication that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair brings in Iago Othello's belief and the place as his replacement in Act III, Scene III. yet being made lieutenant only pleases his arrogance, his enduring with his idea to disgrace Desdemona proves us that it is not sufficient for Iago to have what he considers is his, he must penalize Othello for ignoring him in the first position by making Othello distrust and demolish his honest wife.

Shakespeare took his villains to an advanced stage He did not create them obvious like the bad characters of present cinema. He granted his villains strength and guts. Iago is an ideal illustration of "Shakespeare's villain."Bibliography:Bloom, Harold. Iago. Major literary characters. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1992.Hall, Joan Lord. Othello: A Guide to the Play. Greenwood guides to Shakespeare. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press,