Othello: Character Analysis of Iago

Othello Char doer Analysis of IagoIn order to understand the personal motivations of Iago we need to consider not only the personal actions of the character exactly also the nightclub in which he lived. Many examples of Iagos malignity stooge be found depot-to-end the play demonstrating the malevolent streak that permeates the actons and feelings of Iago. It was Samuel Taylor Colerdge who came up with the term, The motive-hunting of motiveless Malignity, to describe the character of Iago. Coleridge referred specifically to the end of Act 1, Scene 3 in which Iago takes leave of RoderigoIago weaves a web of deception that ensn bes the Othello, Cassio and Roderigo. He succeeds in destroying a marriage and two noble characters as well as his wife, (Emilia), and Roderigo. Iagos true delight in his own cunning can be witnessed in his Act 2 Scene 1 soliloquy. here he revels in the power he wields, that which can turn Desdemonas virtue into pitch. Also ammoral is Iagos mercenary give of Roderigo to line his coat. He readily accepts money for a service that is impossible to achieve Desdemona has no feelings for Roderigo, and Iago knows this.At the heart of Iagos duplicity is his ability to play a number of roles convincingly to adapt his tone and title to suit any occasion. With Cassio , he is bluff, coarse and genial. He offers plausible, practical solutions for his problems. With Roderigo and Emilia, he is self-serving, materialistic and cynical. This can be seen in Act 1 Scene 1 where he makes it clear to Roderigo that his pride was hurt when Cassio was promoted forward him.he becomes furious. This anger was not founded because there is no evidence of any kind that Othello takes any engross sexually in Iagos wife Emilia. Cassio, by contrast, whom Iago also suspects of intimate dealings with his wife, has at least through more to raise that fear when he kisses Emilia on the lips in front of Iago in 2.1.99-100. These feelings are made clear in lines 270 280 of Act 2 Scene 1 He states that his soul depart not be satedWith no remedy for his condition, with a job that is beneath him, with a superior that he knows and will eventually demonstrate has vices incompatible with military leadership, with a system that has guiden that its values are inverted, what can he do? Strike back at the system and people who have failed him. Iago then tries to induce civic anarchy in Venice. First, he suggests to Roderigo that he wake Brabantio, Desdemonas father, in the middle of the night to promulgate her elopement with Othello. While Brabantio is rousing his family to action, Iago slips away for his second provocative act. He meets up with Othello and tries to goad him on to violence.The phrase, unmotivated Malignity is not an accurate portrayal of Iago. There are many examples throughout the play which show clearly Iagos villainy. Iago manages to turn all his friends, who trust him most, against each other. These actions eventually lead to the m urder of Roderigo. While the act of murder cannot be condoned, this shows the utter desparation of Iago as a man whom was pushed to the edge by a society which failed to show him sufficient respect. Iago himself offers several possible motives for his actions to the audience throughout the play in his different soliloquies. malefic and hopeless Iago clearly is, but this needs to be set also against a class-based society which pin down Iago in second class citizenship, a status which he did not deserve. The absolute loyalty and fealty Iago showed towards his masters was never rewarded and it is this which led him to engage in malevolent acts against everybody including his loved ones.