What kind of villain is iago

Sinai, and Moses asks God his name. God replies: "I am that I am" Exodus,iii, Iago is the opposite of God, that is, he is the Devil. Iago in this play, has the qualities of the Devil in medieval and Renaissance morality plays: He is a liar, he makes promises he has no intention of keeping, he tells fancy stories in order to trap people and lead them to their destruction, and he sees other's greatest vulnerabilities and uses these to destroy them.

Iago does all this not for any good reason, but for love of evil. Iago is surrounded with bitter irony: he is not as he seems, his good is bad for others, people repeatedly rely on him, and he betrays them. He likes to have others unwittingly working to serve his purposes. But for all this, as his plot against Othello starts moving and gathering momentum, he loses control of it and must take real risks to prevent it from crashing.

Iago is a man with an obsession for control and power over others who has let this obsession take over his whole life. Iago then advises a disgraced Cassio that the best way to regain Othello's favor is to ask Desdemona to intercede on his behalf.

Iago is with Othello when Desdemona requests Cassio's reinstatement, and here drop the first hints to Othello that Cassio and Desdemona may be dallying behind his back.

In the Third Act, as evidence, Iago has Emillia steal a handkerchief from Desdemona, which had been given to her by Othello as a special gift passed down to him. Iago then plants the handkerchief in Cassio's quarters. He then tells Othello that whilst sharing a room with him Iago heard Cassio dreaming of having an affair, and says he's certain he saw Cassio wipe his beard with the handkerchief. Othello makes the decision to disown his Christian God and makes Iago his new lieutenant.

Iago now has Othello right where he wants him, and tells him that "I am yours forever" Iago, Act 3, Scene 3. In Act 4 Cassio stumbles across Iago and Othello, whilst Othello has a fit in despair, during which Iago tells Cassio he'd like to speak with him shortly. Once Othello calms down Iago takes him to overhear Iago and Cassio, claiming he will, to aid Othello, figure out from Cassio where, when and when next he will sleep with Cassio, but then reveals to the audience that his real intention is to get Cassio talking about his mistress or 'whore' Bianca, tricking Othello into thinking they are talking about Desdemona.

The plan works, as Iago and Cassio have a jolly discussion about Cassio's mistress and their exploits with one another, and sure enough, Othello thinks they are talking about Desdemona. Bianca then enters with the handkerchief and accuses Cassio of giving her a love-token given him by another woman. Bianca and Cassio both leave, and Othello, who recognizes the handkerchief, is thoroughly convinced, wanting both Cassio and his wife dead.

Iago convinces Othello to strangle Desdemona in her bed and promises to arrange the death of Cassio. Later on, Iago is brought in by Desdemona and Emilia, with Desdemona lamenting the change in her husband, and tells Iago that she has been accused of infidelity. Iago, again pretending to be an honest man, acts shocked and tells her that as Othello's closest friend he will do what he can to figure out what has gotten into him.

Once Desdemona and Emilia exit, however, Iago is confronted by Roderigo, who lambastes Iago for not only taking all his money but also getting him no closer to Desdemona. Iago uses flattery and his keen manipulation skills to convince Roderigo to give him one more chance, where they plot to kill Cassio.

That night, Iago sends Roderigo to kill Cassio in an ambush attack. Cassio however, manages to escape with his life, albeit a severely wounded leg. Whilst everyone is in commotion with what has happened to Cassio, Iago kills Roderigo to stop him from talking. At the same moment, in the final scene of the play, Othello smothers Desdemona to death. Emilia arrives on the scene and finds her lady murdered. Othello confesses to the murder and explains that she was unfaithful and that Iago knew of it all.

Iago arrives with Montano and Gratiano, Desdemona's Uncle. Emilia interrogates Iago, who eventually reveals he did tell Othello that Desdemona cheated.

Realizing his evil plot, Emilia reveals to everyone, despite threats from Iago, that she gave the handkerchief to her husband, after which Iago kills her and runs off, only to be captured and brought back by Cassio and his allies. When villains are emotionally sympathetic, we even like to cheer for them at least a little bit; however, appreciating them as characters is not the same thing as wanting them to win entirely. By the end of the book, movie, or episode we want, even demand the resolution that allows the villain to be brought to justice.

In those rare instances where the villain gets away, it is only because at some later date the villain will return and have to face justice then. Rereading the story of Jason and Medea got me thinking about how she got away in the end.

She got away. She never faced justice. Okay, some may say that what she did actually balanced justice. What about a villain who was not wronged first? A master manipulator, Iago orchestrates first the demotion of Cassio with a drunken brawl, and then convinces Othello that his wife Desdemona has been having a secret tryst with Cassio.

He is willing to take revenge on anyone—Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, Roderigo, even Emilia—at the slightest provocation and enjoys the pain and damage he causes.

He seems almost to wink at the audience as he revels in his own skill. He certainly seems to take great pleasure in preventing Othello from enjoying marital happiness, and he expresses his love for Othello frequently and effusively. Ace your assignments with our guide to Othello! SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook.