Iago's Transformation

“I am not what i am” These are the words Iago tells us at the end of the first scene in the play Othello. This clues us into that he is the villain and not the hero that everyone thinks he is. In today’s society lying and deceiving people has almost become second nature for some people. These people, including Iago mask their true identity with kind actions. Iago has deceived the whole town, the king Othello, Desdemona, his own wife Emilia, Roderigo, and many others. Iago knows the weakness’ of each of these characters and how to play them against each other while remaining in the shadows like a puppeteer. The nature of Iago’s villainy changes with each person he manipulates.
First, Iago manipulates the innocent and gullible Roderigo. …show more content…
Cassio is a noble and trusting knight. All of the qualities that Othello thinks Iago has are the qualities Cassio possesses. Iago takes these qualities and acts upon them to allow Cassio to think that they are friends and that Iago is helping him with his relationship with Othello. Iago starts by pressuring Cassio to drink knowing that he can’t handle his liquor. As a result Cassio engages in a fight and Othello has no choice but to demote Cassio and give Iago his job. Now that Cassio’s reputation has been tarnished his will do anything to win Othello’s trust back. So Iago being the sly and deceiving person he is tells Cassio that the best way to earn his trust is to get his wife, Desdemona to help him. This only leads to more problems because of Iago’s plan with Othello which will be discussed later on. Cassio thinks Iago is just as trusting and loyal as he is so when he tells him to talk with Desdemona he does, not knowing that Iago only goes behind his back and starts a rumor that he is sleeping with her. Iago appeals to Cassio’s loyal and trusting nature to his face but as soon as he is alone he states “And what’s he then that says I play the villain? When this advice is free I give and honest, Probal to thinking and indeed the course, To win the Moor again?” Iago deliberately misleads Cassio so that he can use behavior to help Othello believe that he desires Desdemona. One could say that Iago is the devil in disguise, preying …show more content…
Othello relies on Iago for everything, when he can’t see something or needs to know something Othello immediately turns to Iago. Iago uses Othello’s insecurities to bring him down. One of Othello’s biggest insecurities is his race, he is a black man in a white community often referred to as “The Moor”. Othello not only is black but he is married to Desdemona who is substantially younger than he is. Their relationship can be described as “in a period when such a marriage would be rare and controversial” (Baker and Womack 1534). This significant difference in age between the two lovers plays in as another insecurity. Iago uses this age difference to instil jealousy in Othello and doubt in Desdemona’s ability to stay faithful to him. Iago does all of this by telling Othello, “As, to be bold with you, Not to affect many proposed matches Of her own clime, complexion, and degree, Whereto we see in all things nature tends.” Iago is telling Othello that Desdemona would like Othello more and stay faithful if he was of the same age, race, and class that she is. Iago also brings up the start of their relationship, “She did deceive her father, marrying you,/ And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks,/ She loved them most” If Desdemona can betray her own father then what would stop her from cheating on Othello with someone younger than Othello. All of this brings out the jealousy and dark side in Othello that allows him to kill Desdemona