Essay On Iago's Character In Othello

Throughout literature, authors manipulate their characters in certain manners to help the audience discover their identities and their personalities. One way that Shakespeare presents Iago’s character in Othello is through Iago’s sacrifices throughout the play. Shakespeare communicates Iago’s pure craving of revenge through what Iago is willing to give up. Iago is willing to sacrifice all the honor that is and could ever be associated with his name for the simple idea of Othello’s downfall. As the play progresses, Iago continues to be possessed by a wild desire to ruin Othello, and as he continues to act upon this possession, he finds himself enwrapped in complex and ever changing lies. At the end of the play when Iago is finally caught, while Othello and Desdemona are ruined, so is Iago. Iago sacrificed his name and everything he believed in to see the end come for Othello. Similar to his name, Iago throws his wife Emilia away in order to work towards his plot. Iago’s ease with betraying his wife and sacrificing her love proves just how little he respects and views his wife. In regards to Othello, Iago is extremely contrasting to him. Othello, being the hero in this story, …show more content…
As the play develops, the audience gets to see how and what Iago prioritizes in his life. While it is the norm, most people who feel the need to make important sacrifices make them because there is someone in need of the sacrifice for a certain reason. However, Iago is the exact opposite in that he is not sacrificing for the greater good, but rather for himself. Iago makes sacrifices to fuel his vices rather than for his virtue. Greed, envy, and pride are all vices that control Iago and motivate him to act the way he does. Iago is envious of Cassio because Othello gave the promotion to him rather than Iago. Despite the costs, Iago is driven to leave valuable items in his life behind in order to pursue and execute his