Essay: Uncovering Iago’s Deceit: Examining How He Manipulates Othello in Shakespeare’s Tragedy

William Shakespeare is widely known for his literature, most of which depicts love. In his tragic narration, Othello, Shakespeare brings out love, blended with deceit and jealousy, leading to destruction. The title is drawn from the name of a Moorish general in the army of Venice. The story revolves around Othello, the general, hence the title. Among the characters is Iago, who is bitter for not being considered for the position of a lieutenant in the Venetian Army. Due to the bitterness, Iago is determined to bring Othello down. To achieve this, Iago tries hard to manipulate every other character in order to work together towards the downfall of Othello. This is done through pretending to be honest and trustworthy, which in the real sense he is not. This paper will try to assess how Iago manipulates and controls all the other characters so that he can gain his selfish interest.
Rodrigo is the first man to fall into Iago’s trick of manipulation. This character, Roderigo, had been working closely with Iago to get Cassio in love with Desdemona, Othello’s wife. He believes that Iago is honest and ready to help him. Iago is therefore already aware of the aspirations of Roderigo. Iago shows Roderigo that it is still possible to woo Desdemona. The two join hands to fight the common enemy, Othello, believing that when he is brought down, Rodrigo will be free to take Desdemona. Roderigo and Iago raise alarm that Desdemona was bewitched by Othello. Brabanzio, Desdemona’s father, acts fast to try getting his daughter back. Notably, when Brabanzio moves to face Othello, he is accompanied by Roderigo, but Iago is the mastermind of the plan. Iago pretends to be close to Othello and therefore he remains close to him, leaving Roderigo to appear to be the one on the protesting side. Eventually the plan fails.
Cassio, the lieutenant is also manipulated simply, but indirectly, by Iago. In Act 2, scene 3 Iago says “If I can fasten but one cup upon himWith that which he hath drunk tonight already,He’ll be as full of quarrel and offenseAs my young mistress’ dog”(lines 49-52).During a celebrations party, Iago orders Roderigo to give Cassio an extra glass of wine. This makes Cassio completely drunk and unable to control himself. When this happens, the same Iago sends Roderigo to start a confrontation with Cassio. The two finally start chasing up and down in the stage; and when the governor tries to stop the chase, Cassio stabs him. This is great misconduct especially for a lieutenant. What kind of a lieutenant can’t control himself? Roderigo is sent again by Iago to raise the alarm, which calls back Othello. Upon arrival Othello is angered by every detail that he gets from Iago, who pretentiously protects Cassio, and he demotes Cassio. In this case, Cassio, Roderigo and Othello, are all manipulated like puppets. In act 3, scene 3 a conversation between othello and Iago shows how Iago can manipulate othello.“ OTHELLO:What dost thou say?IAGO :Nothing, my lord; or if—I know not what.OTHELLO :Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?IAGO:Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it That he would steal away so guilty like, Seeing you coming.OTHELLO :I do believe ’twas he”(lines 37-44).It is a win for Iago.
While Cassio laments the loss of his reputation, Iago, pretending to be a friend, convinces him that he could still regain his position and respect. According to Iago, this could happen if Cassio went back to Othello through Desdemona. It is worth noting that this is another trick crafted by Iago. He would eventually accuse Cassio of being in love with Desdemona. Surely he does. He gets Othello to go out to the town with him, creating an ample atmosphere for Cassio and Desdemona to talk. Out of sympathy, Desdemona promises to help Cassio to get back to his position. On return, Othello finds Cassio leaving his house, where he had been meeting Desdemona as planned by Iago. At that point, Iago suggests that there is a love affair between Cassio and Desdemona, marking the manipulation of Othello. This infuriates Othello, but deep down Iago’s heart was joy. Othello believes that the love issue is real when Desdemona talks to him, requesting him to reinstate Cassio.
Iago plans to get Desdemona’s handkerchief through Emilia. He eventually succeeds and plants it, as evidence, at Cassio’s house. When Othello seeks evidence that his wife is unfaithful, the handkerchief becomes enough proof. At that level, it is beyond reasonable doubt that Cassio and Desdemona are in a love affair. Due to anger, Othello is inclined to staging a revenge on Cassio and Desdemona, a plan that Iago is ready to help as a ‘friend’. Iago plans a meeting between Othello and Cassio. In this meeting, Othello is to remain in a hideout and see how jovial Cassio would be, when Iago talks to him about Desdemona. The cunning Iago told a different story of Bianca, a prostitute, which gets Cassio laughing. Through that, Othello is convinced that there exists a love affair between Cassio and Desdemona.
Othello moves to kill Desdemona, and at the same time, Iago is supposed to kill Cassio. Iago, in a cunning way, convinces Roderigo to go and kill Cassio. This would allegedly prevent Othello from leaving. Unfortunately, instead of getting Cassio dead, Roderigo is wounded. The furious Iago wounds Cassio but does not kill him. He returns in a short while, and pretending to be helping Cassio, kills Roderigo, revealing his (Iago) dishonesty. Othello murders Desdemona in their bedchamber. Soon after the murder, Emilia reveals that Desdemona was faithful; the plan of getting her murdered was a selfish plot by Iago. Othello wounds Iago who does not die but instead kills Emilia. Upon realizing that he is liable for a trial, Othello stubs himself to death. He has been manipulated to the extent of hating himself too. At the end of it all, Iago is the one who is executed and Cassio becomes the general.
In conclusion, it is notable that Iago is a cunning character who masterminds a plan to pursue his desire. This character is careless and heartless in all his evil plans. However, he has a very easy way because he works with the desires and aspirations of the other characters, hence making them fall into the tricks with ease. He is therefore able to create distrust and infidelity, which are the main causes of confrontations. The greatest manipulation is when Iago jokes around with Othello, and eventually succeeds in convincing him that Desdemona, Othello’s wife, is unfaithful and she deserves death.