In Shakespeare's play Othello, the main antagonist is the character of Iago
He is the husband of Emilia, an attendant to Othello's wife Desdemona. He is driven by envy and enjoys manipulating others. But, despite his machiavellian nature, his love for Desdemona is too strong to resist.
Iago is a Machiavellian schemer
In the play Othello, the character Iago embodies the idea that "the ends justify the means." He is a manipulator and corrupter who believes in getting what you want at any cost. This trait is akin to that of Machiavelli, a Renaissance philosopher who wrote "The Prince."
He manipulates his victims by convincing them that they are his friends. He does this in many ways, including by making his victims think that he's their best friend. For example, he makes Cassio and Roderigo believe that he's their best friend, but in reality he's their worst enemy. Ultimately, Iago is revenge-minded and convinces Othello of disloyalty.
Iago is an evil character
He will ruin anyone for a slight advantage. He targets even his closest friends with his evil intentions.
He is driven by envy
The words and actions of Iago reflect his wounded ego. He sees professional relationships as commercial transactions and feels entitled to a particular position. In a sense, he believes he is entitled to the position of Lieutenant. His words and actions in the play indicate that his jealousy is a driving force. His jealousy spreads to Othello.
Envy is the driving force behind Iago's manipulation of Cassio and Othello. He manipulates them into thinking that the lovers are cheating on them. As a result, Othello becomes furious with Cassio.
Iago enjoys manipulating others
Iago is a sociopath, unremorseful, and prone to manipulation. His behavior initially begins with simple manipulation, but soon escalates to more violent criminal activities. His motivations may be driven by a sense of intellectual superiority, or he may simply enjoy the feeling of power and control over others.
Iago's manipulative nature is exemplified in his manipulation of Cassio. He uses Cassio's low tolerance for alcohol to plant the idea of a supplicant for Desdemona. Eventually, this leads to the fight between Cassio and Montano and ultimately to Cassio's removal as lieutenant.
Iago enjoys deceiving others by presenting a deceptive facade and exploiting their insecurities. His manipulations affect other characters, including Cassio and Othello. Iago also manipulates Roderigo with his foolishness and passion for Desdemona.
He is in love with Desdemona
Desdemona has been enamored with Iago for a long time. This intense love is evident in her actions and behavior. The playwright is careful to describe this relationship in as realistic a way as possible. Desdemona is not blind to Iago's intentions. She is adamant about the respect she shows her husband, whereas Iago is scheming to win her love.
Iago's love for Desdemona is not based on their physical attraction. It is based on a deeply-rooted psychological relationship between the two characters. Desdemona's jealousy of her father's love makes Iago jealous. During the play, Iago speaks about Desdemona in a negative way, and Othello is suspicious of this relationship.
He is a vice figure
Shakespeare's Iago is a vice figure in the sense that his actions prey on human emotions. The character has been the subject of psychological analysis. Geoffrey Wilson Knight describes him as "the spirit of creation and negation." In other words, Iago is a man who preys on human emotions.
The vice figure is a common theme in Shakespeare. Shakespeare's Iago plays up the more villainous aspects of vice, while Sir John Falstaff plays up the comical aspects of vice in Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2. A vice figure is a character who plays upon human weaknesses.
Iago's actions in Othello demonstrate that he is a vice figure. In the play, Iago spends most of his time plotting against Othello. He deceives Othello into believing that Desdemona has cheated on him. He also convinces Roderigo to murder Cassio. In addition, Iago perceives Emilia as an obstacle to his plans, and kills her. This behavior is an example of Iago's nastiness.
