Beginning Of Act 1 Iago example essay topic

Iago is the whole reason there is any conflict in Othello. If he never had entered the play Othello would have married Desdimonia and they would have lived happily ever after. Right from the beginning of the play to the very end he causes conflicts. He is directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of: Othello Desdimona, Emilia, Cassio, and Roderigo. Which happen to be all of the main characters.

I believe Shakespeare didn't just want Iago's character to be evil. I think he wanted him more to symbolize it. All of the problems he causes are through lies, treachery, manipulation, and a deep unknown hate. Some of his hate is fueled by jealousy and revenge. The ironic part is that he wants to be known as "honest Iago".

Every act contains an evil plot set up by Iago. They all play into his "grand scheme". In the very beginning of act 1 Iago displays his hatred for Othello. He is angry at him for making Cassio the lieutenant. Jealousy is his first motif. He than tells Roderigo (a former suitor of Desdimonia) that Othello and Desdimonia are getting married.

The two of them then go and tell Desdimonia's father, Brabantio that Othello and his daughter just got eloped. This infuriates Brabantio. Shakespeare does a very good job in showing what kind of person Iago is right from the beginning of the play. The reader begins to realize this before any of the characters in the play do. I believe he did this so the reader will begin to see how evil Iago is yet how unjustified his reasoning is. As soon as everyone arrives in Cypress Iago puts his plan in effect.

He gets Roderigo (his supposed "friend") to believe that Cassio and Desdimonia are in love. This is a very significant part in showing Iago's evil. He gets Roderigo who has wronged absolutely no one to develop a hatred for Cassio who just happens to be a victim of circumstance. Iago's sinister plan works too.

He gets Cassio drunk than has Roderigo provoke a fight. Soon after Cassio stabs a man named Montano. Othello comes out and dismisses Cassio from lieutenancy. Half of Iago's "grand scheme" has succeeded. However he still wants to be Lieutenant. He convinces Cassio to arrange a meeting to talk with Desdimonia About re-instating him as Lieutenant.

Little does Cassio know why Iago really wants him to meet with Desdimonia. At the end of this act Cassio says: "I never knew a Florentine more kind and honest". Shakespeare wrote that line to show how innocent Cassio was and how evil Iago was. Othello sees Cassio talk with Desdimonia and Iago comments on how that is suspicious. He than tells Othello not to feel jealous (which is the exact opposite of what he really wants him to feel).

Desdimonia also drops a special kerchief given to her by Othello. Othello then confronts Iago because he believes that Iago knows more about Cassio and Desdimonia's relationship. He threatens Iago with is life. Quickly Iago comes up with a story about how he heard Cassio talk in his sleep and wipe his beard with the special kerchief. Othello then vows to kill Desdimonia. Iago vows to kill Cassio, he is than appointed Lieutenant.