Iagos Own Selfish Desire example essay topic

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at; I am not what I am. (Weizner, p. 43) This sentence from Othello is necessary to reveal to the general audience the truth about Iago, one of the most interesting characters within the play. In this paper, we will analyze his character keeping that phrase in mind and elaborating on why it is necessary and how it functions within the conceptual framework of the play. Iago is a male officer that is under the rule of Othello.

Iago represents evil in all of its glory. He is a demented man with only the selfish goal of furthering himself and ruining others that get in between him and his goals. Iago is an officer under Othello. Othello is the leading character that has married the Senators daughter Desdemona without the permission of her father. The play begins with Iago telling his friend Roderigo about Othellos decision to make Cassio, a noble pretty boy officer who was born and bred for the aristocratic world his lieutenant.

Iago is upset and ready to exact his revenge for this slight. Not only does Iago feel wronged, he also does not believe in love of any sort. He is an outsider looking into a world that is controlled by passions and love. Certainly, a lot of people consider Iago to be quite different person than he actually is, and the phrase discussed above helps Shakespeare to illustrate the ambiguity and evil that resides within his character.

An example of Iagos inability to believe in love would be his referral to Othello and Desdemonas love as an animal act. He lowers their love to sex as a human function that stems from natures instincts. Iago refers to both Desdemona and Othello as animals: Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is t upping you white ewe. Arise, arise! (Weizner, p. 48) Iago is saying this to Brabantia, Desdemonas father. Iago has woken him up in the middle of the night to work his vulnerability for is daughter to benefit Iagos own selfish desire to gain revenge.

Iago confuses the issues of love and revenge throughout the play. He doesnt believe that man can love truly but he knows that man can desire and in the process of understanding the two he cannot separate them from one another. His evil tendencies prevail and work on his own insecurities of self-doubt. In Act one, Scene three he is speaking again with Roderigo when he states: I never found man betwixt a benefit and an injury, I never found man that knew how to love himself. Ere I would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon. (Weizner, p. 57) Certainly, when Iago first mentioned, I am not what I am, the phrase functioned as a preview for even more wild things to be said by him, as he was the most evil character in the play.

His disillusions continue along with his obsession and desire for evil. His inability to show love even for his wife is evident in Act three, Scene three when Iago states: Be not ac known ont. I have use for it. Go, leave me. (Weizner, p. 59) This scene is one of the first when Iago speaks to his wife.

She has stolen Desdemonas kerchief to give to her husband. She knows not what he wants to do with it. She asks him for his reason behind desiring the kerchief and is told not to worry and that it isnt her business. Iago has not one nice word to say to his faithful wife. She is naive and helps him to manipulate Othellos insecurities with the kerchief. His first lines of the play directed to his wife are questioning her.

He is questioning what she is doing and putting her down as a wife when all she wants is to please him by giving him the kerchief. Iagos inability to love or believe in love shows his evilness. Evil is the lack of love and the desire to prove others dont feel, believe or deserve love also. Iago is not given a promotion he desires; Iago is wracked with envy and schemes to steal the rank he feels he justly deserves. Iago kills, lies, and steals to earn that position.

Iago plots the destruction of Cassio using Roderigo idiocy and Othellos trusting nature. Not only is Iago the Antagonist but also he acts as a catalyst for the play. The sentence that describes him best of all is without a doubt his own sentence mentioned at the beginning of the paper, it is the most precise description of that particular Shakespeare's character.