Iago's manipulation and villainy in Shakespeare's Othello

Iago: Villainous Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Many individuals are remembered for their greatness but few are remembered for how great they were at being villainous. One individual that was undoubtedly great in his endeavors into villainy is Iago, from William Shakespeare's play, Othello. Without Iago, the play has no reason to exist because Iago drives the action of the plot. Iago is perhaps the most evil character Shakespeare created, bringing attention to the fact that jealousy and revenge are most unattractive no matter century one lives. Iago's point in the play is to drive Othello into a jealous rage because he (Iago) was not promoted to lieutenant. He does this through purely selfish reasons, careful manipulation, and complete abandon for anyone's feelings.

Iago is evil because he has no substantial reason to feel the way he does. The fact that Cassio was promoted rather than him seems insignificant but Iago chooses to focus on that and ruin Othello because of it. Iago already admits that he is not a good person at heart and he does not feel compelled to change. He tells Roderigo that some people might wear their hearts on their sleeves but he will not. He confesses to Roderigo:

Others there are Who, trimmed in form and visages of duty,

Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves,

And, throwing but shows of services on their lords,

Do well thrive by them, and when they have lined their coats,

Do themselves homage...

As such I do profess myself. (Shakespeare I.i.46-53)

Iago understands why some individuals serve their master well and with a good heart but he thinks they are fools and he does not want any part of that kind of relationship with Othello. He has no respect for individuals that try to earn a good living and her certainly has not respect for Othello. In fact, he thinks Othello us a:

Moor is of a free and open nature,

That thinks men honest that but seem to be so and will as tenderly be led by th' nose

All guiltless, met reproach. (IV.i.45-7)

Here Iago gives new meaning to the phrase pleasure in pain. He feels no guilt for causing these fools to feel whatever it is they are feeling and calls his tiresome meddling medicine that would be described as a poison. Either way, Iago finds no fault in his actions and wrecking lives. This passage, more than any other, reveals the depth of Iago's sickness. While many would argue that he is simply an evil man, he is also a sick man in that he does not aim for anything good or positive because even if he does succeed in destroying Othello's life, his life has not profited. He is under the mistaken belief that hurting someone else actually improves one's own lot in life and nothing could be further from the truth. In his mind, the image of a wrecked Othello brings him pleasure but it is fleeting and unsubstantial. He cannot know this because he, too, is blinded. Iago is as sick with his need for revenge as Othello is with jealousy and, as we know, all of these emotions run amuck lead to disaster.

If ever a villain were to win Lifetime Achievement Award for villainous behavior, it would be Iago from Shakespeare's Othello. He is the most dangerous of villains because he is smart and he knows how to manipulate people. By exploiting weaknesses in the personalities of those around him, he is the grand player successfully moving the pieces on the game board into strategic positions until they devour one another. He never falters and he never once thinks that he cannot do it. He is dangerous because he knows he is dangerous and lives to see that danger played out. His confidence and intelligence trump the goodness of Othello, Desdemona, and everyone else and he knows this as well. Iago is the Villain Laureate of English literature remembered for successfully creating a mess out of everyone's life without getting his hands the least bit dirty.