Essay - Iago in Othello Othello is One of the Most Important...

Iago in Othello

Othello is one of the most important and popular Shakespeare tragedies where ***** playwright highlights the maliciousness of human nature and the way it can destroy some na ve souls. Iago is the villa***** in this play who is presented as an epitome of deceit ***** malice. However th***** h***** been d***** while keep*****g ***** character wrapped in ********** clouds of honesty and truthfulness. This is a str*****nge paradox as the on ***** surface we are repeatedly told that ***** is an honest man ***** he also considers himself to be so, ***** beneath all th***** fake *****y, he is al*****s trying to stab ********** in t***** back.

Because ***** his craf*****y nature, this character ***** *****o be considered a true Machiavellian figure. Close reading of Machiavelli's work reveals certain link between Iago and Machiavellian prince. Yet despite ***** his slyness, the character repeatedly claims to be an honest person (Cassal, 2003). This facade of *****y allows him to perform his essential tasks of manipulation and revenge.

Iago is a good example of how self*****hness can sometimes lead ***** success and how one must use his evil powers of ***** ***** ruthlessness to destroy the life of their enemies. Iago is thus a true ***** *****- who does everything ***** Machiavelli thought a ruler should do to overcome his ***** ********** achieve ***** goals. A *****an figure is defined in Webster's Third International Dictionary as "1. of or relating ***** Machiavelli or his political theory (as the doctrine that any means however lawless or unscrupulous may be justifiably employed by a ruler in order to est*****blish and ma*****tain a strong centr*****l government. 2: resembling or suggesting ***** principles ***** conduct laid down by Machiavelli: ********** ***** political cunning, duplicity, or bad faith." We notice that Iago did possess all these characteristics. Many critics believe that Iago was created in the light of Machiavelli's model of a ruler. *****s Auden writes, "To his first audience and even, maybe, ***** his creator, Iago appeared to be just another Machiavellian villa***** ***** might exist in real life but with whom ***** would never dream of identifying oneself."

***** possesses the genius of ***** prince. He is ruthless ***** cares about no one but h***** own goals and ambitions. Secondly just like the prince, he is least concerned about morality or ethical aspects of his actions. He simply believes in winning by hook ***** by crook and that is exactly what Machiavelli wanted h***** prince ***** do. Iago is aware of the ********** ***** his intentions as he says, "To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,/Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!/When devils will the blackest sins put on,/They ***** suggest at ***** with heavenly shows,/As I do now:" (Act *****, Scene 3)

For some odd reason, he hates Othello who thinks ***** him as an h*****st friend ***** his hatred for the protagonist results in an absolute tragedy where numerous lives are destroyed *****d reputations tarnished. For those who have