JONANTHAN+GARCIA

 JONATHAN GARCIA ENGLISH PERIOD 2 FINAL  __IAGO’S WAY OR NO WAY__   In Othello there are many mysterious characters within the play. Iago plays a major part in Othello. His character is conniving and sneaky. Throughout the entire play Othello had power over Iago. This probably played a huge impact on Iago’s way of going about different things. Iago was so angry and always did something out of the ordinary. Most of the things he does are not good for anyone. Iago is mainly a negative person who wants evil in almost every single situation and manipulates everyone. Right in the beginning of the play Iago says, “I am one, sir that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are (now) making the beast with two backs.”[Shakespeare Othello 11] this may show how he loves to tell horrible news. He could have said it in a calm and understanding way that wouldn’t make Barbantio daughter look so bad. This is in the very beginning showing us readers who Iago really is. He probably feels really good about himself because he is the one giving the bad news waiting to see the reaction of Barbantio. Also Roderigo was in the mist of telling Barbantio but Iago just jumped right in and said in a way that sounded like he was trying to hurt Barbantio and make his daughter look bad. As the play moves along Iago says “…Make after him, poison his delight, Proclaim him in the streets…though he in a fertile climate dwell, Plague him with flies.”[11] Iago is trying to torture Othello. He wants to torment him and embarrass him. When we read this in class I wondered what was going through Iago’s head. You would think that he would worship Othello but he is jealous of him. “I’ll send her to you presently, and I’ll devise a mean to draw the Moor Out of the way, that your converse and business May be more free.”[113] Iago said to Cassio because he wanted to speak with Desdemona behind Othello’s back. This shows how Iago is conniving and doesn’t respect anyone. Later on Othello asks if he saw Cassio with his wife and Iago said “Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it that he would steal away so guilty-like Seeing you coming.”[119] he lied to Othello knowing that was him. He acts like he likes him but really doesn’t. Also showing the fact that he is not satisfied with himself. Iago is depressed inside and doesn’t know how to act.  Later on iago was speaking with Othello. They were talking about Cassio and if he knew Othello before and if he was an honest man. Othello had said, “ Indeed? Ay, indeed! Discern’st thou aught that? Is he not honest?” Iago responded saying, “Honest, my lord?”[3.2] This was really eye opening because he was mainly trying to tell Othello Othello’s character is somewhat of the highest of them all. Respected by everyone he is actually the outsider of them all. He is named “Moor” through-out the entire play because is African American. Othello’s achievement continuously bothers iago that he manipulates his relationship with Desdemona. Being that he is an outsider could be the cause of the hatred that iago shows him under the radar. Iago shows one side of himself by “respecting” him but behind his back he is doing horrible things. Iago even turned Othello into a jealous husband.  Iagos character is somewhat trapped inside a life that he can’t jump-out of. I believe deep down he wants to ruin everyone else’s lives because he is not yet satisfied with his own. Being the fact that Othello has way more power than him he wants to try and make someone else’s life miserable. Throughout the play Iago possibly gets worse and doesn’t know how to handle when Othello passes over a promotion to Cassio. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Cassio is a young lieutenant who is under Othello. He is the only young man who is not experienced in battle. Cassio looks up to Othello and respects him very much. Within the play there is a fight that breaks out that causes Cassio to lose his place as lieutenant. With all of this being said Iago obviously takes Cassio and begins to use him to go against Othello and make Othello’s and Desdemona’s relationship in jeopardy. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Then Iago went after him and they were talking. Iago told him “Or to be naked with her friend in bed An hour or more, not meaning any harm?”[32] Iago had horrible intensions to make it seem like Desdemona is not faithful. Iago is such a disgusting person to even mess around with someone’s Relationship. I think the promotion that has been passed on to Cassio is what’s driving him to end Othello’s relationship. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Here, stand behind this bulk, straight will he come. Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home. Quick, quick! Fear nothing. I’ll be at thy elbow. It makes us, or it mars us. Think on that, And fix most firm thy resolution.” Iago is convincing Roderigo to kill Cassio by stabbing him severely quick and fast. This is just ridiculous to see how low Iago can get. Wishing someone to die and helping someone do it is not something someone should do. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">While this is going on Iago is saying to himself “If Cassio do remain <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">He hath a daily beauty in his life <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">That makes me ugly. And besides, the Moor <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">May unfold me to him—there stand I in much peril. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">No, he must die.” Iago is showing his selfishness while telling himself that if Cassio stays alive he will remain a threat to him because he looks much better than Iago. And the simple fact that if he does remain alive, he may go to Othello [Moor] and confess to him about Iago’s lies. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> To get even worse Iago soon killed his own wife when things began to crumble. Emilia came in and was speaking with Othello telling him the story about the handkerchief and how she found it. It had nothing to do with Cassio sleeping with Desdemona and it was just a big misunderstanding. Othello was not easily convinced until I suppose Iago drew his sword and started to see that Iago was going to killed Emilia [Iago’s wife]. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Othello said “Are there no stones in heaven But what serve for the thunder?—Precious villain! //He runs at **IAGOIAGO** stabs **EMILIA”**// [122] this is right when Iago stabs his wife and runs out to exit. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> In conclusion Iago is just a horrible self centered person who really only thinks of himself and tries to manipulate anyone he knows just to make their lives that much more badly. He is so low that maybe he still doesn’t know him. I personally believe he would need some counseling because he is just filled with hatred and is cursed from head to toe. He was the villain of the play and was a dangerous man.