Darkest Sins and Heavenly Shows: the Nature of Iago’s Villainy in Shakespear’s Hamlet

William Shakespeares Othello is a classic work of tragedy named after its protagonist. It is a compelling piece of literature due to the intentions and subsequent actions of not the awful Moor but of his ensign or ancient. The oddball of Iago is responsible for the meshing within the story. He is villain who manipulates the other percentages by assessing and exploiting their weaknesses with complete neglect of conscience, and he put to deathes this trickery by employing clever use of language.His methods consist of good-natured advantage of Roderigos feelings towards Desdemona Othellos write outr and using the combine that Cassio and Othello select for him against them, and he does it to great effect. As previously stated, Othello is not the nevertheless character in this play with feelings for Desdemona. Roderigo is a Venetian gentleman who has long pined for her affections, veritable(a) going as far to pay Iago to assist him in winning her heart. Unfortunately for Ro derigo, Iago does not have his best interests in mind, stating Thus do I ever make my fool my purse.For I mine ingest gained knowledge should profane if I would time expend with such a snipe but for my sport and profit (1. 3. 382-385). Based on this admission, champion must concede that Iago is aiding Roderigo purely to satisfy his suffer desires. Another let out of Iagos manipulative villainy tin can be found in Act 2 when he makes Roderigo believe that Cassio would be next in line to win Desdemonas love if her and Othello were no longer marry as he witnessed the two holding each others hand (2. 1. 251-252).He goes on to suggest that Roderigo provoke Cassio in some focusing (2. 1. 264-268) which results in Cassios loss of rank and ultimate disgrace. In essence, this blasted act stems from Iagos jealousy toward Cassio. In fact, it could be argued that Iago hates Cassio almost as much as he hates Othello for passing on him and promoting Cassio to the rank of lieutenant (1. 1 . 7-32). Cassio trusts Iago, and the scoundrel uses that trust and his reputation as an honest man to movement the good lieutenant to fall from grace.For instance, Iago pressures Cassio to have another drink spell socializing with the other officers, which puts him in a vulnerable state(2. 3. 26-29). A crew of Roderigos provocation and Cassios uncharacteristic ill temperament leads to the disaster which results in the lieutenants embarrassment and loss of title. Putting his trust in Iago once again, he accepts the mischief-makers advice to speak with Desdemona, hoping that she can sway Othello to change his mind.This, of course, is part of Iagos plan to make it attend that the two are having an affair. In a famous line from the text, Iago whispers to the interview when devils will the blackest sins put on they do suggest with heavenly shows as I do now (2. 3. 346-348). In doing so, he plans to pour pestilence into his ear (2. 3. 351). This course of action causes Othello to f urther incertitude not only Cassio but Desdemona as well, helping Iago achieve his principal goal of destroying Othello by ruining his marriage and removing the influence of his true mavens.Lastly and most importantly, Othello is a character who pays more dearly for Iagos villainous deeds than any other. macrocosm a military man in a strange land, he often feels isolated and insecure, seeking the counsel of Iago, a fellow spend who he trusts above all others. Othello declares Iago to be very truthful, proverb O brave Iago, honest and just, thou has a noble sense of thy friends wrong (5. 1. 31-33). Meanwhile, Iago relishes the thought of manipulating his superior, declaring Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me for making him egregiously an ass (2. . 317-320). Iago then continues his plot by influencing Othello to doubt Desdemonas loyalty by making him believe that his race vie a part in her alleged infidelity. He does this by saying The did deceive her father, marryin g you, and when she seemed to shake and fear your looks she loved them most (3. 3. 207-209). His reference to her display case being begrimed and black as his own (3. 3. 390-391) suggest that he hates himself somewhat for being black. He also refers to their unnatural marriage as nature erring from itself (3. 3. 229).Iago then replies by saying that she refused other suitors of her own clime, complexion, and degree, which is a subtle implication that Othello is not on the comparable human level as the other Venetian men. This evidence makes the conjecture of Desdemonas infidelity more credible upon the discovery of the handkerchief the type of her fidelity or lack thereof in Othellos look which solidifies Othellos belief that his wife has been untrue. To conclude, the nature of Iagos villainy in Shakespeares Othello is that of pure manipulation, brought about by masterful use of wit, language, and heavenly shows.The most remarkable aspect of his villainy was that he was able to accomplish so much without physically having to do anything, using people as pawns to exact his sadistic revenge. He remains defiant until the very end, refusing to explicate himself, remarking Demand me nothing. What you know you know (5. 2. 300). Although the other characters, and the audience, are flabbergasted by such refusal, it seems like fitting conclusion for such a character, flirting with peoples minds and emotions even in the face of death.