Iago/Claudius

First of all, when reading Hamlet and Othello, Iago and Claudius are both portrayed as clever and conniving when speaking a soliloquy or otherwise thinking to themselves, but give off an amicable impression to the other characters around them. For example, in Othello, after convincing Roderigo that everything will work out and promising to help him win over Desdemona, Iago delivers his first soliloquy saying

Thus do I ever make my fool my purse;

For I mine own gained knowledge should profane

It is the measure of his uncle's success that Hamlet, the only person to react normally to an abnormal situation, is himself made to seem abnormal.

That never set a squadron in the field,

I like him not, nor stands it safe with us

Another common aspect of Iago’s and Claudius’s villainous character is their use of women to further their own goals. It is unclear how much Claudius is driven by lust for Gertrude, but marrying her was definitely a strategic move, and part of his master plan to keep the thrown away from Hamlet. By doing this, he is using Gertrude to advance his scheme, convincing her that her son is insane and must be sent away. Iago, a character who does not seem to plan out his every move, also makes women mere pawns in his game. The woman whose innocence and naivety he exploits the most is Desdemona. Claiming to be driven by lust, as perhaps was Claudius, Iago says he lusts after Desdemona to get revenge for Othello’s infidelity with Emilia. As he says, it is "wife for wife.” This is not the main reason he harms Desdemona, although he enjoys the pain he causes to all those around him. Rather, he uses Desdemona’s sweetness to convince Othello that she is cheating on him with Cassio, whom Iago sent to speak to her. This meticulous orchestration of events proves that he is clearly aware of his villainous behavior and feels no regret for any of the losses suffered by the other characters under his influence.

Some topics in this essay:
Iago Claudius, Claudius Iago, Cassio Florentine, Shakespeare’s Villians, Iago’s Claudius’s, Rosencrantz Guildenstern, Phyllis Rackin, Iago Othello, Beneath Claudius’, Morris White, iago claudius, claudius iago, claudius driven, iago othello, insane sent, claudius able, brother’s throne, literature characters, michael cassio, driven lust,