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Iago - Machiavellian Villian

            Iago, a character from Shakespeare's Othello, reflects Machiavelli's "the end justifies the means" (The Prince). Within the play Iago is no ordinary villain but a Machiavellian villain. The difference between the two would be Iago does anything needed to accomplish his goal.
             The great difference of a Machiavellian villain compared to an ordinary is the fact the villain will accomplish the task by any means. Regardless the morality the villain will use any means as long as the goal is achieved. An ordinary villain within most stories may have some kind of evil plot to accomplish; ways of the tasks within the plot to be accomplished are straight forward and planned. Most likely if a plan goes a story it is abandoned for its failure. .
             Iago supports Machiavelli's statement "the end justifies the means" with his actions within Shakespeare's Othello. Iago accomplished his goal through a thought out plan in which he did anything necessary; even murder. The motive for Iago comes from the character Othello giving a job position to a man named Cassio. Iago believed he deserved the position from experience and seniority. This infuriated Iago; he devised a plan to ruin the lives of both Othello.
             Iago starts his plan out with gaining Roberigo as a henchman, Roberigo is in love with Othello's wife Desdemona and Iago uses this to his advantage. Iago plans on ruining Cassio's public reputation and position under Othello. As the plan goes into action Cassio injures a man due to instigations from Roberigo. The man injured was Montano, Iago spewed lies into his ears to leave an impression of Cassio as a drunk and a good man blind from the liquor- One thing Iago was defiantly good at was word of mouth. Iago lied to and about everyone to turn everyone in the play against each other- After the incident Othello stripped Cassio of his position and Cassio's reputation was ruined. Iago accomplished one half of is plot.


Essays Related to Iago - Machiavellian Villian

1. Othello's Iago

Iago When Shakespeare attempted to create the ultimate villain (and I must say he was stunningly successful), Iago was the result. ... This near-soliloquy shows us some of the thinking behind Iago's Machiavellian actions. 320 Virtue! ... This view on life has many hidden insights into the character of Iago. ... These quotes also show what a highly motivated person Iago is. ... When looking at the character of Iago, always look for connotations, and hidden meanings in the words he chooses (manured with industry ln 323), and dig deeper to acquire the true picture of Iago, and...

  • Word Count: 954
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Iago/Claudius

Both major characters in their respective plays, Claudius and Iago are driven by immoral ambitions. ... I hate the Moor The main difference between Claudius and Iago, which makes Iago far more evil than Claudius, is simply Claudius's guilt. ... As Charles Norton Coe says in Demi-Devils: The Characters of Shakespeare's Villians, 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. ... In this way he is seen as a less malevolent character than Iago. ... Iago uses Othello's ...

  • Word Count: 1814
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Iago- The Ultimate Villian

Iago is a very manipulative person. ... Iago is a very smart, yet amoral man. ... Iago also plays Roderigo. ... Cassio follows Iago thinking that Iago is trying to help him. ... Othello doesn't kill Iago because he says Iago is a devil. ...

  • Word Count: 520
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Lago`s animal imagery

These references are predominantly made by Iago. ... Iago's use of language is a primary weapon in manipulating Othello. By "pour[ing] this pestilence into his ear", Iago contaminates his thoughts. ... In a soliloquy at the conclusion of Act One, Iago says "It is engendered. ... Iago, who is Machiavellian in nature and revels in tormenting others, can be perceived as the devil personified. ...

  • Word Count: 660
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. Iago's vision of the world

He reveals himself to us, the audience, in Act1,Scene3; here he impresses upon Roderigo an eloquently worded speech unveiling his true feelings about love, life and Othello and we are given but a glimpse of the thinking behind the Machiavellian actions: "Virtue? ... From the outset, Iago sets up his plan and motivations. ... 'I Shall ensnare them all', Iago says. ... So successful was Iago's scheme that Othello can only think that Iago must have been a devil. ... Iago is very per...

  • Word Count: 2496
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Is "Beware my Lord...

This leads him to believe Iago and to follow his plans, whereas at the end he fails attacking Cassio and killed by his most trustful friend - Iago. ... The image of jealousy absolutely controls him and makes him to eat Iago's words, to believe his lies and to destroy his own future and happiness. Iago as the major villain in the whole play doesn't seem to be effected, but is also directly effected by jealousy. ... In order to get his position, he has to be Machiavellian, to be cruel, cunning and deceitful, to plot all the steps to trap his figures and Othello the most. ... If ...

  • Word Count: 925
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Iago

Iago plans to ruin Othello, in doing so, make Iago the only person that Othello believes and trusts, and Iago will use this trust to manipulate Othello. ... In other words, Iago's only reason for destroying Othello is that Iago is an inherently bad person. ... Iago's first dialog with Roderigo serves as an introduction to Iago's plan. ... Iago feels that Roderigo is a foolish man who exists only for Iago's use or "sport." ... Iago has no reason to hate Othello, but because he is an evil person Iago wants to ruin Othello's life. ...

  • Word Count: 2349
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Iago

Iago is one of Shakespeare's most complex and heinous villains. Iago is not your ordinary villain. ... Iago is ingenious. ... Iago is an expert judge of people and their characters. ... When Roderigo discovers that Iago has been hoarding his money he screams at Iago and threatens him. ...

  • Word Count: 723
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

9. iago

Through carefully thought out words and actions Iago manipulates others to his benefit. ... Experiencing not even an iota of empathy or guilt Iago becomes the perfect villain, for it is the feeling for another that leads one to experience guilt and Iago feels for no one. Manipulation of others is not questioned by Iago to be right or wrong. To Iago love is merely "a lust of the blood and a permission of the will" and self-love, the mother of all vices, is the only love that Iago respects. ... The inability to posses a conscience aids Iago in his malevolent schemes. ...

  • Word Count: 781
  • Approx Pages: 3

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