William Shakespeare's Othello is one of the four great tragedies written during Shakespeare's time. "Othello is concentrated upon one evil, the action concerns jealousy."(Bevington xx) Iago the villain in Othello is the most brutal and giftedly evil characters in all of Shakespeare's writings. Iago is a principal deceiver, and all the other characters in the play are is victims, he deceives, manipulates them and uses them to accomplish his own ends. Othello, Roderigo, Cassio, and Desdemona are all victims of Iago's deception. .
Roderigo is constanly deceived by Iago. Since Iago has a grudge against him, he decided to work against him and bring about his ruin, which he accomplishes through deception. Iago takes revenge on Cassio because he is jealous of the fact that Cassio was given the position of lieutenant, and he felt that it should have been him. So he tarnishes Cassio's reputation by creating a doubt in Othello's mind that his wife Desdemona and Cassio are lovers.
Of all the characters in the play, Othello is the most deceived by Iago Because Iago wants revenge on Othello for ignoring him for a promotion. He feels disturbed because his superiority is overlooked and the position of lieutenant is given to Cassio, he also believes that Othello is sleeping with his wife Emilia. "I hate the Moor,/ And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets/ He's done my office".(II, 387-389) So he sets out to destroy Othello. He manipulates Othello into believing that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio.
Desdemona pleads for Cassio at Iago's proposal Othello's jealousy is further ignited. Iago deceives Othello by offering the "planted" handkerchief as a proof of Desdemona's infidelity. Othello's deceit is so thorough that he easily succumbs to Iago's suggestion that Desdemona must be killed for her infidelity.
Othello is easily susceptible to sexual jealousy, which is ignited by Iago.
