Iago's Flaw of Security

According to the play Othello, Iago is a bright villain who deceives every single person he encounters. He has no sense of humanity, and he is skillful and eloquent enough to confuse everyone he knows. Being jealous of Michael Cassio, a lieutenant, Iago plans to wickedly destroy Cassio’s life because he wants to take Cassio’s position. He lies to Roderigo, a gullible nobleman, to get help with his plot and to get the money he needs. Iago is also very jealous that Othello could care for anyone more than him – either Cassio or Desdemona. Therefore, he is not only jealous of Cassio but he is also jealous of Desdemona. He wants to be the only person that Othello trusts and depends. To obtain his goal of winning Othello’s favor and the position of his lieutenant, he gets attention by lying about Desdemona to start chaos. With his fame for having an honest and trustful character, no one would think he possessed this corrupted moral behavior. He is confident that he can ruin all who stand in his way, and he plays on the weakness of everyone. He pretends to be honest to ensure his plan’s success as he says “I am not what I am” (1.1.67). However, he cannot play with people and their emotions and expect to succeed in deceiving all of them because he is human and therefore, not invincible. The fact that he believes that he is invincible is why his plan becomes flawed.

The first flaw or weakness in Iago’s plan is that he has to lie to too many people. Iago has to abuse everyone in order to carry out his plot. He confidently plans and plays his lies as if he is God. He intends to deceive Roderigo to get money: “Thus do I ever make fool my purse;/ For […] If I would time expend with such a snipe/ But for my sport and profit” (1.3.362-365). Then, to bring down Cassio, he devises a devilish plan: “With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio” (2.1.164-165). Also, he leads Othello to believe that Desdemona is cheating on him. Then, to get the handkerchief, he even lies to his wife, Emilia, and uses her as a tool. All of these deceptive actions show that, even though everyone thinks he’s an honest man, on the inside, he is a ruthless liar. As an honest man, he foils them by eloquence and his appearance as “Honest Iago” (5.2.76). He acts like he does not want to hurt or discredit anyone, but he makes them curious. Iago knows that his deceptive behavior can convince his victims. He may lie to everyone for a while, but he cannot hope for his lies to be believed forever because lying too much will eventually make everyone become suspicious of him.

Secondly, Iago makes his jealousy in his plan too obvious. He tries to accuse Desdemona and Cassio too much. He pretends to inform his loyalty to the Moor: “I am your own for ever” (3.3.495). Always, he says he loves and cares for Othello. Unfortunately, he never gets a notice from Othello. He is passed over by Othello in choosing a lieutenant, and Cassio receives this position. He is jealous of this promotion because he believes that he deserves to get this position: “I know my price, I am worth no worse a place” (1.1.12). Also, he wants to pass on his pain to Othello. Starting the devilish plan with jealousy, he convinces the Moor to believe that Desdemona spends her time in bed with Cassio. In the same way, Iago is envious of Desdemona. She can capture Othello’s love, but Iago receives nothing from the Moor. He sets a wicked plan up to dupe the Moor by telling lies about what he supposedly heard Cassio say when he was asleep: “In sleep I heard him [Cassio] say �Sweet Desdemona,/ Let us be wary, let us hide our loves.’” (3.3.434-435). Furthermore, he tells Emilia to steal the handkerchief, which Othello gave to Desdemona: “I have use for it. Go, leave me./ I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin” (3.3.336-337). In addition, Iago uses Brabantio’s words to plant doubt about her honesty in Othello’s mind

She that, so young, could give out such a seeming,

To seel her father’s eye up close as oak,

He thought �twas witchcraft! But I am much to blame.

I humbly do beseech you of your pardon

For too much loving you. (3.3.223-227)

Moreover, Iago rearranges a conversation with Cassio to trick Othello: “As