Othello

People can be distinguished in many different ways; race, gender, or personality, but the most important of these differences is intelligence and how a person uses it. The way people use this gift of intelligence makes their lives or destroys them forever. In the tragic play Othello, Iago uses, or rather misuses the people, language and events around him by intellectually manipulating them. He is a very keen and smart character but rather than using it to earn his way to the top, he uses his intelligence to cheat, deceive, and destroy people while stepping over them to move up the social ladder.

From the start of the play, Iago is seen with Rodriego, sympathizing with him, showing him loyalty, and reassuring him that he is Rodriego’s friend and Othello’s enemy. He becomes close with Rodriego, making him believe that he wants the best for him. He uses Rodriego to plant the seed of hatred in Barbantio’s heart for Othello. Iago persuades Rodriego to tell Desdemona’s father about her and he says to Rodriego, “Call up her father; Rouse him, make after him, poison his delight, Proclaim him in the streets, incense her kinsmen,…” Then again, he uses Rodriego to start the fight with Cassio that leads to Cassio’s decline in Othello’s eyes. He tells Rodriego, “I’ll not be far from you: do you find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from what other course you may please, which the time shall more favourably minister…Sir, he is rash and very sudden in choler, and haply may strike at you: provoke him, that he may;” While Rodriego carries out Iago’s commands, Iago reassures him that these are the appropriate steps towards winning Desdemona from Othello. Iago convinces Rodriego that Cassio’s death would open roads towards Desdemona, but in carrying out this mission Rodriego dies by Cassio’s hands while Iago runs away to prevent anyone from holding him responsible for all of these events. He plays with the emotions and love that Rodriego felt for Desdemona and uses it to manipulate Rodriego, leading him to his own death.

Iago is able to manipulate not one but multiple characters, as well as language and events that are connected to these characters, to achieve the results he wanted. He manipulates Othello by becoming close to him and earning his trust in all matters. He changes Othello’s opinion about Cassio, his friend and former lieutenant. He manipulates events, such as Cassio’s request for Desdemona to plead for him, his flight due to shame when Othello arrives, or Desdemona’s repeated appeal for Cassio’s return, and makes Othello believe that Cassio and Desdemona are involved in an affair. He takes Cassio’s words about his mistress, Bianca, and portrays them as the sexual activities that Cassio supposedly enjoyed with Desdemona. Iago steals Desdemona’s handkerchief, plants it in Cassio’s house, and infuriates Othello by telling him that Desdemona had given Othello’s first gift of love, the handkerchief,