In Othello, by William Shakespeare, Iago is hateful, logical and insecure. He is also manipulative, deceptive, and two-faced. These traits are exemplified in the text, especially, in his soliloquies. Soliloquies are the character’s inner thoughts and they reveal the truth because the character has no need to deceive himself. Iago’s characteristics are intriguing and allow him to be the perfect villain.
Iago’s first and second soliloquy highlights his hatred, logic and insecurity. Right out of the gate Iago says “I hate the Moor…”(Act 1 scene 3 line 429). This statement shows that he hates Othello. But, he also hates Cassio. He hates Cassio because of his attractiveness and his supposed actions. Iago …show more content…
In there he says “The moor is of free and open nature. That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, And will as tenderly be led by th’ nose. As asses are”(Act 1 scene 3 line 442-445). These lines portray his deceptiveness by saying that he deceives Othello and steers Othello to his doom because Othello believe Iago is trustworthy. But, really he isn't. Iago also can be characterized as two-faced. When a person is two-faced they have opposite thoughts in private versus in public. Iago plots against Othello the entire play but, when Othello is around he changes his personality. For example he goes from saying “I hate the Moor…”(Act 1 scene 3 line 429) and “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”(Act 1 scene 1 line 45) to when with Othello saying, “Nay, but he prayed and spoke such scurvy and provoking terms against your honor,” (Act 1 scene 2 line 8-10). This shows him switching from expressing his hatred and plotting against Othello, to having the utmost respect and being friendly towards him. These quotes and changes in feeling illustrates his two-faced personality and deceptive …show more content…
He is hateful, logical, insecure, two-faced, manipulative, and deceptive. These characteristics enabled him to do the monstrous acts he commits in this play. They make him a perfect villain and I suspect these characteristics will lead to his own