Iago knows Roderigo is in love with Desdemona and figures that he would do anything to have her as his own. Iago says about Roderigo,
"Thus do I ever make my fool my purse."
By playing on his hopes, Iago is able to swindle money and jewels from Roderigo, making himself a substantial profit.
Iago feels that Othello has slept with his wife Emila, “leapt into his seat”, he wants revenge for this too, “not out of absolute lust”, but so he can get back at Othello. He wants to sleep with Desdemona for revenge not just for pleasure.
Iago’s evil has infiltrated Othello’s soul and has induced him, as Iago had hoped.
“I follow him to serve my turn upon him”. Iago want to turn virtue into a pitch. He wants to poison Brabantio.
This is Iago’s first soliloquy. Iago is arrogant and takes pleasure in showing his manipulative skills.
Cassio takes hold of Desdemona’s hand just before the arrival of Othello, Iago says, “with a little a web as this will ensure as great a fly as Cassio” his cunning and craftiness make him a frightening character.
Iago takes pleasure in addressing the audience. He pretends to be honest. He is able to paint a picture of himself as an honest man. He is only interested in destroying the good. He is a catalyst to bring them down.
There is a degree of sadism in Iago. He enjoys controlling and shaping Othello’s suffering. He introduces the idea of jealousy to Othello. Iago gets Othello to believe that this is what he is suffering from.
Iago says” she holds it a vice in her goodness not to be more than a requested” this then leads poor Cassio to a dark but short future. Yet Cassio followers Iago’s words telling him” you have advise me well” this leads to a trap where Roderigo kills him.
Iago gets the job of lieutenant but it’s not enough for him, because this was not his primary motivate. “I am your own for ever” this gives a false elision. The irony of that line, that Iago controls Othello. “You are mine for ever”. This is deceptive irony.
Iago has a perverse morality and enjoy using language to distort goodness. He calls his poison his “medicine”.
Iago takes pleasure in controlling Roderigo. Iago lets Roderigo know just before his death, what motivates Iago to prove his humanity.
Iago has committed such an act that Othello is speech less and Emila repeats “villainy” six times in three lines.
Iago gets revenge on his wife, by killing her in public and has taken his manipulative mask off. Iago was so arrogant that he over looked his wife and Iago is the opposite of Emila.
Iago is brought in as prisoner. Othello looks at his feet for hoves. (Semi-devil)
The term “honest Iago” during the play was mentioned 48 times in the play of Othello. Iago uses carefully thought out words and actions, which enable him to manipulate others and do things in a way that benefits him and move closer to his goals.
Conclusion:
Iago instructs his wife to “get you home”. Then he says to his wife you “villainous whore”. Then finally he calls her “filth”. The language changes in about 10 lines. The language he uses is instructive language in the first quotation, but the language reveals loss of power and his shows the true character of Iago. Iago manages to steal from his own friends without the feeling of guilt. However, someone with a conscience would never be able to keep up with such a play and deceive everyone around him.
