Iago as a Satan Figure in Shakespeares Othello Essay -- Othello essay

Iago as a Satan variety in Othello The play Othello by William Shakespeare is based on an Italian business relationship in Giraldi Cinthios Hecatommithi (Groliers). In Othello we encounter Iago, one of Shakespeares most evil characters. Iago is an national flag in Othellos army and is jealous of Cassios promotion to Lieutenant. Through deception and appearance, we run across unfolded a plethora of lies and clever schemes. The astonishing thing about Iago is that he seems to make up his malicious schemes as he goes along without each forethought. Noted writer Samuel Taylor Coleridge describes Iagos plan as motive-hunting of a motiveless asperity (Scott 413). Iago seizes every opportunity to further advance his plan to his advantage. Greed plays a major role as a motive for his various schemes. end-to-end the story, Iago portrays himself as a Satan figure. In many ways, Iago can equation with Satan. Iago, like Satan, has proved himself to be a master at deception. He lies to everyone taking great care to disguise his own thoughts. For example, in mask 1, scene 2, when he is speaking to Othello about his feelings toward Cassio, he uses very pixilated language of a manly soldier, while at the alike time, he lies throughout the whole speech faking stanchty to a fellow soldier and all the while implying that he is reluctantly holding back the mount truth I had rather have this tongue cut from my utter/ Than it should do offense to Michael Cassio (I.ii.21-22). This deception impresses and convinces Othello that his ensign is a good and loyal soldier. Iago also succeeds in deceiving Cassio. After Cassios drunken fight, Iago counsels him to speak to Desdimona about act to convince Othello to reinstate him as lieutenant, all th... ... to refer to him as, He says I am the I AM. . . (Ex. 314). Iago says that he is the I am not. He is, in essence, the exact reverse of God. As we have seen, metaphorically and by example, Iago has proven to be the epitome o f evil in that he uses the same tactics that Satan does to get what he wants. Works Cited Carey, Gary M.A. Cliffs Notes. Cliffs Notes Incorperated. Lincoln Nebraska,1980. sanctum sanctorum Bible. New American Standard Version. The New Grolier Multimedia Encyclopidia. Rel. 6. CD-ROM. Online Computer Systems Incorperated. 1993. Scott, Mark. detailed Interperatation of Othello. from Shakespeare for Students. Detroit, Michigan Gale Research Incorperated, 1992. 411-457. Shakespeare, William. Othello, The Moor of Venice. from Literature and the Writing Process. McMahon, Day, Funk. Prentice-Hall Publishers New Jersey, 1996. 864-947.