Abstract
This paper examines the nature of the main characters Othello and Iago as complexly limited tragic figures in and of themselves. It also looks at the interaction between the two of them and how the contrast between their motivations and their actions, dictates the action of the play.

From the Paper
"Othello is one of Shakespeare's most compelling plays whether it is reader seen on stage because of the nature of the main characters This work boasts not only one tragically drawn character but two Moreover not only are Othello and Iago both characters ..."

Tags:othello, iago, revenge, tragedy

Abstract
The paper states that throughout the play "Othello" by William Shakespeare, the only character to speak to the audience directly and intimately, is the character of Iago. He speaks to the audience and discloses his true motivations for his treacherous actions in the world of the play. The paper comments that Shakespeare uses this literary device specifically to show the audience the true colors of Iago. In the last passage of Act 1, Act 1.3.375-396, Iago's soliloquy is a glance at his manipulative psyche, where he believes himself to be the master of the other characters. His excessive pride and deception later result in the tragic end of the play. The paper notes that the audience develops a strange, but special, relationship with Iago through his manic ridden soliloquies. In the end, however, Shakespeare chooses to end Iago's term as master of the play and reclaims his position as playwright from the arrogant Iago.

From the Paper
"He uses his role as confidant to the other characters to manipulate them into believing he has their best interest in mind, when really he plays them pawns against each other for his own goals. Iago shows the audience his dislike for Roderigo, which therefore allows the audience special access into the real world of Cypress where Iago pulls the strings, and not Othello. This passage also shows the depth of Iago's deception. As seen when he discusses Othello later in his soliloquy, Iago takes great pains to make himself the innocent confidant, when his true purpose is to destroy those who trust in him."

Tags:soliloquy, true, motivations, mockery

Abstract
This paper examines how of all the Shakespearean villains, Othello's Iago is the most charismatic and at the same time the most puzzling. It looks at how his motives are presented to us in his soliloquies and how we are easily able to determine that he is the villain. It attempts to show that Iago never completely takes off his mask, but instead tries to convince us that he in fact has reason for what he does.

From the Paper
"Iago might appear as a manifestation of pure evil that we should be warned against. But Shakespeare goes much deeper and says that evil is a manifestation of humanity, which is a much more complicated idea and much more difficult to live with. That it is a natural ingredient of who we are. Shakespeare is writing about human pride and what it can lead a person to do. We think that our needs are more important than anything else and we drive at our needs, and then once we get what we need, we either find a new need, or are destroyed by our own desire."

Tags:villain, motive, desdemona

Abstract
This paper analyzes the concept of good and evil and people's motivation for following a particular path in their lives. It focuses on this concept as it is illustrated in William Shakespeare's "Othello" and in Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House." The paper describes the characters of Iago, possibly the most heinous villain in Shakespeare and of Krogstad, a secondary character in Ibsen's "A Doll's House" and discusses their motivation for their actions.

From the Paper
"In terms of the motivation and the purpose of their actions Iago and Krogstad are two different characters. Indeed, Krogstad is the antagonist in "A Doll's House" but he is not necessarily a villain. Krogstad is a person who has been wronged by society as he committed the same crime Nora did, forgery of signatures. Though he did break the law, his mistake was relatively minor but the society has labeled him as a criminal and prohibited him to go beyond his past. Additionally Krogstad's claim that the cause of his immoral behavior was when Mrs. Linde abandoned him for a man with money so she could provide for her family makes it possible for us to see Krogstad as a victim of circumstances. Even if society's unfair treatment of Krogstad is not a justification for his actions, it tempers in the same time out perception of him as a despicable character. It can be said that his actions are indeed motivated because when Torvald becomes director of the bank in which Krogstad is employed and threatens him with dismissal, he naturally has to fight back: "If necessary, I am prepared to fight for my small post in the bank as if I were fighting for my life...It is not only for the sake of the money; indeed, that weighs
least with me in the matter. There is another reason...my sons are growing up; for their sake I must try and win back as much respect as I can in the town. This post in the Bank was like the first step up for me--and now your husband is going to kick me downstairs again into the mud" (act 1, "A Doll's House's Text"). As can be seen Krogstad has reasonable motives for behaving as he does: he wants to keep his job at the Bank in order to spare his children of the hardships that come with a spoiled reputation."

Tags:justification, responsibility, purpose

Abstract
This paper is a detailed look at the villain Iago from William Shakespeare's play, "Othello". The author discusses how Iago had no motive for acting in such an evil manner, or what his intentions truly were. The paper speculates that Iago was villainous purely for the pleasure of being evil.

From the Paper
"One of the most important questions for any of us to try to understand in our lives is what makes some people good and others evil. We look to our own experiences for guidance, to the standards of any religion that we might follow, to our cultural and political leaders and to the realm of art. For surely one of the marks of the great artist is that he or she is able to encapsulate and articulate the important elements about the debate over what makes some people take the path of moral conduct while others become evil. William Shakespeare is one of those artists who has for four centuries helped us to clarify the nature of good and evil by presenting us with complex characters that allow us to understand human motivation."

Tags:othello, villain, shakespeare, cassio, lear, hamlet, desdemona, jealousy

Abstract
This paper examines how the character of Iago in Shakespeare's play "Othello" has instigated many different analyzes, with different critics arguing about his character, motives, techniques and his overall function to the play. It discusses how few of these literary critics would argue that he does not possess an evil nature, but there are several different interpretations to how we would regard Iago's character and what his role is in "Othello." It shows how from the outset of the drama, Shakespeare makes effective use of dramatic irony and permits the audience to ascertain Iago's actual disposition, as Iago admits that he is a calculated and self-seeking beguiler.

From the Paper
"Iago is one of Shakespeare's most sophisticated Machiavellian villains whose role is utterly crucial to the play. His motives for committing his evil acts are often difficult to determine, although jealously plays a large role for his desire to dissemble those who he dislikes. It is his professional jealousy that leads him to want to deprecate Cassio, but on a personal level, he also resents him for having an attractive wife while fearing that Cassio has committed adultery with Emilia, his own wife. He destroys Othello partly for this same fear, that the general "has twixt my sheets, done my office," but he is also enraged with Othello for promoting Cassio rather than himself."

Tags:cassio, villain, evil

Abstract
This paper discusses jealousy as one of the central motives in William Shakespeare's play, "Othello." It discusses the jealousy between Iago and Cassio, the Moor and Cassio, as well as between Iago and the Moor. The paper shows how through Iago's deceitfulness, hatred and disloyalty, the tragedy of the play occurred. The paper suggests that if it had not been for Iago's unsympathetic sentiments and the jealousy, the play might have had a different ending.

From the Paper
"Even though many blame the tragedy on Othello's gullibility, it is Iago's tricky and devious behavior that launched and triggered it. Since Othello profoundly trusted Iago, he hardly ever suspected any infidelity from him and that is proven throughout the whole script, in statements such as, "Honest Iago,/ My Desdemona must I leave to thee"(Act I, Scene III, 295). As a consequence, Iago took advantage of Othello's trust and kept revealing more of his forged love, which is proved in the play when Iago alleged that, " Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains,/Yet, for necessity of present life,/I must show out a flag and sign of love" (Act I, scene I, 154-156). It is the "flag and sign of love" which Iago revealed, that instigated Othello's gullibility, and if it wasn't for that advantage, Othello would've not fallen in Iago's trap. Unfortunately, the one closest to the heart is the greatest enemy; because it is him that knows the weakness of one's heart and mind. Iago was indeed very disloyal to his Moor, and deceitful by his behavior toward him."

Tags:jealousy, deceitfulness, Moor

Abstract
The paper explains that Iago's motive in the play is to drive Othello into a jealous rage because he, Iago, was not promoted to lieutenant. The paper discusses Iago's selfish reasons, careful manipulation, and complete disregard for anyone's feelings. The paper illustrates how his confidence and intelligence trump the goodness of Othello, Desdemona and others in the play.

From the Paper
"Iago's plan for destruction begins by planting seeds of doubt in Othello's mind with something as tiny and insignificant as a handkerchief. Once he places the thought of infidelity in Othello's mind, he works him into a frenzy with images of Desdemona and Cassio. He provokes Othello by telling him, "I like not that" (III.iii.35) in reference to any infidelity. In addition, he says, "Nothing my lord; or if--I know not what" (III.iii.37) to reassure Othello that he knows nothing about Desdemona and Cassio and what they might be doing behind closed doors. This scene allows us to see how manipulative Iago is and how he will say anything to get what he wants. He lies, he plants, seeds of doubt, and he uses Othello's jealousy as a weapon against him. It is important to note that Iago knows something about jealousy because he is jealous himself. It was his jealousy of Cassio's promotion that sparked his motives and he can turn the jealous screw tighter and tighter because he knows how it feels to burn with jealousy. We can call him an expert in the field with firsthand knowledge and, like most criminals, he chooses to use that knowledge for destruction rather than anything else."

Tags:manipulation, selfishness, jealousy, revenge, cruelty

Abstract
This paper shall examine the character of Iago in Shakespeare's classic tragedy "Othello". The main theme is that Iago is representative of "evil", where all of Iago's motivations and behaviors are dictated by evil purposes. Here, the term "evil" is presented as being both a betrayal of human decency and representative of demonic influences.

Abstract
Compares similarities & differences of the character of Iago in Shakespeare's great tragedy OTHELLO & in Ann-Marie McDonald's 1988 minor comedy GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA (GOOD MORNING JULIET). Common themes of intrigue & love. Brief description of each play. Symbols & style of each. Iago's motivations; his villainy.

From the Paper
"This research paper compares the character of Iago in William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" and in Ann-Marie MacDonald's 1988 comedy "Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)." To better understand the similarities and differences in both plays, a brief description of each needs to be given. There is no doubt that "Othello" is a tragedy of intrigue in spite of the fact that it contains many of the elements of Shakespearean comedies -- the central theme of love, the conflicts between men and women, and the handkerchief, of course, may be seen as a comedic prop.


During the course of Shakespeare's play, Iago commits a series of wicked and deceitful acts that culminate in violence. Iago is an ensign to the general Othello, a black Moor who is serving under the Venetian Senate. He becomes jealous when///"