Alckmin Luís Simone
Grade 10
English Essay
2. Why Iago is a treacherous character?
Iago, in Shakespeare's Othello, is a deceiving character because he tells lies in order
to get what he wants. He interacts with people only to manipulate them, but most
importantly he never reveals his true feelings or motives. Iago might say things that
suggest what his motive is, but he soon contradicts himself with another suggestion
making it extremely difficult to understand him. Although Iago's true motives cannot
be determined, some motives could be jealousy, the enjoyment of seeing people
suffer, or power.
Iago's jealous of Othello and Cassio because he thinks that both of them slept with his
wife, Emilia. In Iago's first soliloquy at the end of act 1, Iago says that Othello might
have slept with his wife and even though this is a rumor, he says that he will believe
it. Then in his second soliloquy at the end of act 2, scene 1, Iago reiterates and once
again says that Othello slept with his wife, the only difference is that now he thinks
Cassio has slept with his wife too because he believes that Cassio is a "proper man"
and a playboy.