Character Analysis "Othello"

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Iago
Although Iago is clearly the antagonist throughout the play, Shakespeare cleverly also utilizes the character as a confidante. His soliloquies to the audience lay out his intent and planning of the plot to the audience; to seek revenge on Othello. In addition to helping the audience understand Iago’s twisted thoughts, I believe that Shakespeare’s intent in writing in these brilliant soliloquies was to make the audience feel that they were part of the play and involved in the plot. We learn early on the relationship between Iago and Roderigo. Roderigo discloses his trust for Iago in the opening lines of the play. In addition, Iago tells several things about himself to Roderigo, including the fact that he trusts Roderigo with the knowledge that he serves Othello, only to further his intentions. However, I am sure that Shakespeare’s use of Iago as a confidante to Roderigo was not to show the same kind of friendship that Roderigo has for Iago, but to disclose his deceit - to use Roderigo. Iago summed this up himself, “I am not what I am”. (Act 1, Scene 1, line 65).
At the end of the last scene in Act 1, Roderigo exits, and Iago delivers an impressive soliloquy to the audience devising his plan – to use Roderigo and Cassio’s naivety and weaknesses to achieve his evil. (Act 1, Scene 3, lines 383-405). Again using Iago as a confidante, Shakespeare uses another soliloquy to the audience of his intent to use Desdemona’s napkin as a device to instill her deceit in Othello’s mind. (Act 2 Scene 3 lines 321-329) Iago speaks again to the audience:
“I will in Cassio’s lodgings lose this napkin
And let him find it….
Dangerous conceits are in their nature poisons...”
Iago reveals another part of his treacherous plan to the audience in the second act after the drunken conversation with Cassio. Iago will prey upon Cassio’s weakness for the bottle. (Act 2, Scene 3,
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