Among Shakespeare’s villains, Iago remains the most notorious and puzzling. His villainous intent is readily apparent to his audience but his motives are problematic. Throughout the play, he presents differing excuses for committing his acts of cruelty. However, the reasoning for Iago’s cruelty lies not in his motives but in his implementation of it rooted in intimacy. Manipulative, deceitful, and bestial, he infiltrates character’s minds and utilizes their insecurities to sway his victims to commit his predatory desires. Therefore, beyond a figure of evil, Shakespeare utilizes Iago’s intimate cruelty to illustrate evil within an individual. This notion is made possible by Iago’s character and is seen in his corruption of Cassio q23and finally…show more content… He expresses viscous statements like, “I’ll tear her (Desdemona) to pieces,” “O blood, blood, blood!” and “my bloody thought with violent pace, shall nev’r look back… Till that a capable and wide revenge swallow them up” (III.iv.450-459). Othello, like Barbantio is enacting Iago’s violent and vengeful language showing he is becoming further engulfed by his evil and losing reason. His loss of reason is also shown in his loss of eloquence presented in his repetitive use of words and vowel sounds. Additionally, Similar to Iago’s mind, Othello’s mind will not be satiated until he has revenge. Othello’s earlier happiness with Desdemona has been hijacked and corrupted by Iago intimate cruelty. Othello’s love is replaced with hate for her infidelity as he referencing to her as, “that cunning whore of Venice” and stating that “She must die, else she’ll betray more men” (IV.ii 88-89 and V.i.6). In this line, Othello again mirrors Iago in his lust for vengeance as he senselessly justifies his wife’s murder as a necessary…show more content… Like Cassio, Othello’s “devil drunkenness” comes to turn upon Emilia’s revelation of Iago’s misdeeds and Desdemona’s piety. In misery and regret he states, “ O cursed, cursed slave! Whip me, ye devils,/ From the possession of this heavenly sight!/Blow me about in the winds! Roast me in sulphur!/Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!” (V.ii.276-280). Now aware of his possession by evil, a rueful Othello seeks punishment for his demonic act of killing Desdemona. Ultimately, Othello’s redemption comes in the form of his own death as he kills of the worst part of himself. Othello attempts to take responsibility for what he has done by choosing to die alongside the faithful wife he wrongfully killed and betrayed. In closing, interestingly, Cassio refers to act as a symbol of Othello being “great of heart” (V.ii 362).
The comment insinuates, that despite Iago’s conquering of Othello’s soul and his fall to evil, he remains