Comment on the view that Iago is more interesting than Othello.

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Comment on the view that Iago is more interesting than Othello In William Shakespeare s - famous play Othello both Othello and Iago are powerful and memorable characters Othello is noble and great but tragic and weak in emotion Iago on the other hand is cunning cruel and intelligent His mind works like a machine of evil Though Othello s fall brings tears Iago s plots hold our attention from start to end His wicked nature his skillful lies and his ability to destroy others make him more interesting than Othello A Master of Deception Iago is known for his clever and deceitful nature Everyone in the play calls him honest Iago Othello himself trusts him blindly Iago says I am not what I am This line shows that he hides his real face under the mask of loyalty He cheats everyone Othello Cassio Desdemona and Roderigo His double nature

makes him a very interesting villain He is evil yet intelligent and that makes him unforgettable The Source of All Action Iago is the main mover of the plot Without him there would be no tragedy He poisons Othello s mind with lies and makes him jealous Iago s words destroy the love between Othello and Desdemona He uses tricks and creates confusion everywhere It is he who tells Othello Look to your wife observe her well with Cassio This line plants the first doubt in Othello s heart His control over others makes him the most active and influential figure in the play A Devil in Disguise Iago s evil nature gives him a devil-like image He enjoys doing harm for no apparent reason He hates Othello for giving Cassio a higher post and for his success in love Yet his hate grows beyond reason Iago lies cheats and destroys with a smile He is called the villain of villains His words plans and calm cruelty make him both shocking and fascinating He is the human form of the Devil Othello s Weakness Opposed to Iago s Strength Othello is brave but weak in emotion His mind is simple and he easily believes Iago s lies He says sadly Haply for I am black This shows his self-doubt and insecurity His lack of control leads him to tragedy Iago on the other hand never loses control He plans everything wisely and uses Othello s weakness against him This contrast makes Iago stronger sharper and far more interesting than the noble but helpless Othello A Villain with Intelligence and Art Iago s words and thoughts are full of sharpness and skill He can twist truth into lies He can make good look bad and bad look good He says proudly Thus do I ever make my fool my purse This line illustrates how he exploits Roderigo for his own gain Iago s intelligence his power of speech and his skill to read human minds make him one of the most artful villains in literature He attracts attention even while doing evil In conclusion Iago is truly more interesting than Othello Othello is noble and brave but loses control of his heart Iago is evil but full of power logic and charm His mind works like a dark artist s tool Shakespeare makes him one of the most intelligent villains ever written Though he is cruel and hateful we cannot ignore him His presence dominates the whole tragedy

Othello

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Comment on the view that Iago is more interesting than Othello.

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William Shakespeare

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