Iago in Shakespeare and MacDonald: A Comparison

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 Cassio is promoted to lieutenant instead of him. He also develops an unreasonable suspicion that Othello has had an affair with his wife, Emilia. For these reasons, Iago decides to seek revenge by ruining Othello's happy marriage to Desdemona. He manipulates the fool Roderigo, who has been jilted by Desdemona, into aiding him. Iago's sense of inflated superiority is shown when he calls Roderigo "this poor trash of Venice" (II.i.291), a phrase that reduces Roderigo to an inferior thing to be manipulated at will.

Iago further manipulates Othello into believing that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona. In this way, he tricks Othello into murdering his own wife. During