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Iago is William Shakespeare’s most elaborate evil villain. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago plays a masterful role in the destruction of all the major characters, truly making him one of the most infamous evil villains. His cruel, coldhearted manipulation is primarily directed towards the innocent; this exploitation of the good by evil ultimately causes the downfall of Roderigo, Cassio, Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello. Iago’s ability to understand human nature makes him evil because he uses his knowledge of human nature to manipulate others to his advantage. This manipulation is primarily acted out on the good, which are the most gullible to evil. Evil can be characterized as a person who causes ruin, injury, pain or harm for their own satisfaction; Iago, undoubtedly, fits this description. Throughout his soliloquies, Iago reveals his true evil nature as well as how he will cause the downfall of other characters. “Hell and night / Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light” (I, iii, 394-395). This clearly illustrates Iago’s obsessed driven dominance. He will do anything to destroy Othello, and nothing is going to prevent him from achieving his goals. Iago’s evilness undeniably coincides will his ability to understand human nature. Without his understanding of human nature, Iago would not have been able to manipulate the other characters. A prime example of how Iago’s understanding of human nature extends throughout the play is how he is able to acquire Othello’s trust. “This fellow's of exceeding honesty, / And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, / Of human dealings” (III, iii, 260-262). Othello requests Iago’s help in dealing with the matter of Desdemona’s infidelity because he knows that Iago is an expert in the understanding of human nature. Othello’s trust in Iago demonstrates Iago’s ability to mask his true identity of evil, further illustrating his deceptive, evil nature. After Othello discovers Iago’s plot, Othello realizes that Iago truly is evil. “I look down towards his feet; but that’s a fable / If that thou be’st a devil, I cannot kill thee” (V, ii, 283-284).
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