Othello 5

     As I read into Act IV of Shakespeare's Othello, I begin to truly analyze Iago's character. He is the entire first scene and appears frequently throughout the act and, obviously, the play. I begin to see how Shakespeare made Iago a round character. He really shows different sides of his personality when talking to different people. For example, we, the reader, are able to see how much of a villain he is. We see his point of view into his devious plans for the other character's downfalls. We feel his emotion and see his motivations behind his actions.

"As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad. 

And his unbookish jealousy must construe

Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behavior

Quite in the wrong" IV.i.90

     At this point, Iago is talking to the audience. He is referring to Cassio smiling, which will make Othello mad. This shows how he acts very differently with the audience than with his "friends." To Othello, he acts like he truly cares about his and Desdemona's marital problems. But, in reality, he wants them to continue having problems. He treats his friends nicely in person, but behind their backs, he is fake.