Jealousy There are evil people in this world ;greedy, manipulative, overbearing and jealous. Iago, in William Shakespeare's Othello, is an evil, malignant character. He uses people's goodness, integrity, and ignorance to get what he wants. When Othello's position is higher through character and status, Iago becomes jealous and decides that Othello must be eliminated. Iago is aware of the jealousy inside himself. Othello is a good man at heart, but is not aware of his evil

and jealousy, and therefore will not be able to control it. Iago takes advantage of this and uses Othello's trust to manipulate Othello into revealing his true character. Iago, like any great manipulator, moves indirectly so he is never suspected. He uses Roderigo to get to Cassio, Desdemona, and Othello. Once the peace is disrupted, Iago moves directly to Othello. Everyone trusts Iago and believes that he is trying to do the best for them.

Iago uses Roderigo to get Cassio in trouble with Othello. Since Roderigo is in love with Desdemona, "I confess it is my shame to be so found (of Desdemona)"(Act 1. Sc 3. Ln 360), Iago tells Roderigo that Cassio is in love with her and she in love with Cassio. "Desdemona is directly in love with him."(Act2. Sc1. Ln240) This upsets Roderigo and he is more prone to fight Cassio when told by Iago to do so. Roderigo does not just have Othello to compete with anymore ;he has Cassio as well. Iago tells Roderigo that he can win Desdemona from Cassio by fighting and from Othello by following her to Cyprus. So Roderigo listens to and trusts the man, fights Cassio, sells his land and brings Iago to Cyprus. After the fight Cassio is dismissed from his office by Othello. Iago wins. Cassio is in trouble, is no longer Othello's lieutenant and Iago is in Cyprus with Othello. He then moves in on Cassio. Cassio is another step closer for Iago's plan to cause Othello's demise. Iago convinces Cassio to ask Desdemona, Othello's wife, to help in reinstating him. By Cassio asking Desdemona for help, the two have times when they are together, and Desdemona decides to support Cassio. Cassio goes to Desdemona for reinstatement to his lieutenancy because Iago tells him that it is best to not go directly to Othello. "Confess yourself freely to her. Importune her help to put you in your place again."(act2.sc3.ln357). Cassio trusts the "honest Iago" and asked Desdemona for her helped. This will later cause Othello's jealously to escalate. After the fight between Roderigo and Cassio, Othello turns to Iago for help, which Iago gives after a little hesitation. "Honest Iago, that looks dead with grieving, speak. Who began