Three of the most basic human emotions; love, hatred and jealousy, are thoroughly examined in William Shakespeare's Othello. It is Shakespeare's psychological understanding of these emotions, as well as his playwriting genius, that make Othello an enduringly powerful tragedy. Shakespeare's psychological understanding is, predominantly, displayed to the audience through the character of Iago, who demonstrates the grasp of emotion Shakespeare has, through manipulation and control. Iago's manipulation using only these three primitive emotions ensures that any audience can relate to the characters and their variances.
             Love is evident throughout Othello and Shakespeare's understanding of this emotion is demonstrated to the audience through the character of Iago. Iago uses love to control and manipulate two specific characters, Roderigo and Emilia. Roderigo is shown to the audience as a dignified person who shows a great affection for Desdemona; however the audience is told that he has previously tried to court Desdemona to no avail, "In honest plainness thou hast heard me say my daughter is not for thee" (Act I, Scene I – Brabantio) It is this fondness that puts Iago into a position of power over Roderigo as he informs him that he can help him obtain Desdemona's affection, Iago then proceeds to use Roderigo as a resource for anything he requires, for example the funding of Iago's activities "Thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine" (Act I, Scene I – Roderigo) and "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse" (Act 1, Scene 3 – Iago) Iago's power over Roderigo is also demonstrated through Rodrigo's blind performance of any act that Iago tells him to, for example the attempted killing of Cassio, "I have no great devotion to the deed, and yet he hath given me satisfying reasons" (Act V, Scene I – Roderigo). The control Iago has
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