"I am not what I am." What is Iago? -- as distinct from what he pretends to be -- and what are his motives?
             In Shakespeare's, Othello, the reader is presented the classic
             battle between the deceitful forces of evil and the innocence of good.
             It are these forces of evil that ultimately lead to the breakdown of
             Othello, a noble venetian moor, well-known by the people of Venice as
             a honourable soldier and a worthy leader. Othello's breakdown results
             in the muder of his wife Desdemona. Desdemona is representative of
             the good in nature. Good can be defined as forgiving, honest,
             innocent and unsuspecting. The evil contained within Othello is by no
             means magical or mythical yet is represented by the character Iago.
             Iago is cunning, untrustworthy, selfish, and plotting. He uses these
             traits to his advantage by slowly planning his own triumph while
             watching the demise of others. It is this that is Iago's motivation.
             The ultimate defeat of good by the wrath of evil. Not only is it in
             his own nature of evil that he suceeds but also in the weaknesses of
             the other characters. Iago uses the weaknesses of Othello,
             specifically jealousy and his devotion to things as they seem, to
             conquer his opposite in Desdemona. From the start of the play, Iago's
             scheming ability is shown when he convinces Roderigo to tell about
             Othello and Desdemonda's elopement to Desdemona's father, Brabantio.
             Confidentally Iago continues his plot successfully, making fools of
             others, and himself being rewarded. Except Roderigo, no one is aware
             of Iago's plans. This is because Iago pretends to be an honest man
             loyal to his superiors. The fact that Othello himself views Iago as
             trustworthy and honest gives the evil within Iago a perfect
             unsuspecting victim for his schemes. The opportunity to get to
             Desdemona through Othello is one temptation that Iago c...