In the Shakespearean play Othello, Iago is the villainous, evil character of the story. He proves this through spite and revenge, jealousy, and cowardice. What confuses the readers though, is that Iago has no apparent motivation, no reason for doing any of the things that he does.
             Iago is obsessed by revenge. He holds grudges against almost everyone in the play. He resents Othello because of his high position, and believes that he has slept with Emilia, Iago's wife. Because he thinks this, he feels that he needs to get his revenge by sleeping with Desdemona, or in his words, "wife for wife" (II.i.286). He has no remorse whatsoever for any of the things he does, and he doesn't care who the consequences land on, as long as it's not him. Iago never seems to have the actual fault in the things that are done. They are his ideas, but he has others carry them out for him. When he kills Roderigo, it symbolizes that he will now do absolutely anything to achieve his ache for after power.
             Iago cannot handle people having power over him. He struggles with the jealous rage of the green-eyed monster, and loves seeing people hurt and suffering. With his entire being, he wants to be powerful more than anything else. When Roderigo comes to him for help, it gives Iago a glimmer of hope that he might be able to have what he wants: power over all. The final scene, that final night when everything is winding down, Iago realizes that, "This is the night That either makes me or fordoes me quite" (V.i.130–131). He works his hardest to prove to everyone that he is the one who should be in command. Iago's sick and twisted way of thinking, with no yielding to anyone shows just how selfish, jealous, and extreme he really is.
             Through all his outward confidence, Iago clearly has no bravery within him. At the beginning of the play, after he has told Brabanzio about his daughter and Othello (w...