The Manipulative Iago

                For this week’s blog it is Iago that has caught by attention in Act V scene i. In this scene Iago betrays Roderigos trust, and it is this betrayal and manipulation that I find interesting. In this scene we see once again how Iago is causing trouble for everyone, but for me this scene makes me really dislike Iago. Roderigo trusts in Iago and in the end Iago does not care enough about him to even spare his life; once he gets what he wants from Roderigo (Cassio stabbed) he kills him. Iago begins this act by setting up Roderigo saying, “Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he come: wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home: quick; fear nothing; I’ll be at thy elbow”(V.i). As the reader of the play we know that he is just setting up Roderigo, and although Roderigo is willing to commit the crime it is still hard to read and not feel a little bad for him. After Iago tells Roderigo what to do he informs us the audience of his plans in his soliloquy saying, “ I have rubb’d this young quat almost to the sense / now, whetere he kill Cassio, or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, every way makes my gain”(V.i). This soliloquy but Iago right before the action takes place shows the audience what I meant earlier and that is that although Iago has been stealing from Roderigo the entire time, it is this set up that really shows how little Iago cares about Roderigo or anyone else. The fact that Iago not only leaves Roderigo to take the blame for Cassio, but he stabs both Cassio and Roderigo and then departs; returning only to make himself look caring. This scene in the play is one of great importance to me because it showed me that my thoughts about Iago this time have been correct. Not only does it confirm for me that he is manipulative, but it showed me that he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. For me, the fact that this scene shows how little Iago cares about others and how he will stop at nothing, helps me prepare for the upcoming events prepared by Iago. This scene added suspense to the play for me because after all the commotion that happened all I could think was what will happen next.