IAGO

the villain of Shakespeare's tragedy Othello. An intelligent and quick-witted ensign serving under Othello, Iago ostensibly acts out of resentment of Othello's promotion of Cassio ahead of him, though his evil nature quickly becomes evident. Feigning honesty, friendship, and loyalty, he plants in Othello's mind doubts about Desdemona's fidelity. In the midst of his subtle game to bring down Othello, he warns with great irony that is missed by Othello, O, beware, my lord, of jealousy. Iago is one of Shakespeare's most intriguing and plausible villains. He frequently takes the audience into his confidence, a device that encourages close observation of his consummate skill as he manipulates his prey and watches his deceptions wreak havoc. He is a complex character, the full development of a type that Shakespeare first explored in the person of Don John in Much Ado About Nothing.