Discuss the reasons for Iago’s actions. How far ahead does he plan and how much harm did he intend?
We all have certain actions we do; some planned others just, what can I say happen. Do we intend for them to go far? In Othello Iago is portrayed to be this loyal, trustworthy, so-called friend. “Honest” Iago they called him. Highly favored by his peers he knew he could manipulate any and everybody; and that he did. How can someone seem so honest, but tell so many lies? Iago knew exactly what he was doing when he was betraying everyone. From the lies he told to the manipulation he did. His manipulation of people and events leads to the play’s tragic climax,Desdemona’s death, and the downfall of many characters, including 
Iago himself. Iago is not your ordinary villain. The role he plays is rather unique and complex, far from what one might expect. Iago is smart. He is an expert judge of people and their characters and uses this to his advantage.Iago says many things hinting that he is not who he appears to be on the outside. He tricks the people around into thinking he’s someone who can be trusted and letting him fool them. On the inside he’s this cold- hearted genius/mastermind who only wants power, and success. In the play Iago says “I am not what I am” meaning I am not what I appear to be, a self contradiction of oneself. This role he played was well planned out. From the lies that were told, to the outcome of the story taking everyone outone by one. Let’s begin with Iago’s marriage with wife Emilia which really seems like a marriage made in hell. Iago constantly mocks and disrespects her. He never seems to offer her any affection, and he always talks trash about women in general. Despite this, Emilia seems eager to please him. She steals Desdemona's handkerchief in the hope that Iago will appreciate her for once. Throughout most of the play, Iago has the upper hand in his interactions with his wife. But the final scene is payback time for Emilia. Was Iago sexual frustrated, motivated by lust for Desdemona, envious of Cassio, or was it jealously over his wife’s supposed affair with Othello? Iago’s actions were confusing, and hazy; but somehow they all fell into play. 
Iago had nothing planned; he was just a smart man who was always two steps ahead of everyone else. He knew everyone’s business and how to use it. The only reason for his actions which Iago gives in his soliloquies is a rumor that Othello has slept with his wife.That could be the main reason why Iago’s actions go as far as killing. Iago says “It is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets. He has done my office.” The unclearness of this motivation has caused some readers to look elsewhere for Iago’s reasons, but it could be a powerful drive, Iago is somehow just evil. He could be an example of how evil arsis naturally in humanity. In Act 5 the final scene Othello says “If that thou beest devil I cannot kill thee” and then Iago says “I bleed sir, but not killed” that conversation that was exchanged to me mean was Iago mocking Othello, or is Iago as pure an evil as the devil. Iago in this play has the qualities of the devil in medieval and Renaissance plays. He is a liar, he makes promises he has no intention of keeping, he tells fancy stories in order to trap people and lead them to their destruction, and he sees other’s greatest vulnerabilities and uses these to destroy them. Iago does all this not for any good reason, but for love of evil. Another motive could have been jealousy; Cassio, like Roderigo, follows Iago blindly, thinking the whole time that Iago is trying to help him. During this whole time, Iago is planning of the Cassio, his supposed friend. 
On the night of Cassio's watch, Iago convinces him to take another drink, knowing very well that it will make him very drunk. Cassio just follows along, though he says, "I'll do't, but it dislikes me." is able to make him defy his own reasoning to take another drink. Iago envied Cassio and his rank. So he did everything in his power to take that away from him. Iago frames him; plants thoughts in Othello mind about Cassio and Desdemona, drunken him, and gets Roderigo to pick a fight, which eventually leads to Cassio being killed. Iago knew he had everyone where he wanted them, he knew the next step, and then the next one until someone cracked, and that didn’t take long. In my opinion I think Iago meant all if not most of the harm he caused, solely because not once did he ever apologize. In the play Iago said it himself I cannot be trusted. Whoever trusts me is a fool themselves. 
