Good Vs. Evil

As the play opens we are immediately introduced to the hostility of Iago against Othello. Iago has been appointed the

position of servant to Othello instead of the more prestigious

position of lieutenant. Michael Cassio has been appointed

this position. Iago feels betrayed because he considers him self more qualified than Cassio to serve as lieutenant. Iago

then foreshadows his plans for Othello to Roderigo, "O, sir, content you. / I follow him to serve my turn upon him (Act I,

Scene I)". Iago already realizes that Othello thinks about him as an honest man. Roderigo is used by Iago as an

apprentence and someone to do his "dirty" work. Roderigo is naively unsuspecting. As the play shifts from Venice to

Cyprus there is an interesting contrast. Venice, a respectful and honourable town is overshadowed by the war torn

villages of Cyprus. It could be said that Venice represents good or specfically Desdemona and that Cyprus represents

evil in Iago. Desdemona has been taken from her peacefullness and brought onto the grounds of evil. Iago commits his

largest acts of deceit in Cyprus, fittingly considering the atmosphere. Ironically, the venetians feel the Turks are their only

enemy while in fact Iago is in hindsight the one man who destroys their stable state. Act II Scene III shows Iago's willing

ability to manipulate characters in the play. Iago convinces Montano to inform Othello of Cassio's weakness for alchohol

hoping this would rouse dissatisfaction