Iago's Manipulation of Roderigo in Othello

In the famous play "Othello" by William Shakespeare, Iago is the master of manipulation who ruins several lives maliciously and treacherously. Iago devises a very devious plot that manipulates Roderigo to commit bloody deeds for his treacherous ends. All the major characters become pawns and eventually victims of Iago's plot. It is as though Iago is a master writer who writes the whole play in which all characters are merely puppets. One of Iago's stepping stones is Roderigo, who is effectively manipulated by Iago.

In Act II of William Shakespeare's "Othello," Iago effectively manipulates Roderigo for his treacherous causes of discrediting Cassio. Iago is a master of manipulation because he is able to grasp the circumstances and maneuver Roderigo's desires and emotions to work for him. Iago's intention is to dishonor Michael Cassio, who is selected by Othello as the new lieutenant over Iago. Iago knows Roderigo is obsessively in love with Desdemona and jealous of Desdemona's new husband, Othello. As Roderigo says, "it is silliness to live when to live is torment," he is totally plagued by love and this weakness of mind is discovered by Iago (Shakespeare 1.3.350). With his mastermind, Iago finds a way to use Roderigo's obsession and jealousy for his wicked purposes. By deceitfully assuring Roderigo that he will help him attain Desdemona, Iago gains an ally for his scheme. Roderigo, who Iago deceives and looks down upon as a "sick fool," pays Iago excessively for the futile pursuit of Desdemona (2.3.45).

Then, Iago successfully convinces Roderigo that "Desdemona is directly in love with [Cassio]," subsequently manipulating Roderigo's jealousy and resentment toward Cassio (2.1.240). Roderigo, unaware of Iago's manipulation, consents to join Iago's plot and helps Iago removes Cassio from the lieutenant position by provoking a fight with him. Thus, Iago effectively manipulates Roderigo to be both a "pulse" to provide streams of wealth and a "fool" to commit dirty deeds (1.3.426). Roderigo is merely a pawn to Iago's treacherous plot to eliminate Cassio.

At the end of his manipulated altercation with Cassio, Roderigo is broke and hurt without getting Desdemona. On the other hand, Iago successfully achieves his wicked goal to eliminating Cassio. As Roderigo says, even though his "money is almost spent" and he has "been exceedingly well cudgeled," he makes no progress in attaining Desdemona (2.3.386-387). Roderigo, the master of manipulation, is the only winner at the end of Cassio's fight. Through his obsessive love for Desdemona, Roderigo is effectively manipulated by Iago in Iago's wicked scheme of eliminating Cassio.

"Othello" Shakespeare, William Folger Shakespeare Library.