Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare is a work of great manipulation and jealousy. Iago is the antagonist character of the play Othello. Iago becomes angry and filled with jealousy when Othello appoints Michele Cassio as his lieutenant, because Iago believed that he should have been the one promoted and not Michele Cassio. By manipulating everyone around him, Iago presents himself as a noble and honest man who can be trusted. Being known as an honest man, Iago gains everyone's trust and thus learns their weakness for his ultimate plan of destruction. Iago's greatest skill is to disguise his manipulative schemes to destroy and betray those around him with what he leads people to believe as honesty. Iago uses their weaknesses, secrets and fears to ruin the names Michael Cassio, Othello, Desdemona and anyone who stands in his way. Iago sets in motion his first of many destructive plans; destroying the honor and reputation of Michael Cassio. When Michael Cassius explains, “I have a very poor and unhappy brain / To drink” (2.3.28-9). Iago achieved manipulation by learning Cassio's weakness towards alcohol. He devises a quick plan to sabotage Cassio and his position as lieutenant. Iago encourages Michael Cassio to drink one drink after another. So far, Iago's deceptive honesty is paying off. As Michael Cassio staggers away, Iago confides in Montano. He reveals to Montano: “He is a soldier to fit in with Cesare / And give directions. And just look at his vice. / By its virtue it is a just equinox. / The one as much as the other. It is a sin of him” (2.3.103-6). Iago portrays being concerned about Michael Cassio's "drinking problem" and Othello's judgment of all the responsibilities placed on Cassio towards Montano. Iago is......middle of paper......ct! The voice of Michael Cassius holding his lovely wife's handkerchief and the conversation give him the proof he needed. This is exactly how Iago planned his final plan to ruin Othello and he succeeds. Othello kills his wife and then takes his own life. Iago is the ultimate manipulator. He has set himself the goal of destroying the lives of anyone in his way of becoming a lieutenant in a fit of rage. He achieves his ultimate goal in destroying Othello. Michael Cassio is just an accident for fulfilling Iago's dream of becoming a lieutenant. This would not be possible without Iago being deceitful in being honest and friendly. He learned to play on his fears and weaknesses to achieve his goal. Iago's motivation is bitterness at not getting the promotion. In the end Iago completed what he set out to do, using jealousy and manipulation to destroy everything that stood in his evil path..