The Plots of Iago in OthelloIago is a powerful predator who exploits those around him by infecting their perceptions of the truth with carefully chosen errors. His skill at finding the proverbial chinks in the armor of others allows him to skillfully weave his machinations of Othello's destruction into their minds and actions; by manipulating the character's perceptions of Desdemona, Iago gains the leverage he needs to exploit each character. No one is insensitive to Iago's bubbling design; even Othello falls prey to Iago's suggestions and insinuations about Desdemona. Iago's constant presence as director, as well as his incessant - but subtle - reinforcement of events through narration, allows him to be the central force that directs Shakespeare's Othello. In the opening scene, Iago provokes Brabantio against Othello by means of his pawn, Roderigo, and constantly enacts the scene, ensuring that everything goes according to his plan. Iago realizes that Brabantio is very sensitive to attacks on his daughter; Iago uses Roderigo as a dummy, through whom he makes such contrarian statements: "An old black ram / kills your white sheep" and "your daughter and the Moor / now make the beast with two backs" (1.1.90, 121) . ). By stoking Brabantio's protective nature as a father, Iago directs Brabantio's anger towards Othello while using Roderigo as a front. Iago manages to bend an unwitting Brabantio towards the common goal of destroying Othello. The culmination of Iago's power occurs during Iago's successful attempts to convince Othello - against the poor Moor's better judgment - that Desdemona fails to be loyal and that Othello differs too much from his compatriot. citizens to be part of the Venetian world. Iago cleverly ignites Othel... middle of paper ... which Iago felt obliged to conceive to perfection and totality; and once Iago's plan fails to reach its target, his pawns escape his control and ultimately expose his dark schemes. Frailty permeates Iago's liminal existence and, as noted, he must be omnipresent in order to execute and oversee every aspect of his plan. . His ambition leads to his downfall; modest desires for revenge spiral into extravagant, uncontrollable machinations that require the death of everyone involved. Iago finds himself unable to manipulate everyone at all times and, for this reason alone, fails to carry out his plan. and Drama, sixth edition Ed. XJ Kennedy and Dana Gioia New York: Harper Collins., 1995.