Iago – Beyond the realms of villainy and diving into hell

It has been highly debated among scholars for years on the intentions and malice behind the character of Iago in Othello. As one of Shakespeare’s villains he ignites the downfall of the noble characters surrounding him, but to extreme measures that not even the most vicious ones could execute. Although on the surface, Iago’s character is filled with deviance and malicious deceits similar to any other Shakespearean villain, his intentions behind his actions are what lead to the parallel with the devil. Iago as Satan brings a great deal of both clarity and dispute to the underlying word placement and religious implications throughout the play.
Critics have long contested his role in literary progeny leaving findings that indebt his character to the Devil more so than to vice. There is a wealth of evidence that points Iago to the dark side that reaches beyond the mere confines of amorality. For example, the following words from Iago suggest inspiration from hell and the D...