Assumptions and Values (Othello by William Shakespeare)

In Othello, the character of Iago is alienated from society by his personal values. He is used by Shakespeare to demonstrate societies assumptions and moral values on a whole. Iago is the main antagonist to Othello in this story, and he succeeds in his plan to ruin Othello by forcing him to believe that Desdemona is cheating on him. Because Iago succeeds, because he was able to carry off the plan, we are able to …

…the value that people can use each other, the value that people should take advantage of each other for personal betterment, and the assumption that the woman is always wrong, and not to be trusted. Shakespeare has used Iago as the central character, the character that the entire plot line rests on, and thus we are almost forced to see his point of view, and thus sympathize with him at the end of the play.