In the story of Othello we meet many amazing characters, but there seems to be one character who stands out among them all; Iago. Iago is William Shakespeare's most evil villain throughout the play. Shakespeare uses the rhetoric of identity early on when he introduces Iago with the speech “I am not what I am” (1.1.71), perhaps foreshadowing his true personality (Sleczkowski). Iago is the only reason there is conflict in Othello. Iago plays a magnificent role in the play, acting as a vicious virus towards the characters. Iago manipulates each character by revealing their weaknesses to highlight their downfall. But why is Iago so malicious? Jealousy is his first motive. Iago has so many evil traits that are revealed throughout the play. Each of his traits was used in a situation to help. Even though Iago comes up with motivations leading him to take revenge on Othello and the other characters, but as he continues to shift and change his motivations, he seems undecided about his true motivation (Djundjung). The trait of jealousy is then revealed very early in the play. Jealousy is his driving force to get rid of Othello. Iago is a smart guy and he knows he can't take direct revenge on Othello. He therefore indirectly uses many characters to hurt Othello, starting with Roderigo and Brabantio. Iago knows how to thrill people, and without his knowledge, he wouldn't have gotten too far into the play. Iago knows how much Roderigo is in love with Desdemona. He uses this as his own advantage. He is well aware that Roderigo is a fool in love and that love can completely change a person's way of thinking. As Iago remarks: "Now my sick fool / Roderigo, whose love has almost turned the wrong way" (2.3.53-55). The more Iago fails to get Desdemona's heart for Roderigo, the more desperate and anxious he becomes. becomes, without realizing how stupid he is