Iago, Master of Cruelty in OthelloIago occupies the supreme place among Shakespeare's evil characters because of his intense and subtle cruelty, perfectly combined with his exceptional powers of will and intellect. As a result, his motives are unclear; However, the innocent, loyal, and honest character that Iago portrays to others does not reflect his true character. He is the ultimate puppet master. Every action is planned and manipulated so that his audience perceives him as this honest and trustworthy man. Iago has such intelligence and acting ability that he forces others to act and believe what he tells them. The other characters see him as what he wants them to see, not what he actually is. The three main emotional weapons that Iago uses to destroy everyone are reputation, lust, and jealousy. A good reputation is the most important virtue for the characters in this play. Their good reputation is what allows them to maintain a high position in society. What family one comes from and how one uses that status permeates every facet of life. Iago uses this as a weakness. He does everything in his power to destroy the reputations of others by creating illusions and lies and sharing them with those who will listen. Iago was so trusted by everyone that people continually looked to him for advice and he took advantage of these opportunities to manipulate their opinions and thoughts towards others. The importance of reputation and its usefulness is demonstrated when Iago says: “Good reputation in man and woman, dear my lord, is the immediate jewel of their soul. » (Othello. Act III. iii. 182-183.) One way Iago uses other importances of reputation to destroy them is in the case of Cassio. At the beginning of the story, Othello, who is a Moorish general in the Venetian army, has an opening for a second-in-command position. Although Iago desperately wants the job, Cassio is chosen. When the opportunity presents itself for Iago to take revenge, he does so. Iago convinces Cassio, known as a responsible, loyal and trustworthy man, to abandon his night shift and go out drinking. He ends up fighting with another lieutenant and is discovered by Othello. When asked to explain the situation, Iago lies and tells Othello that Cassio behaves like this all the time. Using jealousy as a weapon is what prompts Iago to plan the ultimate downfall of Othello's characters and especially Othello himself..