Iago knows that jealousy will cause Othello to become insecure and this will only feed his jealousy. Othello reacts typically, sating:

Haply for I am black

And have not those soft parts of conversation

That chambers have . . . I am abused, my relief

Must be to loathe her (III.iii.260-5).

Iago has no respect for Othello, his marriage, or Desdemona, for that matter. To be precise, he cares for no one but himself.

Another characteristic that makes Iago unique is that he is clever. Being smart is a good thing but being smart and evil is not. Iago knows enough about human nature and, Othello in particular, to do severe damage. He uses Othello's jealousy against him and he does so in a calculated way. Iago knows he wants to destroy Othello and he knows that Desdemona is the love of Othello's life. To destroy that life means to...
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