"Othello" and the Effects of Revenge

Iago refuses to explain his actions, even though he knows torture and death will surely befall him because of it, possibly to attempt and regain whatever control over the situation he can.
"It is not sufficient to simply drape Iago in allegorical trappings and proclaim him Mister Evil...such a limited view of Iago is an injustice to the complexity of his character, since Shakespeare's studies in personality are acclaimed by psychologists for their accuracy and profundity." The reflections of the English Renaissance help explain the strong reflections of psychology in Shakespeare's work. Iago is definitely a character that struggles with his own identity as well as the basic struggle of good versus evil. Although at the beginning of the play Iago has his own reasons for exacting revenge upon his friend, he quickly loses sight of these reasons and seems to acquire alternative motives for causing problems, seemingly just causing trouble in the lives of his loved ones for the sport of it.
…