he is "Honest Iago." His first victim is Roderigo. Roderigo remarks, "That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine." [Act I, Scene I, Line 2] Throughout the play, Iago leads Roderigo, professing that ". . . I do hate [the Moor] as I do Hell pains." [Act I, Scene I, Line 152] He tells Roderigo to "Put money in thy purse" [Act I, Scene III, Line 328] so that he can win Desdemona with gifts. Iago keeps for himself those gifts that Roderigo intends for Desdemona. Roderigo eventually questions Iago's honesty, saying "I think it is scurvy, and begin to find myself fopped in it." [Act IV, Scene II, Line 191] When accused, Iago simply feeds false hope and offers that killing Cassio will aid Roderigos cause. Roderigo laps it up like a starving dog; "I have no great devotion to the deed, and yet he has given me satisfying reason." [Act V, Scene I, Line 8] And with this deed, Roderigo is lead to his death by the hands of "Honest Iago." Cassio also believes that Iago is trying to help him. Iago is planning the demise of his supposed friend. On the night of Cassio's watch, Iago persuades him to take another drink, knowing that it will make him very drunk. Cassio reluctantly relents, saying "I'll do't, but it dislikes me." [Act II, Scene III, Line 37] Iago is able to make him defy his own reasoning to take another drink by plying Cassios nature to be needed, admired, and a comrade to his charge. Later Roderigo follows through with Iago's plan to make Cassio look like an irresponsible fool. Crafty Iago has gained; Cassio is terminated from lieutenant. Iago then sets another of his plans in motion. He tells Cassio to beg Desdemona to help his cause, saying, "She holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested." [Act II, Scene III, Line 284 Cassio blindly tells Iago, "You advise me well." [Act II, Scene III, Line 289] Eventually Iago snares Cassio and Roderigo attempts to murder him. Othello holds ...
