Othello is a resolute leader who the reader finds he wants to be more like. His experiences are unparalleled and that is what makes him such a popular leader. He has seen many battles and fought many battles; his stories are legendary among those who revere him. In our day he would be the man that every man would like to be like and the man that every woman would like, but even those who are revered have enemies. If this were not the case, there would be no way for him to become so revered. By overcoming so many obstacles Othello made a very convincing enemy. In this article we will explore Iago's dark secrets and expose and examine what makes him such a great villain. William Shakespeare used various literary devices such as characterization, metaphors, irony, and symbols to portray Iago as a cunning villain. Shakespeare's keen use of characterization creates a great opposition between the protagonist and the antagonist. Iago, Shakespeare's villain, is exactly the opposite of our protagonist Othello. After being confronted, with swords drawn, Othello says: “Keep your swords shining, for the dew will rust them. Good Lord, you will command more with years than with weapons. Othello's diplomatic sense distinguished him as a distinguished gentleman before a soldier. Telling soldiers to lower their swords eases tension and creates an opening for a peaceful resolution. To further demonstrate Othello's devotion to diplomacy, he asks Barbanzio, "Where do you want me to go to answer this accusation of yours?" When Barbanzio replies, “In prison,” Othello obeys, saying, “What if I obeyed? How can the duke be satisfied with this? (Shakespeare 16) These are just a few examples of Othello's obedience and how his actions distinguish... middle of paper... gonism. Characterization was used to emphasize Othello's gentlemanly nature and status as a noble soldier, while in contrast, Iago's actions established him as a conniving saboteur. These differences create a tension that highlights the good in our protagonist and the bad in our antagonist. Iago used metaphors that showed his manipulative pattern of malice. A subtle placement of irony mitigates our negative perceptions of Iago. Symbolism played a crucial role in Othello, this may have been the highlight of the literary devices used to demonstrate that Iago was a great villain in the play Othello. Symbolism was the tool on which the entire play was based. If it weren't for the handkerchief and the inherent symbolism, Othello would have gone very differently. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Othello. Delhi, 2007. David O. Mckay Library. Network. January 18.2012.