Iago's shear purpose in the play was to systematically destroy Othello's life. He did this by carefully convincing Othello that his wife, Desdemona, practiced infidelity. He plotted alone to do this, using Roderigo, a wealthy Venetian nobleman, for finances. When Iago plotted against Othello, he would do so in soliloquies directed towards the audience. Some of his most important soliloquies in the story were the first and second soliloquies he recited.

In his first conversation with the audience, Iago tries to gain their sympathy. In the beginning of the play, to convince the audience that he should have been promoted to lieutenant instead of Cassio, he stated that "great ones of the city, in personal suit to make me his lieutenant, off-capped to him" (1.1, 7). These unnamed influential Venetians supposedly recommended Iago for the rank of Lieutenant. Instead Othello chose Cassio, a man, Iago believes, whose military incompetence is...