Final answer:
Shakespeare intends for the audience to recognize Iago's cunning and manipulative skills, evoking a sense of aversion for his treacherous acts while also acknowledging his intellectual prowess within the play 'Othello'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shakespeare's characterization of Iago in Othello is masterful, and he seems to want audiences to feel a complex set of emotions toward this character. While Iago's actions are undoubtedly villainous and deceitful, Shakespeare crafts Iago to be a complex antagonist whose intelligence and manipulative skills are both fascinating and horrifying to observe. The playwright does not seem to intend for us to like or trust Iago; instead, he wants us to appreciate Iago's cunning while also reviling his treacherous acts. Through Iago's soliloquies and interactions with other characters, we gain insight into his motivations and schemes, which further amplifies our disdain for his character, yet strangely enough, also provokes a grudging admiration for his intellect and strategic mind.