Though Othello is the protagonist, the majority of the soliloquies and asides are given to Iago. Why?
"As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad,
And his unbookish jealousy must construe
Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures, and light behavior
Quite in the wrong..." IV.i.98-102
The play is named after Othello, and revolves around his eventual demise, but Iago holds the cards. All of these events are happening to Iago, but only because Iago is making it so. Moreover, Iago is completely controlling Othello. Just as novels display the thoughts of protagonists, Iago's asides will essentially become Othello's thoughts because Iago is controlling Othello. This whole scheme also shines a light on Iago that causes the reader to almost like Iago. One cannot help but to admire his intelligence and hope that his evil plan works. It also leaves the play's audience in suspense as they wait for all the other characters to unveil Iago's secrets. It creates a certain dramatic irony that makes the play so great.
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