Who Is Iago's Motivation In Othello

Guided by the evils of one magnificent, deviant sinner: Iago. Though displays may differ to viewers, one’s undoing can be sought from the most subtle actions. What causes one to destroy another’s life? Iago’s true motivation in ruining othello’s life is gratuitous.

William Shakespeare is commonly known for his tragic and deceiving plays. From Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, to Hamlet characteristics like treachery, jealousy, and manipulation are inscribed throughout his work. Wolves have the “conversation of death” before they attack their prey; while Iago stealthily used Othello’s character flaws and jealousy, convincing him that his wife committed adultery acts, in his play Othello. In the play Iago uses other people’s low self esteem against them.

This decision causes a stir of anger and jealousy within Iago, who then decides to use those emotions as motivation to manipulate Brabantio, Roderigo, and Othello in order to get Cassio fired so that he can be appointed as lieutenant. Iago does so by convincing Othello that his wife,

In the first scene of the play, Iago reveals his true feelings towards Othello, “I do hate him, I swear” (1.1 8-10). During this scene, Iago reveals his motive for destroying Othello, because he was

In review of Richard Raatzsch’s “The Apologetics of Evil: The Case of Iago,” Colin McGinn of the University of Miami explains how Othello’s audience is unclear of Iago’s motivation, for that his actions are clearly grasped, but “we don’t understand why he does what he does.” (McGinn) In McGinn’s review, he further explains how Raatzch pointed out Iago’s three interpretations of his motives. “The first is the resentment… he feels in being passed over for promotion…

You can almost call Iago half a “motiveless malignity” because in the story he does do things to people that seems to just happen because of his true evil nature. At the same time he isn’t completely due to his plan for why he is doing this in the first place. The fact he also doesn’t reveal why he has went forth with his plan at the end is also a major point for this argument as well. People say Shakespeare wrote that because he wanted the audience to know that even Iago wouldn’t say why he did it because he doesn’t know why. He had no motive and just wanted to see Othello and everyone else around sink in complete and utter chaos.

Othello chose Michael Cassio, a man “That never set a squadron in the field,” as described by Iago. His lack of combat experience causes Iago to become jealous. Iago’s jealousy makes him plan an entire plot to derank Cassio in order for Othello to give him the rank. Iago is afraid that he will not be recognized for his work in battles. Iago states “He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, And I, bless the mark, his Moorship’s ancient” (1.1.34-35).

Readers can see the jealous sense of contempt in the monologue below. “I hate the Moor; And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets He’s done my office” (Shakespeare, 1610-11/2014, 1.3.397, Iago, p.620). At this point in the production, readers might question if his thoughts find substance in his suspicions or known facts. “Iago goes on to concede the unlikelihood of his charge” (Bevington, 2014, p

"Bradley believes Iago 's methods are considered plausible in the play. Leavis feels that Iago displays ‘a not uncommon kind of grudging malice’ and has enough of a grievance to explain his motivation. Some critics question whether Iago understands his own motivations. Hazlitt’s view of the villain has been extended so that Iago is now considered an example of the typical stage Machiavel who ‘personifies rationality, self-interest, hypocrisy, cunning, expediency and efficient “policie”’, he is an ‘amoral artist’ who seeks to fashion a world in his own image (Leah Scragg, ‘Iago – vice or

Iago also manipulates Othello with jealousy. When Othello is gone at war, Iago tells him that Cassio and Desdemona were getting too close. At first Othello does not believe him, but by Iago saying “nothing,my lord; or if- I know not what” Othello starts to question if it is true (III. III. 39). Iago constantly uses his “innocence” to make Othello jealous and start to assume that it is true. These actions eventually lead to a tragic event.

In the play Othello, William Shakespeare creates an elaborate tragedy with various in depth characters, enhancing the story with powerful characterization. Iago, the main antagonist of Othello, exemplifies Shakespeare’s use of characterization to create in depth and complex characters. Using his manipulative nature, intellectual mind, egotistical attitude, and dishonesty, Iago controls the other characters in order to achieve his goal, leading Othello to succumb to an overwhelming jealousy causing his downfall. In order for Iago to gain control of the characters in the play, he manipulates Othello, Roderigo, Cassio, and more to believe false information and turn on one another.

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is the right-hand man of the general of the Venetian army, Othello. Unexpectedly, Iago’s promotion was passed to a strategist, Michael Cassio. This event kick start the tragedy of the play. Hence, the passing of promotion, in my opinion, is the core motivation of Iago’s animosity against Othello and Cassio.

Othello Portfolio Act 1 Summary Scene One → Roderigo and Iago are arguing about an unknown subject, in which Iago says he is upset about the fact that someone has been named Lieutenant instead of him - Cassio. Iago is the Ancient to Othello, the Moor. Iago wants revenge, so he and Roderigo go to Brabantio’s house and wake him, telling him that his house is being robbed and that his daughter has run off with the Moor. Brabantio doesn’t believe them at first, but he goes to her room to find that she really isn’t there. As he goes to her room to check, Iago leaves because he is supposed to be on the Moor’s side.

This is a play about Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian armed force. He is a definitive miscreant in this play instead of Iago, the high positioning officer. Most would concur indeed that Iago is without a doubt the antagonist of this sad story. So as to see this, a shallow appraisal of the two main characters in the play; Othello and Iago, should be made. The specialty of investigation all alone rejects the basic simple clarifications yet rather bargains in the mind boggling actualities.

Looking into Othello further we can see that Iago is a power thirsty character that dwells in his corruption and evil which makes him such a disturbing villain. Iago gives a sheer numbers of excuses to try and prove his ulterior motives, conveniently adding new reasons for his hate every time he needs to encourage Roderigo to do something for him. Iago first announces that he wants to get revenge on Othello and Cassio due to professional jealousy, as he was passed up for the promotion of lieutenant in the place of “Florentine” Michael Cassio. Having fought alongside Othello in three previous battles and expressed his loyalty, Iago