Othello

In Othello, Iago is the most thought provoking because we are trying to figure out what makes him tick.  Iago adjusts his behaviour to every situation and to whom he is interacting with.  He changes with such ease that it appears unnatural; fake.  This combination has us asking, why is he acting this way?  Iago has four motivations: malice, profit, revenge, and control.  

         Firstly, Iago is prone to jealousy and hate.  This side is evident in his words, “Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains” (1.1.152). And again we see his hatred when he says, “I have told thee often, and I retell thee again and again, I hate the Moor, my cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason.  Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him.” (1.3.352-355).  Secondly, Iago behaves as he does for his own profit.  Throughout Othello Iago often refers to Roderigo and his money, for example, “Make all the money thou canst and put money in thy purse.” (1.3.333-348).This side of Iago is revealed by Roderigo when he states, “Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine” (1.1.2-3).  His self-serving nature is revealed, “In following him, I follow but myself” (1.1.58).  In addition, Iago is also hoping he will be made lieutenant, a post he was earlier denied, by discrediting Cassio.  Perhaps, proving to Othello he promoted the wrong man.  This ties in with Iago’s motive of revenge.  He was passed over for promotion and resents Othello for not seeing his worth, “In personal suit to make me his lieutenant….I am worth no worse a place: but he, as loving his own pride and purposes, evades them.” (1.1.9-13).  In addition, it is rumoured that Othello has slept with his wife, “I hate the Moor; and it is thought abroad, that ‘twixt my sheets H’as done my office: I know not if’t be true but I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety (1.3.370-375).  Iago explains how severely this possibility bothers him, “For partly led to diet my revenge for that I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leap’d into my seat; the thought whereof doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards; and nothing can or shall content my soul ‘till I have even’d with him, wife for wife.” (2.1.274-280).  Lastly, above all else Iago enjoys manipulating everyone as if he were a puppeteer.  This stems from his resentment about being in service.  He feels that his abilities are overlooked because of it.  We saw this earlier when Iago was passed over for promotion.  He also states, ‘Tis the curse of service, preferment goes by letter and affection, and not by old gradation” (1.1.34-36).  His resentment of his place motivates him to turn the tables by “puppeteering” the others.  This gives him great pleasure to affect them severely enough to change their courses of action. It is his method  “He will manipulate anyone necessary for his own gain and to exact his revenge.  He manipulates Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello throughout the play.  Iago is able to pinpoint the traits that he can prey upon to manipulate the others.  For example, “He holds me well; the better shall my purpose work upon him” (1.3.374-375). And he explains further, “The Moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so” (1.3.382-383).  In these examples Iago is saying he can exploit the trust of Othello.  With regards to Cassio he uses Cassio`s position and looks to his advantage (1.3.375-380).  And Iago exploits Roderigo`s yearning for Desdemona in order to motivate Roderigo to plot against Othello seen by “my cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason.  Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him” (1.3.353-355

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