What motives and reasons caused Iago to commit these dastardly deeds and lead him to destroy all those close to him as well as himself? After reading Othello, I feel the Marxist Criticism is the best perspective in providing evidence to explain why Iago does the horrible things throughout the play. Although Othello, Desdemona, Cassio and Roderigo are seen as members of the upper ruling class they are easily manipulated by Iago who is part of the lower working class.
In the first act, we learn that Iago is not only smart but devious. He is upset that he is not chosen for the position of lieutenant by Othello. He tells Roderigo "We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed." (1.1.43-44). It is clear Iago is waiting for
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He intentionally plots to get Cassio drunk and knows he will end up getting into a fight. “If I can fasten but one cup upon him, with that which he hath drunk tonight already, he'll be as full of quarrel and offense as my young mistress' dog.” (2.3.49-52). Iago is plotting an elaborate scheme to get Cassio in trouble with Othello, so Desdemona will come to his rescue and cause Othello to become not only jealous but suspicious.
Throughout the play Iago was outspoken and spun numerous lies and treachery. It is almost fitting that as Othello demands to know why Iago wanted to destroy him, Iago is silent. “Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word.” (5.2.355-356). One would think that after all the calculating Iago went through he would want to revel in his mastery but refuses to explain his actions.
Iago wants the world to see him as he sees himself, as the center of everything. He is a master of deception and manipulation as his true motive is his need for power. He draws pleasure being able to use his powers to influence and control others. He is a villain who refuses to let anything stand in his way in his quest for
The Reason why Iago develop such as evil plan is because Iago suspect that Othello is having an affair with his wife Emilia. He cited when he said "And it is thought abroad that 'twist my sheets he's done my office." The irony behind this line is that he then says, "I know not if't be true, but I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety." That mean, He is not sure that Othello is having an affair with his wife but he will pay anyhow, this show that Iago is so blind with his jealousy that he will do anything on his reach to make Othello for such act no sure committed.
As early as the first scene of the play Iago shows us strong motives for his actions. In this first scene we see Othello, a general of Venice, has made Cassio his new lieutant. Iago feels he truly deserves his promotion as he says "I know my price, I am worth more no worse a place."(l.i.12) Iago over here is confused why Othello has made such a stupid decision. Iago is a man with a tremendous ego who knows, sometimes overestimates, his worth. Roderigo, a Venetian gentleman, understands Iago when Iago said that he is "affined to love the Moor."(l.i.41-42) What Iago really means is "I follow him to serve my term upon him."(l.i.45) Iago wants to use Othello for his personal goals. We also must put ourselves into Iago's shoes. He is a man whose self-esteem and professional carrier have just been torn apart. Iago makes his actions of revenge toward Othello almost immediately by informing Brabantio, a Venetian senator and father of Desdemona, that "an old black ram (Othello) is tupping (his) white ewe (Desdemona)."(l.i.97)
To better understand Iago’s effect on these different characters, it is important to look in to his own character. Iago’s motives are not clear, however, it is true that he despises Othello, and that he is jealous of the fact that Michael Cassio had taken over the role of lieutenant; a role that Iago wanted very badly. It is in the beginning of the play that Iago confesses to follow Othello but not be loyal to him,
Iago's strength lay in the fact that while he projects his inward bitterness outward to those around him, others project their own positive qualities onto Iago. Iago identifies Othello's vulnerability in his "free and open nature . . .That thinks men honest that but seem to be so" (1.3.400-1). His comment relates directly back to Othello's statement to the Duke, "Please your Grace, my ancient. A man he is of honesty and trust" (1.3.286-7). Here we see Othello projecting his own characteristics - honesty - onto Iago, and Iago taking note of this tendency and planning to take advantage of it.
In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello, Iago demonstrates a mastery of manipulation over people who had previously trusted and confided in him. His sudden turn from Othello’s loyal ensign to rage-filled villain seems indicative of a man who can no longer accept his position in life. Iago’s plotting of Othello’s demise starts as idle talk of a disgruntled 28 year-old career military man passed over for promotion. Iago believes that such a promotion may never come after Othello rejects his candidacy and makes it clear that he did not believe him suitable. He sees Othello is only concerned with personal and political gain with his choice of Cassio as lieutenant. When Iago teams with love-scorned and desperate Roderigo, he begins to construct Othello’s downfall. Iago is declaring an all-out covert war on Othello, Cassio, and anyone else who gets in his way. In Iago’s first speech in Act I Scene II, he proclaims hatred for Othello and lays out his plan for seeking vengeance. “After some time, to abuse Othello’s ears that he is too familiar with his wife (Shakespeare 1473).”
He is greedy for power and jealous of Cassio for being promoted above. him, and will do anything to stop Othello and Cassio. In Act 1 Scene 1, Iago starts to manipulate Othello straight away. Iago speaks to Roderigo about how he despises Othello and wants revenge. I will be a sailor.
Iago, the obvious villain in this love story gone array shows his true colors from the very begin of the play. Iago speaking with Roderigo in act I tells Roderigo that “I know my price; I am worth no worse a place” speaking about himself in a conceited way; referring to a promotion to luntenit that was not given to him but instead to Cassio. Iago later confesses that he only follows Othello so he can turn on him "I follow him to serve my turn upon him." Iago in upset after several years of service he wasn’t promoted but instead it was Cassio who receives the promotion (Give several quotes) Iago seems to want to hide under reasons and excuses behind his action. The dastardly villain makes it clear that he isn’t just immoral; he...
We see Iago beginning his plans at the very start of the play. “But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at, I am not what I am.”(Oth 1:1:64-65) He immediately tries to start trouble with Brabantio and Othello over the marriage to Desdemona. Iago want to get in Othello’s way because he was passed over for general and Cassio was chosen instead. We see from the start how he plots against Othello and he involves several characters in his plans.
On closer examination, throughout the play we see Iago manipulating all the characters in turn; this shows that he is an expert master manipulator for everyone to be deceived by him. When reading this play we don’t expect Othello to be as easily manipulated by Iago as he was.
Though Iago may not have a purpose of participating in many of his acts of evil, he presents it as a self-obsessed, driven supremacy. He plots to destroy Othello and to gain dominance by observing each weakness from Othello, and takes advantage of it. He uses his aid of human nature to help with his evil schemes and plots throughout the play. Because he identified Othello’s weaknesses and was able to use verbal persuasion to not only gain Othello’s trust, but to also use that as a benefit to what he wanted to accomplish. It is of great importance for an evil mastermind to not only know the nature of evil but to achieve the nature of good.... ...
Iago understands how to use people. He knows what to say and how to act to influence people’s actions. This is way he is such a terrifying villain. The character of Iago is the perfect mould to start with when crafting the perfect villain.
In the very beginning of Act I Iago displays his hatred for Othello. He is angry with him for making Cassio the lieutenant. Jealousy is his first motive. He then tells Roderigo (a former suitor of Desdemona) that Othello and Desdemona are getting married. The two of them then go and tell Desdemona's father, Brabantio, that Othello and his daughter have just eloped. This infuriates Brabantio. Soon after, Brabantio gets a gang after Othello. Iago's treachery is first displayed here. When Othello is confronted Iago is on his side. Iago was the person who instigated the whole situation. Shakespeare does a very good job in showing what kind of person Iago is, right from the beginning of the play. The reader begins to realize this before any of the characters in the play do. He did this so the reader will begin to see how evil Iago is, yet how unjustified his reasoning is. Act I is where Iago pieces together his whole sinister plot to get revenge. He first tells Roderigo to sell all he has and move to Cypress to court Desdemona. The last stanza of Act I is where he manifests his grand scheme. His idea is to get Othello into thinking Cassio is in love with Desdemona.
Iago has been excellent at saying the what is needed to get to people, he misleads them to get a reaction he wants out of them. He is clever with his words to avoid confrontation that can easily happen. “Othello 's confusion is the human experience of language. In other words, language itself, not the outside world, determines meaning” (Christofides 2). Iago uses his words against Othello to get him to do Iago’s doings. Iago has an eloquence with
Iago is jealous of cassio because he became Othello’s lieutenant. Iago is jealous because he felt that he was the one to get that position, because he believed that he deserved it, but did not receive what he wanted. Cassio has turned into a bit of a playboy and slept with women, possibly iagos wife. Here are a few quotes about Othello, iago says, “I do suspect a trusty moor hath leaped into my seat”. I do think this is saying, that iago is thinking that Othello has slept with his wife emilia. The next quote shows that, iago wants to do to Othello what he did to him. Revenge. “Till i've evened with him, wife for wife”. Iago shows his potential of jealousy to become so destructive. Iagos wife emilia says to Desdemona (Othello’s wife), “who would not make her husband old to make him a monarch?” Iago also starts to say things about cassio like, “ for I fear cassio with my night cap too.” Iago...
So what drives Iago to commit all these acts? Jealousy is a major portion, but perhaps Iago views this all as a game as well. He prides himself on his wit and cunning and is appreciated for it by his peers. Perhaps it is ego that drives Iago to do all of this, a test of his skills to see if he can keep so many threads playing together and for his benefit.