Introduction to Iago’s Motivation
While uncovering Iago’s motivation to plot against Othello and Cassio, it is pertinent to mention “motiveless malignity” of A. C. Bradley that Iago simply hates for the sake of hatred and does not tolerate any good, loving “evil purely for itself” (139). But at the same time, he is also a human being who has hatred against Othello that springs from various motives such as stopping his money-making drive from Roderigo in the name of Desdemona. Roderigo says that Iago “hast had my purse” (Shakespeare 1.1.3). The second reason could be the superseding of his post that Othello awards to Cassio who is not superior to him in skills but only in loyalty to the Moor. There could be other reasons for his diabolical machinations but they all mostly spring from the hatred that has emerged from the reason that Othello is becoming a threat to his money he gets from Roderigo. Although he is considered an innocent and good person by all other characters to whom he causes serious harm by involving in one or the other plot, he has harbored the single aim of destroying Othello and all others who are coming his way, but at the same time Bradley’s views seem to have some support, for he is against everything that seems good. The formal analysis reveals that Iago’s motivation is money from Roderigo, and his jealousy against Othello for causing him bad repute and promoting Cassio while jealousy and hatred against Cassio stems from his undue promotion and his loyalty to the Moor.
Money as Iago’s Motivation
As far as money is concerned, it seems Iago’s motivation of this is clearly involved in manipulating the infatuation of Roderigo for Desdemona. Roderigo is madly in love with Desdemona and has met failure in wooing her. To top it all, he finds that she has already eloped with the Moor, whom he hates for his battlefield experience. When he talks to Iago about it, Iago reveals in the very first lines that Iago is taking from him money as if it is all his, and the last line that he “shouldst know of this” (1.3) seems a sort of warning for Iago that it would stop, if he does not succeed. This Iago does not verify, as he alludes Roderigo into making him believe that he truly despises the Moor the reason that he is collaborating with Roderigo. It also seems that he is informing Roderigo about other motivation that seems to make Roderigo believe that Iago is with him and that he will woo back Desdemona for him or plot something against the Moor. This shows that Iago hates Othello but he is also jealous of him due to his having many “war epithets” to his name (1.1. 14). Here it becomes a double hatred, but it seems a jealousy of the position of Othello, too.
Jealousy of Iago’s Motivation
The situation becomes even more frustrating for Iago though none other character speaks about Othello’s illicit relations with his wife except himself as he reveals in his soliloquy that the people are talking about Othello that he has “that ‘twixt sheets / He has done my office” (1.3.388). This clearly alludes to the cause of jealousy as Iago’s motivation which could be a point that he is constantly plotting against Othello and everything that is connected with him in some or the other way. Although there is nothing mentioned about this second affair, it could be a machination of Iago’s mind to convince himself that he should turn his attention to plotting against the Moor who has made the string of his purse tight in an indirect way. The laughing matter over this motivation is that even Iago himself says that ” I know not if’t be true” (1.3.389). He, on the other hand, makes it sure that he would consider it confirmed. This points to the very first sentence where he has stated that he hates the Moor. After this, he has contrived reasons. Once he has made up his mind that he starts making plans to make Othello pay for it, and it is surely the creation of the previous motive of stopping his money as well as causing him to have low self-esteem by having a good reputation of a warring general. Although overall, due to his own confession, this is another Iago’s motivation, the prime hatred due to the promotion of Cassio seems genuine.
Promotion of Cassio as Iago’s Motivation
In fact, Cassio’s promotion is more due to Cassio’s fidelity and closeness with the Moor rather than due to his ability of knowing battle tactics or the art of warfare. Iago clearly says that Cassio has “never set a squadron in the field / Nor the divisions of the battle knows” (1.1.21-22). On the other hand, Cassio also has motive of jealousy for Iago that is a “fair wife” (1.1.21). It could be that Emilia, his own wife is not fair, but it is a motive of jealousy here that his wife is already in a relationship with the Moor, while both the Moor as well as Cassio have good and beautiful wives. This is, perhaps, linked to the jealousy he is feeling from Cassio’s promotion but it has transformed into hatred against the Moor and jealousy against Cassio. It has also become hatred against Cassio too, for if he harms the Moor and leaves Cassio, it indirectly means to give Cassio a chance to get another promotion leaving him far behind. He expresses his misgivings about Cassio when in the Second Act, they all arrive in Cyprus and Cassio greets his wife Emilia. He says, “I fear Cassion with my night-cap, too” (2.1.307). This somewhat raises the suspicion that he suspects his wife for having relations with Cassio, too which another sub-motive within the broad range of motives, but it could be otherwise too. However, one thing is pertinent to mention here that he again suspects his wife of having slept with the Moor at this point which clarifies his earlier lie and seems that he is convincing himself again. This seems another Iago’s motivation.
Levels of Iago’s Motivation
His motive of ensnaring Cassio goes on two levels. The first is that Cassio is promoted over him un-deservingly and unjustly and second is that his wife is fair, as it has already been stated. The third motive is also stated that is fear. However, what is not stated is that it is also jealousy due to his own handsome features. And second is that Cassio has been a cause of his misery, the reason that he sets Roderigo to kill Cassio or vice versa, thinking that “Every way makes my gain” (5.1.12). This means he is merely jealous of Cassio more than the Moor, for he also thinks that Cassio “has daily beauty in his life” (5.1.19). This is an indication that he contrasts himself with his beautiful nature as well as his handsome features and thinks that he cannot come close to Cassio. This also points to his bad nature that in this way he cannot come close to goodness, the reason that goodness must be destroyed in every way, so that he could replace the Moor.
Conclusion
Concluding the essay, it could be stated that though Iago is an evil-incarnate, he is still a human being, but the problem with him is that he is caught in the net of hatred, jealousy, money-making drive and so many things that he is set to hate or feel jealous. His only option is to hate and then plot likewise. Therefore, Iago’s motivation is, at first, just hatred which leads to second, and then so on. The web spreads into jealousy against the black Moor for winning Desdemona which moves forward into having suspicion of the Moor and his own wife for illicit relations, then jealousy of promoting the inferior Cassio ignoring him. All these motives amalgamate into one another, leading him to convince himself more and weaving more plots to kill all whoever comes his way until all the people are at each other’s throats and Iago himself is wiped out in these machinations. This also proves that he has hatred against the Moor for his success not only in war but also in love which sets him to move plots against him. Moreover, Iago is also a greedy person who has set eyes on Roderigo, which is a sort of corruption and this corruption sets him on the course to other motives. All in all, whatever the motive is, they all become secondary to the prime motive of money-making and then feeling hatred against the Moor, leading to planning against all whoever is associated with him.
Works Cited
- Bradley, A. C. “1904 “Othello” from Shakespearean Tragedy. ” Bloom’s Shakespeare Through the Ages: Othello edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2008.
- Shakespeare, William. Othello.” Minnesota: Paradigm Publishing, 2005.
Relevant Questions about Iago’s Motivation for Plotting Against Othello and Cassio
- What are the underlying reasons and personal motivations that drive Iago’s motivation to plot against Othello and Cassio, and how do these motivations evolve throughout the play?
- How does Iago’s manipulation of other characters, such as Roderigo and Emilia, serve to further his agenda and advance his motives against Othello and Cassio?
- What psychological factors or character traits contribute to Iago’s willingness to orchestrate a complex and destructive plot against individuals he interacts with on a daily basis, and what does this reveal about his nature as a villain in the play?
