Exploring Iago’s Motive
Iago, as the protagonist in Shakespeare’s Othello, is one of the quintessential scheming villains in literature to the point that many modern villains are compared to him. Despite the name of the tragedy, Iago is indeed the protagonist, as the play follows Iago through his scheming and manipulation of everyone around him. What many wonder, however, what the motive behind Iago’s mechanizations is, and while looking at the text may glean some of his motivation, by the end of the play when his wife, Emelia, foils Iago’s plan just as everything comes into fruition, Iago refuses to reveal why he did what he did—leaving his motives up to much debate: “…What you know, you know. / From this time forth I never will speak word.” …show more content…
He is, most assuredly, not in it to make friends as he indicates when he calls Roderigo a dullard. After commenting on his game with Roderigo, Iago continues his soliloquy by saying, “I hate the moor” (1.3.429). It should not be ignored that Iago is calling attention to Othello’s race; indeed, by saying that he hates the moor, he is saying that he hates Othello because of his race similarly to how a modern racist would say that they hate the Mexican, African, or any other minority, which Othello was in Italy. Iago continues his soliloquy after commenting on his hatred of Othello the …show more content…
Explicitly, though his soliloquys, Iago admits jealousy and hatred for the moor as his motivation, the latter most likely driven by racial prejudice, and if you believe what he says to Roderigo, his motivation is also motivated by the desire for upward mobility in a military rank. He also admitted that the manipulation of others was a game—implying that it was enjoyable for him. However one interprets Iago’s game, no one can know his true purpose—as Shakespeare
Iago, as the protagonist in Shakespeare’s Othello, is one of the quintessential scheming villains in literature to the point that many modern villains are compared to him. Despite the name of the tragedy, Iago is indeed the protagonist, as the play follows Iago through his scheming and manipulation of everyone around him. What many wonder, however, what the motive behind Iago’s mechanizations is, and while looking at the text may glean some of his motivation, by the end of the play when his wife, Emelia, foils Iago’s plan just as everything comes into fruition, Iago refuses to reveal why he did what he did—leaving his motives up to much debate: “…What you know, you know. / From this time forth I never will speak word.” …show more content…
He is, most assuredly, not in it to make friends as he indicates when he calls Roderigo a dullard. After commenting on his game with Roderigo, Iago continues his soliloquy by saying, “I hate the moor” (1.3.429). It should not be ignored that Iago is calling attention to Othello’s race; indeed, by saying that he hates the moor, he is saying that he hates Othello because of his race similarly to how a modern racist would say that they hate the Mexican, African, or any other minority, which Othello was in Italy. Iago continues his soliloquy after commenting on his hatred of Othello the …show more content…
Explicitly, though his soliloquys, Iago admits jealousy and hatred for the moor as his motivation, the latter most likely driven by racial prejudice, and if you believe what he says to Roderigo, his motivation is also motivated by the desire for upward mobility in a military rank. He also admitted that the manipulation of others was a game—implying that it was enjoyable for him. However one interprets Iago’s game, no one can know his true purpose—as Shakespeare