Iago's Motivation For Revenge In Othello By William Shakespeare

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Recommended: Analysis of The Tragedy Othello

The play Othello written by William Shakespeare illustrates the life of a Venetian army general named Othello in the early 1600s. Othello has given the promotion of the lieutenant position to an unqualified Cassio. This promotion angers Othello’s ensign Iago, who wanted the promotion himself. This anger results in Iago acquiring a secret hatred and jealousy towards Othello. Iago creates an elaborate plan of revenge to ruin the life of the general. The revengeful plans and deceitfulness throughout the rest of the play sets the theme of what you see not always being what you get. A great deal of resentment and conflicts between characters becomes motivation for getting revenge. The desire for revenge felt by the characters exhibited in …show more content…

He is powerful and respected, he is an outsider because of his race and older age. Othello has recently married Desdemona, the young and innocent daughter of Senator Brabantio. His ensign Iago convinces Othello that his new bride has been unfaithful by cheating on Othello with Cassio. Othello is extremely angered to hear this, and cannot comprehend the news. The seeds of doubt continuously drilled into Othello led to lose trust and dislike Desdemona. His love for his wife turns to hatred and hostility: “Ay, let her rot, and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone” (Shakespeare 4.1.200-202). This hate leads Othello to crave revenge. He wishes to kill Desdemona to take vengeance for her alleged actions. The profound anger allows Othello to consider such drastic revenge tactics towards someone he once loved and had a previous devotion to. He is so convinced by Iago’s lies that he believes his wife should no longer live. If Iago had not implanted Othello with these ideas, he and Desdemona would have lived happy lives together. The anger planted a desire for revenge in Othello that he eventually acted upon resulting in the murder of Desdemona and ultimately his own …show more content…

Iago is the human equivalent of deceit and manipulation. His hate for the general begins when Othello decides to promote Cassio to become Lieutenant of the army and not Iago. Iago feels as if Cassio is not qualified for the position and that he should have received it himself. He blames Othello for not choosing him and develops a grudge and hate towards Othello. He begins to hate Othello so much that he convinces himself that not only did Othello cheat him of the promotion but also slept with his wife. Iago tells the audience about his hate for the general and his new suspicions: “I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets' Has done my office. I know not if 't be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety” (Shakespeare 1.3.329-433). Iago wants revenge on Othello for depriving him of the position he was aiming for. To get his revenge, he develops a complicated plan. He persuades Othello into believing that Desdemona is cheating on him, tricks Roderigo into giving him all of his money, and convinces Othello to kill both Desdemona and Cassio. In addition to convincing Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful, he manages to become even more ‘honest’ to Othello. Othello demotes Cassio from being lieutenant and gives the position to Iago instead. Iago becomes a master of fraud and trickery as a

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