What Was Iago's Motivation In Othello

It is commonly thought that Iago caused the events of “Othello” because he acts as if he did. However we never know what his motivation for this may have been, though hints of it are left within the text. This led to the conclusion that Iago’s motivation is his egomaniacal belief that he is better and more deserving than anyone else. This reflects negatively on the other characters in the play and leads to the events of Act V Scene 2. Iago’s view of himself as being the most important, most deserving person are a direct cause of that. Iago’s actions are egomaniacal. His motivation is his belief that he is more deserving than others and in some way greater, more important, than them. This is represented in the text as he plots to ruin anyone who gets in the way of ‘what he deserves,’ specifically Othello and

In Act IV Scene 2 Iago tells Roderigo that he should undertake “... the removing of Cassio.,” (Line 467) because that would make Desdemona stay longer in Cyprus. He plays off of Roderigo’s feelings for her to get what he wants which is to ruin Cassio and Othello by taking away what makes them who they are. However when he saw that Roderigo could get in his way he murdered him, but only after he had used Roderigo to destroy Cassio’s reputation by having him antagonize Cassio while he (Cassio) was drunk and cause him to lash out and hurt Roderigo causing Othello to fire him as lieutenant. Cassio laments at the lose of his reputation in Act II Scene 3, “O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestail.” Iago takes a different approach with Othello and uses Othello’s trust in him to manipulate his feelings, planting false ideas in his head. All of Iago’s actions sprung from his belief that he is more deserving and more important than everyone else and he will do anything to maintain