Othello Essay

Nicole Civitarese
English 10 Honors/ Mr. George
2/4/09
Othello Essay
Iago’s Motive
The play “Othello”, written by William Shakespeare, it has many twists and turns that cause changes in some characters actions due to Iago’s manipulative nature. There are points in the play where characters act sincere and trustworthy, but are the exact opposite. The character that best models this backstabbing and two-faced nature is Iago. Iago’s intentions are not fully understood by everyone because they never know if he is telling the truth or not. The motive that pushes Iago to being such a conniving person is jealousy. Iago creates a plan to manipulate people and ruin their lives because he is a jealous person. Iago’s motive of jealousy causes him to create a plan to take the lieutenant position from Cassio, and to destroy the love between Othello and Desdemona.
Iago is known, by others, as an honest man. He is actually the complete opposite of what people know him as. Iago proves that by saying, “I am not what I am” (Shakespeare 1.1.62). In the play, Iago is the most backstabbing, conniving character. Sadly, no other character can see the outcome of what Iago is trying to accomplish. Iago continues to be a trusted character throughout the play: “My life upon her faith! Honest Iago, My Desdemona I leave to thee” (1.3.288-290). Othello is trusting Iago enough to leave his wife with him because he must go and fight the Turks. He continues to trust Iago, even while Iago is backstabbing him. Iago manipulates Othello to obtain the position of Othello’s lieutenant.


Cassio had the position of Othello’s lieutenant and Iago wanted it. Iago only wanted it because he was jealous of Cassio and thought he deserved it more than him: “He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, and I God bless the mark! - his Moorship’s ancient” (1.1.28-30). Iago is jealous and angry. Iago states that he has served longer then Cassio, but Othello still chose Cassio. Iago feels very jealous because he wants that position. Iago hates Cassio and Othello because of this. Iago seeks revenge on the two of them because of his jealousy, and he wants to figure out a way to ruin their lives. Iago frames Cassio and makes him drink to get drunk: “Come lieutenant, I have a stoup of wine, and here without a brace of Cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to heath of black Othello” (2.3.27-30). Iago wants Cassio to get in trouble with Othello to get his position taken away. When Othello finds out he takes the position of lieutenant away from Cassio. Iago continues his plan to convince Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. He creates this plan to get the position of lieutenant, but when he does receive the position, he does not stop there.
Iago’s jealousy made him destroy Othello and Desdemona’s relationship. Iago tells Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair. Othello starts to become jealous and angry so Iago tells Othello, “O, beware, my lord of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on” (3.3.165-166). He tells Othello jealousy is bad and it only bothers people who let the jealousy get to them. Othello is buying into Iago’s sneaky plan and believing everything he says. Now that Iago has become lieutenant, he knows he must continue to complete the rest of his plan or people will know he was lying. Iago’s desire for better things, like destroying a loving relationship, also made him continue his evil plan; instead of, being pleased with what he got.

Iago now wants revenge on Othello. Iago keeps saying little things about Cassio and Desdemona to Othello to trigger his patience and anger. Othello keeps buying into the nonsense and believes Desdemona is cheating on him. Desdemona has been faithful the whole time and Othello believes the opposite because of Iago. Iago gives Cassio a handkerchief, the first gift Othello gave Desdemona, which makes Othello angrier. Othello is so convinced that Desdemona is cheating, he wants Cassio and Desdemona dead. Before Othello could realize the truth he kills Desdemona. When she is dead he finally realizes Iago is pure evil and was lying the entire time. “Are there no stones in heaven/ But what serve for the thunder? Precious villain!”(5.2.231-232). Othello furious at Iago, calls him a villain and wishes death upon him. Othello realizing Iago was lying the whole time opened up his eyes to what Iago had done. In the end, everyone realized what Iago really was all along.
Iago was untrustworthy and conniving, and his true motive of jealousy was revealed. Iago’s revenge was complete, but he never actually said, out loud, what he did. Iago only said he told Othello what he thought was happening between Cassio and Desdemona: “I told him what I thought, and told him no more than what he found himself was apt and true” (5.2.273-274). Iago told Othello what he thought and Othello just believed it; instead of, finding out for himself. Othello killed Desdemona and then himself because he assumed everything Iago said was true. Jealousy is just an over powering emotion, that causes trouble and pain.
Jealousy is an evil emotion that drives people to do evil things. Iago was definitely mistaken for an honest man. He proofs this by manipulating others and ruining their lives. He also destroys the love between Othello and Desdemona because of his jealousy and striving for revenge. Jealousy is what drove Iago and Othello to their actions. It is something they both have

and they both let it get the best of them. Iago let the jealousy destroy others lives and Othello let someone else help his jealousy. Jealousy is an evil emotion that causes everyone to change how they act. People just need to know how to grow out of it and just be happy with what they have. Both Iago and Othello did not seem to want to grow out of it causing them to change their actions and do evil things.