The character of Iago is deeply in love with Desdemona, though when he finds out his love is not returned he destroying her. Social standing and combat experience were two aspects that heavily defined manhood in the time period, and they are called into question for Iago as the story unfolds. This essay is available online and was probably used by another student. Iago is the opposite of God, that is, he is the Devil. Specifically, it examines how your experiences (often from childhood) may be contributing to your current experience and actions. Iago douses more dishonesty ontoother characters such as Cassio who trusts Iago: You advise me well. New , Iagos Motivation. He may even enjoy his punishment: torture. And, as do most skillful pyromaniacs, Iago first prepares his most important target, Othello: Though in the trade of war I have slain men, \ Yet do I hold it verystuff oth conscience To do no contrived murder. Through his careful twisting of the facts and opportunities that are presented to him, Imago is able to direct, position, In his early conversations Roderigo, Iago makes it clear to him that he only follows 'The Moor' (Othello) to suit his purposes; to the audience, it shows us that he is a selfish, scheming character. You can order a unique, plagiarism-free paper written by a professional writer. Quick in motion as in thought; lithe and sinuous as a snake.". Iago lives only for the death of others. This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. Retrieved from, https://graduateway.com/iagos-motivation/, You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers, Needs drives behaviour goals reduction or release of tension Behaviour is both directed to, and results from, unsatisfied needs. He is a hungry powermonger whose appetite for destruction canonly be satisfied after he has chewed up and spat out the lives of others. Iagos True Motivation - Iago and Othello are characters Iago concentrates on destroying Othello byturning virtue into pitch. By continuing well Is Iago a "motiveless malignity"? Iagos envy of Cassio is indicative of his desire for Othellos approval and affection, further confirming his underlying desire. He is quite or nearly indifferent to his own fate as to that of others; he runs all risks for a trifling and doubtful advantage, and is himself the dupe and victim of ruling passion an insatiable craving after action of the most difficult and dangerous kind. Next he follows with a verse composition upon a subject set by Desdemona, which is mainly a collection of witty paradoxes somewhat after the Euphuistic manner. For example, when he consoles Cassio after his ignominious demotion, Iago tells him he is acting in the sincerity of love and honest kindness in his advice. Although everyone, including Othello, believes that Iago is a loyal and devoted friend, Iago understands the strategic advantage that false friendship gives him. At the end of (II.iii), Roderigo despondently declares his money is almost spent and he should return again to Venice with no money at all. Iago makes it clear that the main reason for his desire to destroy Othello is the promotion of Cassio instead of him. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions No man could possibly learn to be as evil as Iago or toenjoy the demise of others as Iago did. Then he kills himself because he realizes her innocence. IntroductionMotivation is the key to increasing performance, being an easier way to stimulate productivity than improvement in workers qualifications. Iago's Motives in Othello Essay - on Study Boss the camouflage of the trusty and loyal ensign and the one whom hides behind this camouflage. . If Iago were a real man he would be an extremely bitter and spiteful person, therefore its only possible to convey him on stage by highlighting these characteristic. Iago controls the play, he brilliantly determines how each character shall act and react. Copyright 2023service.graduateway.com. I think Shakespeare gives us a full picture of what sort of a character Iago is, so that we are, William Shakespeare, the greatest writer of all times, portrays a fictional tragedy in the novel Othello when the truth about the characters prevails. 2 vols. His jealousy of Cassio is explicitly caused by comparison and insecurity in his own masculinity. The villain is so vain he will not admit that his deeps feelings of inadequacy are his real motivation. I believe Coleridges argument that Iago is a motiveless malignancy suggesting that he plays a mischievous evil character as a full time occupation, feasible though personally I feel there is more to his character. Iagos villainy initially seems pointless. The Press is a founding member of the Association of University Presses. Possibly the most heinous villain in Shakespeare, Iago is fascinating for his most terrible characteristic: his utter lack of convincing motivation for his actions. Iago provides everything but ocular proof, and eventually Othellobecomes so distraught and enraged that he falls into a seizure.Iagocontinues to add fuel to the fire until Desdemona and his own wife have beenmurdered, Cassio and Roderigo seriously wounded, and Othello has killedhimself. He is driven to revenge by feelings of frustration and loathing. Is Iago Gay in Othello - EduBirdie - Essay Writing Service Iago presents many of these qualities, and he admits the joy it gives him pleasure and action, this is a very stereotypical attitude of a Machiavellian, they loved being evil.It is fairly obvious that Iago enjoys his role as the plays deceitful trickster, he is very aware of his purpose in the play. The two men have a fascinatingly complex relationship. The villains feelings can most accurately be described as desire or lust, because love would implicate warmth and selflessness, which are two traits he obviously lacks. All of which then continue to underline each of his actions, as the plot continues to unfold. Iago shows signs of fixed mindset. I think a queer kind of honesty is maintained in Iago through all the puzzles he contrivesTo Rodrigo, he displays his true feelings sincerely. This gives the audience a sense of the future of the play and also they enter the very world and character of Iago. INTRODUCTION. His justification for killing her is voiced just moments before the crime: Yet she must die, else shell betray more men (5.2.6). In the article Iago Psychoanalytically Motivated, Stanley Edgar Hyman notes that cuckolding is an indirect form of homosexual intimacy because it is two men symbolically uniting sexually by sharing the body of the same woman (Hyman 372). assume youre on board with our, Needs-Based Motivation Theory Compare and Contrast, Intrinsic Motivation and Its Effects Upon Academic Achievement in Middle, Motivation in the Workplace applying Maslow and Herzberg theories Sample, Personal MotivationThe Individuals View, My Motivation to Contribute to the Work of Human Rights. Which statement best explains how Shakespeare transformed the source I had thought thave yerked him under the ribs . Ridley, M. R. Othello. Iago is evil, perhaps he motivated by his own in-completion of his own inability to love Iago' Desire for Power From the above, we can see that Iago's struggle for powe r is a fight for position. this company compounds the necessity to promote effectual productiveness of its employees to supply efficient service to consumers. Iago indirectly and cleverly portrays himself as a man ready to fight and brave enough to kill; yet, he also wants Othello to believe that he would not kill without just reason. Eventually, Othello succumbs to all the rage and kills his wife because of an assumed affair between Desdemona and his partner Cassio. Scene One is the most of import because it foreshadows the whole play. Involving Cassio in the adulterous lie about Desdemona would convince Othello to hate him enough to take his life. Shakespeare has modified and reshaped this story making the characters in his play more complex. Iagos sarcastic tone towards Cassio is conveyed through the adjective great, which is used pejoratively here, and the plosive alliteration drawing attention to the difference between the two men. New, Tutor and Freelance Writer. As a black man, even if he was the general, falling in love with Desdemona goes against the traditional 16th century Venice notions. Iago admits, I know not ift be true, if he has no proof is he simply hunting for motives? 1949 University of Illinois Press Iago seems to get a kick out of the amount of suffering he is able tocause. Iagos misogyny can also be attributed to the fact that marriage is a betrayal of the homosocial bond that being in the military curated. . Iagos criticism of Cassios military ability can be seen as an attack on his manhood; by calling him inept on the battlefield, he is also calling him inept in the bedroom and in romantic pursuits. The published journal is available in print and online. Iago was born a moral pyromaniacand will enjoy suffering as long as he lives. Registered address: Tornime tn 7-26, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tallinn, Harju maakond, Estonia,10145. Iago, in his soliloquy at the end of the first act, states unequivocally to the audience I hate the Moor, but his motivation becomes immediately muddled. December 16, 2000 The last couple of years have been a long bumpy ride for me, as they, Shakespeare's Iago is one of the best examples of a villain to this day. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23737771. Iago is a man with an obsession for control and power over others who has let this obsession take over his whole life. . Since women were not allowed to be in the ranks, it is an exclusive attribute that the men of the play share; it also gives him a reason to call women lazy. Supplemental understanding of the topic including revealing main issues described in the particular theme; Pharapreising and interpretation due to major educational standards released by a particular educational institution as well as tailored to your educational institution if different; Correct writing styles (it is advised to use correct citations). He resents Cassio for being better educated and of higher social standing. Iagos actions throughout the story function as a sick and twisted seduction of Othello in order to tear him away from Desdemona. (III,iv 532). At the time, peoples social classes were primarily determined by their wealth, skills, and birth (into EduBirdie considers academic integrity to be the essential part of the learning process and does not support any violation of the academic standards. His inner fire is fueled by hatred and blood. 2022 Jun 29 [cited 2023 Jul 6]. .he prated\ And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms\ Against your Honor (I, ii 1-10). Shakespeare's unique style of perceptive writing has been superior enough to override all existing writers, especially when he depicts an essence of the 16th century lifestyle. Its part of Iagos characteristic to be vindictive. (1.1.) Out of all of the jobs held, one usually stands out. (2017, Oct 27). Science, English, History, Civics, Art, Business, Law, Geography, all free! All rights reserved, The Reasons Iago Stayed Silent in Othello, Othello: The Consequences of Knowing and Not Knowing, The Portrayal of Iago Character in the Play Othello, Iago's Importance and his Role as Othellos Poisoner that Leads to his Downfall, Othello: The Impact of Iago as the Disruptive Moral Other, Othello and Iagos Views and Values of Love, Appearance verses Reality and Racial Classes Conflict throughout the Play Othello, Othello: The Role of Iago in the Preventable and Tragic Murder, Free revision, title page, and bibliography. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best Analysis. Our mission, simply put, is to present the best scholarship on Shakespeare from his own period to the present moment. O heaven! Iago is adamant to prove that his love for Othello outweighs the super-subtle Venetians.Leah scraggy (Shakespeare survey 21, 1968) states that Iago personifies rationality, self-interest, hypocrisy, cunning, expediency and efficient policie'. He is a hungry powermonger whose appetite for destruction can only be satisfied after he has chewed up and spat out the lives of others. Personally I believe some critics overlook their main objective and become too critical. Vol. 14, No. 4, FALL 1970 of The Centennial Review on JSTOR Most criticism of Othello has focussed on the culpability of the two male protagonists. Not only is Iago concerned with how her potential infidelity could affect his reputation, but there is a deeper obsession connected to his relationship with Othello. Only then dose he say i fear Cassio with my nightcap too. Throughout history, social classes have been used to categorize how much power and influence people have. At the end of Act I, scene iii, Iago says he thinks . Heaven for Iago is Hell. Iagos most haunting line, I am your own forever (3.3.473), echoes one of the only truths he tells in the play that he is eternally connected to Othello. from your Reading List will also remove any Thus a company should never forgo an opportunity to boost the motivation of its employees using a wide variety of tools available for this purpose, including monetary and non-monetary stimuli. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions However, Iago is more than just a "moral pyromaniac," he is a moral pyromaniac whose fire is fueled by pure hatred. In Shakespeare's Othello, Iago is the right-hand man of the general of the Venetian army, Othello. Iago is a moral pyromaniac. Harold C. Goddard writes that Iagoconsciously and unconsciously seeks to destroy the lives of others, especiallyothers with high moral standards (Goddard 76). The readers are lead to believe that he is evil with no motivation; however, after exploring his behavior in relationship to the context of the story, it is clear that it stems from his deeply rooted masculine insecurities and jealousy. Iago's Motivation Essay - William Shakespeare on Study Boss Registered address: Tornime tn 7-26, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tallinn, Harju maakond, Estonia,10145. Marriage is the ultimate symbol of unification; ironically, by the end of the play, Othello is more unified with Iago than he ever was with his wife. Throughout the play, Iago's soliloquies disclose to the audience what he does not reveal to the other characters as his plans take shape. I AGO PSYCHOANALYTICALLY MOTIVATED Stanley Edgar Hyman In a pluralist attack on the problem of what Coleridge called Iago's "motiveless malignity," the question of his moti vation can be asked in many different critical vocabularies, and each will get an answer in its own terms, however partial Chances are it was a combination of several variables, but something stood out over all the others. Iago is extremely egotistical and proud I am not what I am. Additionally, it would be satisfying for Iago to see his leader react with such disdain towards the man who took his promotion. Iago's motivation for revenge upon Othello and Cassio is spurred by an egotistical and superior attitude; "Heaven is my judge" suggesting that he believes only God, a power recognized as the highest judgmental authority is worthy of judging his unjust actions. In the well-known comedy Twelfth Night, Viola deceives everyone including her own family into thinking that she is a man named Cesario by changing how she dresses, acts and talks, all to benefit herself. ***Harold Goddard believes that if Iago were of less intelligence, he wouldhave been a true pyromaniac (Goddard 76). 2023 EduBirdie.com. Iago's Motivation. So is Iago motiveless? It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. He wants Othello and Cassio, who have violated him personally and professionally, to suffer.The Machiavellian characters'Whose only real criterion of action was expediency and self-interest, but who, to achieve their aims, had to dissemble their real motives and appear to be open, honest and virtuous. (New Swan Shakespeare Advanced Series). . His evil creation is ready to burst into flames, it is engendered. He asks her, Are you not a strumpet? (4.2.81) and What, not a whore? (4.2.84), implying sexual promiscuity through name-calling, which is reminiscent of Iagos language in 2.1. For one, he stipulates the existence of an affair between Othello and his wife Emilia. His evil creation isready to burst into flames, it is engendered. Iago's true motivation is never actually expressed which leaves his motives unidentified and actions impulsive. The military ranks also imply mens superiority over women, thus making femininity a sign of weakness. Othellos jealous nature and weak personality made him an easy target for the antagonist Iago to manipulate him which ultimately led to his demise. I lack the iniquity. Consequently, Othellos attention is turned away from his military comrades out of heterosexual devotion to his wife. Othello and others in the play constantly refer to him as "honest Iago." Ones social class was of great significance during the Elizabethan Era, when Shakespeare wrote Othello. Privacy Policy This shows how Iago can make himself even more influential then Othello.Iago is lonely and in pain. Empson interprets the character differently, he see Iago as if he were human rather then a monster giving the class jealousy, Marxist, as cause for his monstrosities. Perhaps money is the root of all evil in the play. What is in Roderigo is lust and a desire to have Desdemona at all costs. According to Websters dictionary, (Webster, 1976) to motivate is to provide with, or affect as, an inner drive, impulse, or incentive that causes one to act. . M. R. Ridley states that Iagos actions are so vulgar and evil that only an incarnate fiend could apply them (Ridley lxi). His hatred of women can be attributed to his fear of the feminine, which is expressed as utter repulsion. These sentences are obvious lies (to the reader), but they are crucial to the saboteur because they present Iago to Othello as a brave, loyal, and moral person. Shakespeare Quarterly (SQ) is a leading journal in Shakespeare studies, publishing highly original, rigorously researched essays, notes, and book reviews. He is angered that Othello has passed him over for promotion, choosing Cassio instead. Shakespeare added depth to his villain making him Amoral, as opposed to the typical immoral villain. The antagonist certainly tries to justify his revenge and offers several reasons for his schemes, but Coleridge argued this was simply motive-hunting. He claims three great ones of the city supported his advancement but the position was offered to an unqualified great arithmetician who never set squadron in the field and had mere prattle without practice. Exploring Iago's Motive. This highlights the fact that the male-and-male relationship takes subconscious precedence over the heterosexual relationship. Analysis Iago, in my opinion, is the most interesting character in Othello.