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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help
Recently I have been assigned an essay to write on the motives
of Iago. This, being quite a broad topic, is hard to narrow down.
Additionally, I must discuss the idea the Iago is a "motiveless
malignity". I was wondering which 2 or 3 motives, in your opinion,
seem to drive or cause Iago to do what he does. I believe that
his hatred of Othello is almost purely based on the fact that
Othello alledgedly slept with Emilia. He is also quite jealous
of Cassio; Cassio got the position he deserved. The third, and
most far-fetched, motive is that he was jealous of Othello's
relationship with Desdemona. Othello had a perfect and functional
relationship that took quite little time to develop, but on the
other hand, Iago and Emilia's relationship is terrible and she
leads to his downfall. Could you please give your opinion on
these and other Iago motives that you think caused him to do the
things he did. Two other questions:1) If Iago was not truthful to anyone, why would he open himself
up to Roderigo in the first act, & why would he have some many soliloquy's informing the audience of his motives?2) What quotes are meaningful and valid in the effort to prove
that Iago is not a "motiveless malignity"?Thank you for reading my message, I hope you will voice your opinions and answers.
Posted by Sam on March 26, 1997 at 11:32:36
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help