Othello Essay

Look, not to make excuses, but this essay really seemed to be hard for me. This may not even be the final draft. So, with these words in mind, all comments on this essay, good or bad, will be met with a flamethrower. ;)

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
English 10 Honors/ Mr. George
February 6, 2008
Othello Essay Topic One
The Motive Behind the Malice
There is no question that Iago, the antagonist of the Shakespearean Tragedy Othello, was filled with hatred towards the Moor. So much hatred, in fact, that many believe his one and only reason for causing so much chaos and convulsion throughout the novel was to make Othello suffer. One such person was Samuel Taylor Coleridge, an English poet and critic who described Iago’s character as “motiveless malignity”. However, despite the viewpoint of this literary expert, many readers of Othello have arrived at the conclusion that Iago did indeed have a motive. What they cannot seem to agree on is what exactly that motive was. Some believe that Iago’s actions were due to the rumor of Othello’s infidelity with Iago’s wife, Emilia, while Iago was away. Others believe that Iago simply wanted Cassio’s position for himself. Some even believe that Iago’s motive was simply sadism. While these ideas do have some merit to stand on their own, I find them to be more along the lines of perks to add on to his true motive; his failure to gain the position of Othello’s lieutenant. A close friend to Othello, it is only natural that failure to achieve the title of the Moor’s right-hand man would cause Iago pain, and leave him feeling insecure. Oftentimes, the sparks of insecurity will spread into an wildfire of hate. Since Cassio was chosen to be Othello’s lieutenant over Iago, it was inevitable that Cassio would not be engulfed by those very flames, as well. All that Iago had done was to seek some requital against Othello and Cassio, for they had been the ones to wrong him, as wounded pride would suggest. Thus, Iago’s motive for his actions throughout the play was to gain retribution for being denied the position of Othello’s lieutenant, which Iago felt was justly his.
The reason for Iago’s actions throughout the book could not have been because of the rumor of Othello’s infidelity with Emilia while Iago was away for the reason that if Iago’s actions were truly over an eye for an eye case, it seems that Iago would have focused on finding a way to commit a similar act with Desdemona while Othello was away, rather than devising a sinister plot, which involved Cassio being forcibly released from the occupation of Othello’s lieutenant. Another reason that this theory of the means of Iago’s actions does not work is because of the manner in which Iago mentions it. As Iago makes his first soliloquy, rather than being straightforward about the rumor, he brings it up as a side-note; “I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets H’as done my office” (Shakespeare 1.3 377-378). It seems that if this had been Iago’s true reason for his actions, he would have used the conjunction “for” instead of “and”. Also, this is the only time in the text that Iago brings up this point, while he mentions a desire to gain Cassio’s position numerous times. It would make much more sense that Iago’s motive be vengeance, rather than something he mentions only once, and seems to only care about in order to justify his actions to himself.
The idea that Iago did what he did simply to gain Cassio’s position is a bit more solid than the last suggestion, but still easily taken apart. Had Iago truly only been after the position of lieutenant, he would have stopped his sinister plot upon receiving the position from Othello. However, even after Iago become Othello’s lieutenant, he continues his malicious deeds. This proves that Iago’s whole plan was not centered on an occupation. While he may have been satisfied with gaining such a position in the past, the denial of it had made it unimportant. All that mattered to Iago was causing Othello and Cassio pain. Thus, Iago continued his plot.
The suggestion of Iago simply being a sadist is too convenient to even consider. While it is true that he did committed many horrible acts to harm the innocent, he did not harm them because he could. He simply did not care how what he was doing would affect those who were caught in the crossfire of his vengeance. All that mattered to him was gaining retribution, no matter what the cost. This is made clear when Iago declares, "So will I turn her(Desdemona’s) virtue into pitch, And out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all" (2.3 360-362).
The final factor to prove that Iago’s actions were done for retribution rather than a petty grudge is that throughout the text, Iago never once doubts that he is doing the right thing. In his own mind, he is simply righting the wrongs done to him by wronging others. Iago maintains the role of a kind and honest man in the company of others, causing him to be the last person anyone would expect to cause harm to anyone else. He masterfully manipulates his victims, making them pawns used to achieve the retribution that he truly desires. The two greatest examples of Iago’s pawns are Emilia and Roderigo, who both contributed greatly to Iago’s plan. Yet, despite their aid to Iago, Iago ends up being the one to kill them. Iago kills Roderigo the moment his plan seems to be complete because Roderigo was no longer of any use to him. Iago kills Emilia because she revealed his plot to the public. Despite they served Iago better than anyone else in the text, Iago kills them both the moment they become inconvenient. This shows Iago’s lack of remorse, which is usually the emotion that is forced out so that hatred may take its place. The reason this is significant to the argument that Iago’s motive was to gain retribution for not being appointed lieutenant is because it relates to the emotion of trust. It is highly likely that Iago trusted once trusted Othello as much as Othello trusted him. However, once Othello gave the position Iago felt he deserved to Cassio, Iago was left unable to trust anyone. Without trust, compassion is a very hard emotion to feel.
Iago’s motive for his actions throughout the play was to gain retribution for being denied the position of Othello’s lieutenant, which Iago felt was justly his. This motive is the only one to seem completely logical, and stand on its own at the same time. Iago displayed all the characteristics of someone who had been cheated, and thus, his motive had to relate to something he had failed with. His vengeance was gained, and his soul contained no regrets about what he had done. Even after his time was coming to an end, he did not beg for his life, or offer an apology. This shows that he was contented with what he had accomplished, which was to make Othello and Cassio suffer, just as Iago had suffered, himself.