Othello's Lack of Confidence

            Shakespeare's "Othello," is a controversial play which includes elements of racism, hate and murder. In the play, Iago plays on Othello's emotions and lies to him, prompting him to murder his lover. Some blame Iago for the events, but there is a lingering concern that Othello himself is weak. He is seemingly a fine gentleman on the outside, but he snaps and kills an innocent women. .
             Samuel Taylor Coleridge describes Iago's plan as "motive-hunting of a motiveless malignity" (413). Iago seems to be overbearing and tries to hurt Othello. He appears a great deal in the play and is rather unpredictable. Iago is 28 years old in the work and also a Venetian. He has a wife and by all accounts is rather ordinary. Yet, few could call this intriguing character ordinary as he does a variety of things in the context of the work that might be construed as rather extraordinary. He is able to make things happen through manipulation, where others might fail in such attempts.
             Many have seen this character as evil, but what is Iago's motivation? It could in fact be that he is envious of Othello. Yet, he seems to be somewhat proud and enamored of himself. Iago is not the most honest individual, but he is able to get along with people and no one really knows what he is up to. At the same time, in reviewing the events of the play, one can distinguish what his true motivation really is. He is vengeful and wants a particular job he did not get. He feels dispossessed and even cheated (Weimann 109). While Iago has been behind it all, as he has had it in for Cassio from the beginning, it seems as if Othello is also out of control. It is Desdemona who ends up dead, and one cannot discount Othello's role in that outcome. It is by his hand that she is killed. Some of course do at least in part blame Desdemona for some of what goes on. Hunt writes: "Unfortunately her interest in her own self-worth and marital influence over Othello supersedes her concern for Cassio" (346).