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Iago in Shakespeare's Othello

Iago has a list of grievances that makes him feel not just to be wronged but also insulted. He has not been suited though he is a nobody and has influence with the rich ones in the society. He feels that Othello is not supporting of Justice, and he feels offended as a professional soldier. It is his main motive of revenging against Othello. His actual motivation is to conspire against them all. His main motives and intentions are for his personal gains. He believes that Cassio should not be in that rank but himself. Iago claims the curse of service in this promotion, "goes by affection and letter and not by old gradation" (I. 36). It implies that Iago is the senior to Cassio in terms of years, but this is following Iago's word. Thus, Cassio's appointment is another element that stirs Iago's motivation for revenge that is evident in his question towards Lodovico and Cassio. He says, "Will you I demand and prey that demi-devil; why have you ensnared my body and soul (V. ii. 297-299)? .
             He is also not a true friend of Othello's as we see in his betrayal. Iago is jealous towards Othello's because of his respect from the Senator and Dukes and also respected and admired within the Venetian community. To Iago, he sees Othello as an outsider and not part of the community because of his African descent. Iago feels jealous towards Othello's success because he was a slave and later joined the military as a young person and has now gained his presence in the society. Additionally, Othello is in love with Desdemona, a beautiful woman from the rich family. Revenge is what motivates Iago to commit betrayal. Iago's revenge can be in two kinds of motives. First Cassio was promoted and not him to the rank of Othello's Lieutenant. His jealously towards Cassio enabled him to use Othello as his instrument of the death of Cassio by indirectly altering the fate of Othello. He puts his intentions to use by his speculation to Othello's Emilia by saying, "I hate the Moor and it is though that twixt my sheets.


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1. Iago in William Shakespeare's Othello

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2. Jealousy in Othello

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4. Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello

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6. Othello and Elizabethan Values

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8. Iago As Protaginist In Othello

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9. Othello

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10. Characters in William Shakespeare's Othello

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