During the first act of Othello, Iago begins his plot to destroy Othello. In order to justify his actions, he puts forth many motives:
- Iago’s first reason for his enmity towards Othello is that Othello wrongfully promoted Cassio ahead of Iago when Iago supposedly deserved the position.
- “He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,/ And I, God bless the mark, his Moorship’s ancient” (I.i.34-5).
- Another motive that Iago puts forth is that Othello may have slept with Iago’s wife, Emilia.
- “And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets/ ‘Has done my office” (I.iii.430-1).
- A less apparent motive of Iago’s is that he simply has an evil spirit and enjoys plotting. It is a form of a game for him.
- “I/ hate the Moor. My cause is hearted; thine hath no/ less reason…If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost/ thyself a pleasure, me a sport” (I.iii.408-412).
- A motive that Iago slightly alludes to though could be speculation is that he is somewhat jealous that Othello was able to make Desdemona fall in love with him, and therefore, he is plotting to also destroy their marriage.
- “It/ cannot be that Desdemona should long continue/ her love to the Moor…When she is sated/ with his body she will find the error of her choice” (I.iii.384-394).
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