Iago's Motivation in Creating Conflicts on Shakespeare's Play Othello
Write a short critical analysis about Othello that makes an argument about the specific motivation of Iago.
Does he do this for sport, a "motiveless malignity" as Coleridge called it? Or is he motivated by something else? Racism? A homo-erotic attraction to Othello? If it were simply jealousy of Cassio, as he tells us in the opening scene, then the play would have ended when Othello gives him Cassio's job. Right? Be specific when you make your claim.
Cite 2 examples from the play's text, plus cite 1 literary critic (located in one of our databases) that supports or disagrees with your argument.
Follow MLA formatting and citation protocols (ACT, Scene, lines) for the text; (author page number) for the critic.
http://shakespeare(dot)mit(dot)edu/othello/full.html
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Play Analysis: Iago's Motive in Othello
Iago's motivation in Shakespeare's play Othello is not clearly defined. He creates conflicts among various characters, but the play does not show how he benefits from the wars. This might indicate that Iago creates conflicts for motiveless malignity and only does it for sport. Iago is against Othello marrying Desdemona, but the audience and the characters in the play do not know the reason. He pledges to help Roderigo to break the relationship marriage so that he, Roderigo, can marry Desdemona. Iago and Roderigo inform Brabantio, Desdemona's father, about Othello and his daughter's secret marriage intending to use him to break the relationship. However, controversy on Othello's intention comes when he does not want to look bad in the eyes of Othello (López 9). This is why he goes ahead of Roderigo to meet Othello and leaves Brabantio...