What were Iago’s true motivations for destroying the Moor and Cassio? Towards the beginning of the play, it is obvious that Iago is extremely frustrated because he did not receive the lieutenant job that he believed he deserved. From there, it escalades. His frustration continues throughout the whole play, like it could never be satisfied. But, why was this? Not only are there speculations that Shakespeare was gay, the same could be sad about angry Iago.
One believable solution would be that Iago was sexually attracted to the Moor. Iago would’ve been motivated by his jealousy of Othello and Desdemona. We saw a glimpse of evidence for this in Act 3, Scene 3 when Iago says:
"my lord, you know I love you” (III.iii.134)
“I am your own forever” (III.iii.546)
"I lay with Cassio lately" (III.iii.470)
These three quotes portray a clear homosexual undertone, and show that Iago would do anything for Othello to be with him forever. We see this especially in the phrase 'I love you.' In any time period or any piece of literature, this is a whale of a saying for anyone to say and is never taken lightly. Iago pledged his eternal loyalty to Othello in the second quote and in the third, laying with someone can be taken to mean sexual relations.
Also, if Iago were homosexual, it would explain why he was so persistent on making Roderigo pursue Desdemona so much, knowing that Desdemona would not leave Othello for him. With Desdemona out of Othello’s life and Cassio out of the scenario for being framed, all the doors would be open for Iago. He would get the lieutenant job becoming Othello’s right hand man, eventually becoming very close acquaintances. Iago would practically put himself in Othello’s life for good, which could be what Iago wanted the entire time.
Another possible situation would be that Iago just becomes angry when the people around him are happy, kind of like Satan. This would explain why Iago was still angry after he was promoted to lieutenant, and wanted to see more people suffer. The reader sees this towards the end of the play when Iago confesses that Cassio should die. Well, not necessarily his statement that Cassio should die, but his reasoning behind it. Iago says that “he hath a daily beauty in his life that makes me ugly” (V.i.20-21). This clearly is an act of jealousy towards Cassio, and if he acts this way towards Cassio, he is certainly capable of acting this way towards everyone. Iago is simply just a bitter man that envies other people’s happiness, and wants to destroy it in any way he can.
Iago loves to create chaos, and with his numerous acts of violence and evil towards the people, he achieved chaos on the island of Cyprus.
One believable solution would be that Iago was sexually attracted to the Moor. Iago would’ve been motivated by his jealousy of Othello and Desdemona. We saw a glimpse of evidence for this in Act 3, Scene 3 when Iago says:
"my lord, you know I love you” (III.iii.134)
“I am your own forever” (III.iii.546)
"I lay with Cassio lately" (III.iii.470)
These three quotes portray a clear homosexual undertone, and show that Iago would do anything for Othello to be with him forever. We see this especially in the phrase 'I love you.' In any time period or any piece of literature, this is a whale of a saying for anyone to say and is never taken lightly. Iago pledged his eternal loyalty to Othello in the second quote and in the third, laying with someone can be taken to mean sexual relations.
Also, if Iago were homosexual, it would explain why he was so persistent on making Roderigo pursue Desdemona so much, knowing that Desdemona would not leave Othello for him. With Desdemona out of Othello’s life and Cassio out of the scenario for being framed, all the doors would be open for Iago. He would get the lieutenant job becoming Othello’s right hand man, eventually becoming very close acquaintances. Iago would practically put himself in Othello’s life for good, which could be what Iago wanted the entire time.
Another possible situation would be that Iago just becomes angry when the people around him are happy, kind of like Satan. This would explain why Iago was still angry after he was promoted to lieutenant, and wanted to see more people suffer. The reader sees this towards the end of the play when Iago confesses that Cassio should die. Well, not necessarily his statement that Cassio should die, but his reasoning behind it. Iago says that “he hath a daily beauty in his life that makes me ugly” (V.i.20-21). This clearly is an act of jealousy towards Cassio, and if he acts this way towards Cassio, he is certainly capable of acting this way towards everyone. Iago is simply just a bitter man that envies other people’s happiness, and wants to destroy it in any way he can.
Iago loves to create chaos, and with his numerous acts of violence and evil towards the people, he achieved chaos on the island of Cyprus.