Iago's Motivations

Marvin Rosenberg takes a very neutral stand in the case of Iago's motivations.

Rosenberg

neither thinks Iago to be an honest, charming solder, nor an evil, malignant embodiment of Satan.

Rosenberg

believes Iago to be a "first-rate character, as well as a clearly recognizable type of human being, with passions and frustrations-and even physical symptoms…" (146).

Rosenberg

states that Shakespeare did not want another typical character; he wanted a man to smile and also to be the villain.

Rosenberg
quotes many different critics on their views of Iago. Some believe that Iago was "an honest, charming soldier, a man of honesty and innate kindliness" (145).

Rosenberg

does not believe that "Iago was that good of a man" (145). Another critic was quoted saying that Iago "was a creature of subhuman evil, malignant without any motivation, an embodiment of Satan himself" (145).

Rosenberg

does not believe that he is that bad of a man.

Rosenberg

continues on to take a stance somewhere in the middle of these critic's views.


Rosenberg
notes some of the reasons for Iago's actions. The first reason to come about was from an

Exeter

gentleman. He believed that Iago was poorly treated by Othello and that Iago believed his wife, Emilia, was having an affair with Othello and Cassio. Iago then planned to revenge himself. In the next century, the critics believed that Iago was right to think that Othello was having an affair with his wife. This was thought to be true because Othello quickly believed that his wife was having an affair because he was also committing adultery. Another reason for Iago's motivations was that Iago was a capable soldier that was passed up for promotion. This fault of Othello's welcomed the disaster that followed.


There are those critics that believe Iago to be pure evil. If this were true, why would Iago try to explain his actions with human motives for his evil? If he were pure evil, Iago would just continue about his business as a passionless being.

Rosenberg