Motivation For Iago In William Shakespeare's Othello
Iago says this line to calm Roderigo down, telling him that he is only working for Othello to seek revenge upon him.
It is actually unclear why Iago is seeking revenge on Othello in the first place. Iago claims to hate Othello because of the rumour that Emilia and Othello have had an affair but this reason alone falls flat. We do not believe for a second that Iago ever valued his wife as Othello did. It is a struggle for any production of Othello to find motivation for Iago. Is he merely a one-sided villain? Is there a way to make him sympathetic? are we supposed to marvel at his evil skill and feel nothing more toward him? Or is he, perhaps, so charismatic and bewitching, that we are almost brought over to his side, almost, as with Milton’s
It is actually unclear why Iago is seeking revenge on Othello in the first place. Iago claims to hate Othello because of the rumour that Emilia and Othello have had an affair but this reason alone falls flat. We do not believe for a second that Iago ever valued his wife as Othello did. It is a struggle for any production of Othello to find motivation for Iago. Is he merely a one-sided villain? Is there a way to make him sympathetic? are we supposed to marvel at his evil skill and feel nothing more toward him? Or is he, perhaps, so charismatic and bewitching, that we are almost brought over to his side, almost, as with Milton’s