A Motivational Analysis of Othello

A detailed Summary of A Motivational Analysis of Othello

In the play, Othello, by Shakespeare, the motivation of Othello, as well as Iago, has been questioned by various critics. Can a man, heroic as Othello's character is depicted, fall so helplessly before the petty trickery of Iago? Did Iago lack sufficient motivation in destroying the lives of three innocent people? Many critics with opposing views have answered these questions.

From the first scene of the play, Iago's hate for the moor is clearly seen. Thus, his first and most dominant resentment against Othello is unveiled to the audience. This resentment stems from Othello's appointing Michael Cassio as lieutenant over Iago, himself. " Certes ," says he," I have already chose my officer." And what was he? Forsooth, a great mathematician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine ( and Iagoa fellow almost damned in a fair wife), that never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows..."(Shakespeare, Ii, 16-20). Iago sure of his superiority over Cassio for the position of lieutenant, is thoroughly offended by Othello's decision to appoint Michael Cassio instead of him.

Othello's overlooking of Iago for the position of lieutenant initially begins Iago's devilish plans. His

by Iago's phrase ' I do not like that'-by his ' Indeed', should, in an hour... be tortured into distrust of the woman who had given it all up for him" ( Brooke 445 ).

Othello's motivation to kill Desdemona seems to arise by mere trifles. After exhibiting his noble traits when demanding "ocular proof" from Iago, he falls easy prey to a fictitious story created by him. Othello readily believes the story about Cassio speaking Desdemona's name in his sleep and hugging and kissing Iago. Upon hearing this ridiculous lie Othello replies, " O monstrous! Monstrous!" ( Shakespespeare). He is immediately appalled and does not even consider that the tale could have been completely construed from Iago's mind. Othello needs no more than Iago's word to condemn his wife. " Then it is amazingly improbable that a grave, experienced, world-worn manlike Othello, of so magnanimous a nobility of thought and character, should have been immediately distured into suspicion

worked so hard for. He then sets his amoral mind to include Cassio's downfall in his revenge. He draws his plan out with a cold tone in the first act when he says," Cassio's a proper man. Let me see now: In double knavery-How, now? Let's see. After some time to abuse Othello's ear that he is too familiar with his wife. He hath a person and a smooth dispose to be suspected -fram'd to make women false. The Moor is of a free and open nature that thinks men honest that But seems so;"(Shakespeare).

Ultimately, Iago seems to be left with a lack of motivation. Subsequently, it can be said of Iago that he is a person who's character is one which thrives on the basis of evil. In the conclusion of the play, when Iago's game is discovered by all, Othello cries, " demand that demi-devil. Why he hath thus ensnar'd my soul and body" ( Shakespeare ). Iago cannot offer any explanation for his actions. " Hate is his native air; the desire to torture stings gim within. He seeks to explain it; he searches for his motives; 'motive hunting', Coleridge calls it. He finds this and that motive, but not one of them explains what is in his heart, not one of them is an adequate reason for the devilish pleasure he has in putting Othello on the rack, in egging him on to kill Desdemona."

Perhaps Shakespeare realized this flaw in Iago when he made a most menial addition to Iago's motivations. This was the suspiscion that both Othello and Cassio had been unfaithful with Iago's wife, Emily. "For that I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leap'd into my seat; the thought whereof doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw at my inwards; and nothing can or shall content my soul till I am even'd with him, wife for wife; or failing so, yet that I put the Moor at least into a fealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure."( Shakespeare). Here, Iago expresses the inner turmoil that this probability throws upon him. He states, with less vigor, that he also suspects Michael Cassio of the same deceitful deed. " I'll have o

Some common words found in the essay are:
Michael Cassio, Othello Cassio, Desdemona Brooke, Iago Desdemona, Shakespeare Iago, Emily Roderigo, Shakespeare Despite, Indeed Othello, Cassio Desdemona, Othello Iago's, michael cassio, brooke 445, othello cassio, kill desdemona, othello's motivation, matter hankerchief, tread worm, white 425, play iago's, position lieutenant,

Approximate Word count = 2004
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English