In this paragraph, Iago’s envy and rage against Othello is evident. Also, there are references to his plan as well as his obsession with money, which invites Roderigo into the story. The 28 year old man, “four times seven years…”, is not self critical. Iago has no restrictions on himself, backed up by “I never found a man that knew how to love himself…”. The beginning of his speech, concentrates on the philosophical aspects of life, and that we are what we choose to be. Furthermore, we can understand from line 330 that Iago does not believe in love. “But we have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, our unbitted…”. This shows the contrast between him and Othello. Iago becomes very jealous of Othello because of his position in the Venetian Army. Iago feels that black men cannot rise above him because they are black. Iago frequently refers to Othello as the “Moor” and the “Black Ram”, with these statements Iago is implying that Othello is worse than white people and because of his race he should not hold the position he does in the army. Out of this racism also extends the jealousy of Othello’s wife, Desdemona. He is sexually attracted to her but that is not a real reason for hating Othello, his mind devises stories which he believes are true and thus making himself think that it is right to take revenge on Othello by intentions to overcome Desdemona via plans with Roderigo. Iago is also jealous of Othello’s sexual power, as it was well known in those times that black men were “better” in bed than white men. With this in mind Iago feels that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia, “leapt into his seat”, he wants revenge for this too, “not out of absolute lust”, but so he can get back at Othello. He wants to revert Desdemona from loving Othello, planning disruptive events with Roderigo. He thinks up a way of turning his sexual urges into a revenge for Othello. Roderigo is hoping to be with Desdemona as has been attracted to her for quite some time. This is evident from the questions asked from Iago’s persuasive language “Will thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on the issue?”. This shows us that Roderigo is willing to do anything to achieve his aspirations, issuing money to Iago for the events planned. Iago uses this to his advantage; his lust for money is shown in this passage on a number of occasions.
Another reason for Iago’s behaviour is that he wants financial gain by using Roderigo. Roderigo gives Iago money and jewellery to give to Desdemona so that she likes him, but Iago does not give any of it to Desdemona but keeps it for himself. The passage that I am studying shows examples where Iago’s obsession for money is shown, “put money in thy purse” three times, “put but money in thy purse”, “fill thy purse with money”. Money can buy you time and power, Iago is motivated by power. As we progress to line 385, we can see examples of Iago’s obsessive paranoia as he believes that Othello has slept with his wife “Twixt my sheets. He’s done my office...”. He seems to have reason to want revenge for Othello over looking him for promotion and giving it to Cassio instead. This seems to be the starting point at which he imagines all these other stories so he can “revenge” Othello further. He is almost searching for reasons that he can hurt Othello for, even if they are real or not. At this time of the plot he is planning to frame Desdemona having an affair with Cassio, separating from Othello. The ending of the passage is an extremely powerful one, implying that there will be destructive events in latter stages. “I have’t, it is engendered! Hell and night. Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light…” – a frightening couplet. I also think that Iago enjoys ruining people’s lives; it gives him a “buzz”. Iago can be likened to a Chameleon; this is because he changes when he is in different environments. When he is with Othello he acts very friendly and honestly but when he is not with him he is scheming and becomes mad with jealously and is intent on planning ways of confusing him as well.
The view of Iago most definitely relates to Shakespeare’s presentation of him earlier in the play. Shakespeare immediately sets the negative role of Iago from the very beginning of the play. Referring to Act 1 scene 1 in mid- conversation we can see that Iago is an envious person. Othello has appointed Cassio as Lieutenant, Iago wanted the position and is very bitter about the situation. We also know of his lust for money. Iago’s quest for revenge has started within the first two pages of the play; Shakespeare has done this for effect as it intensifies our feelings of Iago so that we react harsher in latter stages. This is a literary device of Shakespeare. We know that Iago is an egotistical person, the words that he uses are always strong, sometimes phrases are expressed that sound strong but in actual fact are not “Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago…”. In the scene that we are studying we are experiencing the connection between Iago and Roderigo. How they are planning to frame Cassio. This attitude has been displayed by Shakespeare much earlier. In the opening scenes in act 1, it is evident that Roderigo is the less cunning character and is never in control of the situation. The two inform Brabantio of Othello’s relationship with his daughter. These events show signs of deceit and envy.
Having analysed Act 1 Scene 3 and various previous passages, I feel that Iago is on the verge of becoming a psychopath. I have studied in detail the reasons for Iago disliking Othello and how Shakespeare’s literary craft has made Iago the villain that he is. These passages show us that someone can become so obsessed with an issue that they become disturbed. He has his motives from the very start of the play and as it graduates, he develops them…“I have’t, it is engendered! Hell and night. Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light…”.
