Iago hates Michael Cassio because he has been given the position of lieutenant by Othello, but Iago think he is deserves the position of lieutenant because he has been loyal and trustworthy for Othello. He thinks that Michael Cassio has slept with his wife, Emilia and feels he has been cuckolded. He is very jealous of Michael Cassio and thinks he is much better than him.
Iago wants to destroy Othello, who is the general in the Venetian army. He is furious that he has not been rewarded for his loyal service to his general Othello and thinks he deserves much more. He is prejudiced against him because he is black. He hates him and thinks he is better than Othello because he is white. He also thinks that Othello has slept with his wife as well. So he is jealous of him and hates him for sleeping with his wife.
The soliloquy in the play is very effective in this play. Soliloquy is used when a character is on the stage revealing their inner most thoughts and feelings to the audience. Iago speaks in soliloquy in the play to the audience to reveal his plan to destroy Othello, Michael Cassio and other characters as well. His plans to destroy Othello is to brake his heart and get his revenge on Othello for not giving the position of lieutenant he gave the post to Michael Cassio when he is speaking in soliloquy he says;
“Cassio's a proper man. Let me see now; to get his place, and to plume up my will in double knavery.”
"Double knavery" means he will try to get Cassio's position (which he felt he deserved). Another advantage of getting Cassio's position of lieutenant is he can be closer to Othello so he can be his honest friend.
He also wants to get his revenge because he thinks that Othello has been in bed with his wife.
“Twixt my sheets He’s done my office. I know not if’t be true But I, for mere suspicion in that kind.”
This is why Iago spoke in soliloquy about his plans and feelings.
Very cleverly Iago manages to get Cassio disgraced and so he loses his position he does this by trying to get Cassio drunk so he gets violent, ‘honest’ Iago says
“If I can fasten one cup upon him”
When Michael Cassio is drunk Iago tells Roderigo to go and fight with him this is how he plans to disgrace him. When they started fighting Othello had to come down to stop the fight because Cassio was going to kill Roderigo, after things had calmed down Othello stripped Cassio of the position of lieutenant. Cassio is very upset over what has happened so Iago says he go and seek Desdemona for help she likes you and will persuade Othello to give you your job back because Cassio think Iago is honest he trusts him and respects him as well.
Iago begins to carry out his revenge by cunningly hinting to Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are lovers. Iago says under his breath but so Othello (who was standing next to him.) could hear “ha I like that not.” When Othello asked what he said he pretended he didn’t want to betray Cassio by telling Othello that him and Desdemona were secretly lovers. Iago told Othello to keep an eye on Desdemona to see if he has noticed anything suspicious about them, but this is Iago’s plan to trick Othello into thinking Cassio and Desdemona are lovers.
Iago is very jealous of Othello and wants to destroy Othello, because he is a good and noble man and is very annoyed he did give him the post of lieutenant. He believes Othello and Cassio have both slept with his wife. (He thinks he has been cuckolded, which they haven’t but he thinks they have.) When he does eventually got the post of lieutenant this doesn’t stop his plan of revenge this shows how evil he is and he doesn’t really have any motives. He thinks it will be fun to carry on with his plans.
Luck plays a big part in helping Iago destroy Othello. This is because Iago gets Desdemona’s handkerchief by his wife Emilia who found it in Desdemona’s bedroom. He wanted this because his plans would be to tell Othello he found it in Cassio’s bedroom because he had been sleeping with Desdemona. But she actually dropped it in her bedroom.
“My husband hath hundred times wood me to steal it.”
By chance Cassio walks by and he speaks to him about Bianca while Othello thinks he speaks of Desdemona. Iago tells Othello he is speaking and laughing about Desdemona but he is actually talking about Bianca.
Iago has so convinced Othello of Desdemona’s unfaithful that he kills her. After this Othello finds out the truth and learns that Iago has lied to him about Cassio and Desdemona. Iago isn’t not sorry about what he done he has ruined lots of people’s life and he doesn’t care. Iago wouldn’t even say why he did it even under torture.
Shakespeare has created an evil monster in the character of Iago. Audiences all over the world watch and are intrigued by him. A very famous critic called Samuel Taylor Coleridge has said
“Iago’s last soliloquy shows the motive hunting of motiveless malignity.”
This means he is looking for reasons to kill and hurt these people but he hasn’t got any this is why he is motive hunting because he is trying to find motives for killing and tormenting.
