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Iagos Motivation
Iago's Motivation Iago is a "moral pyromaniac." Harold C. Goddard writes that Iago consciously and unconsciously seeks to destroy the lives of others, especially others with high moral standards (Goddard 76). However, Iago is more than just a "moral pyromaniac," he is a moral pyromaniac whose fire is fueled by pure hatred. He is a hungry powermonger whose appetite for destruction can only be satisfied after he has chewed up and spat out the lives of others. Iago lusts for power, but his sense of power is attained by manipulating and annihilating others in a cruel and unusual way. Iago prepares and ignites his victims and then watches, with an excitable evil in his eye, as his human pyres go up in flames. Iago undeniably has an unquenchable thirst for power and domination. Critics such as M. R. Ridley believe that the ability to hurt is the most convincing display of one's power (Ridley lxi). Iago has a deep, inbred desire to cause and view intolerable suffering. The power of Iago is exercised when he prepares and then implements an evil plan designed to inflict man with the most extreme amounts of anguish possible. Iago controls the play, he brilliantly determines how each character shall act and react. He is a pressing advocate of evil, a pernicious escort, steering good people toward their own vulgar destruction. Iago must first make careful preparations in order to make certain his fire of human destruction will burn with fury and rage. He douses his victims with a false sense of honesty and goodness. And, as do most skillful pyromaniacs, Iago first prepares his most important target, Othello: Though in the trade of war I have slain men, \ Yet do I hold it very stuff o'th' conscience To do no contrived murder. I lack the iniquity. . .\ I had thought t'have yerked him under the ribs\ . . .\ . . .he prated\ And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms\ Against your Honor (I, ii 1-10). These sentences are obvious lies (to the reader), but they are crucial to the saboteur because they present Iago to Othello as a brave, loyal, and moral person. Iago indirectly and cleverly portrays himself as a man ready to fight and brave enough to kill; yet, he also wants Othello to believe that he would not kill without just reason. Iago pretends to be so loyal as to be tempted to kill any slanderer of Othello. It is evident that Othello has complete faith in Iago's claims as he states "thou'rt full of love and honesty" and "O brave Iago, honest and just" (III, iii 136\IV, i 34). Iago douses more dishonesty onto other characters such as Cassio who trusts Iago: "You advise me well\. . .\ Goodnight, honest Iago," and Desdemona who calls Iago "an honest fellow" (II, iii 346\355\5). Iago's deceitfulness is best epitomized by his ability to continually dupe Roderigo into serving his own insidious desires. Iago, always the careful pyromaniac, successfully pours his fuel of deceptiveness onto the victims before he lights his match. Once his victims are cloaked in misconception and dripping with innocence, Iago can ignite his scrupulously prepared fire. His evil creation is ready to burst into flames, "it is engendered. Hell and night\. . .bring this monstrous birth to the world's light" (I, iii 446-447). Iago is the ultimate opportunist, he knows exactly where and when to strike. He is fully aware that he can most malignantly destroy Cassio through dishonor, Othello through jealousy, Roderigo through naiveté, and Desdemona through purity. Iago is able to intoxicate Cassio, who has "very poor and unhappy brains for drinking," and, thus, dishonor him (II, iii 34). Iago pretends to be Cassio's good-old-drinking-buddy, but actually intends to embarrass him. Iago, the pyromaniac, proudly watches as Cassio goes up in flam This is ONLY a preview of the article. If you would like to view the entire document, you must subscribe to Academic Library. Please register below now!
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