Othello and Iago

Othello – notes 1. Iago’s motive for desiring the destruction of Othello: A few possible reasons for his motive:  Loves evil for his own sake  Stem from a thwarted desire for Desdemona  Jealousy of Cassio’s position to the rank of Lieutenant – and hatred for Othello for making that promotion  Belief, or suspicion, that both Othello and Cassio have seduced Emilia, his wife  Stem from colour and race prejudice  Envy of high social position and power Kenneth Muir-Penguin…

…o refers to himself as “an honest man’; the opposite of course is true 7. The conflict between reason and passion in Othello:  He is a Christian = there is latent in him the almost pagan and elemental forces of passion and the he is never quite at home with the sophisticated and ‘civilised’ society into which he has married.