International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences (IJELS) Vol-3, Issue-4, Jul - Aug, 2018 https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijels.3.4.28 ISSN: 2456-7620 Iago and His Motives under Modern Eyes Amany Abdelrazik PHD Researcher - Freie Universität Berlin, Germany Abstract—Shakespeare's plays depict the turn from the to the issues which appear in Othello have greatly pre-modern era with its traditional values and mores into changed between Shakespeare’s time and our the modern approach towards life and individuals. These own...” (Holloway, 1961, p. 155), I am encouraged plays deal with specific questions that were significant in to re-read Iago´s behaviour in light of modern Shakespeare's time and his cultural contexts, such as the thought that could satisfy the modern individual mores and meanings of Christian values in the society, understanding without taking the text out of its the rise of humanism, monarchy and questions related to original context. the economy. Nonetheless, Shakespeare´s questions on Rereading Iago´s behaviour through the religious values and the modern individual seem to be modern lens, I am going to contradict relevant today, in particular, with the recent post-modern Coleridge´s claim of Iago´s “motiveless discussions on the limits of secular rational modernity malignity” through trying out two and a return to a new condition of believing in arguments. Firstly, I argue that Iago´s contemporary societies. Taking the character of Iago as motives lurked inside his own narcissist my reference point, I shall attempt to reread Iago´s character that believed deeply in the actions and psyche in light of a critique of the narcissist individual’s willpower. Secondly, character along with the modern individual´s rational Iago´s attitude could be read in light of a attitude towards life. recent post-modern critique of the Keywords —Iago, modernity, Christianity, rationality, modern rational attitude. This attitude emptiness, superiority. endeavours to suppress and negate the meaning of spiritual feelings for the I. INTRODUCTION sake of a claimed “civilized” rational In Othello, Shakespeare introduces Iago to the audience individual. as a person full of evil and hatred from the first moment In the following pages, I shall trace the of the play. The play starts with Iago persuading Roderigo unlimited self- love in Iago´s character to wake Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, up saying “Call and how it controls his attitude and up her father, Rouse him…poison his delights…do, with reactions. Then, I shall attempt to shed like timorous accent and dire yell.” (I. i. 64-65, 72) Then, light on Iago´s sense of superiority and Iago confesses his hatred for Othello to Roderigo saying, his feelings of “emptiness”. A brief “... I hate him (Othello) as I do hell-pains . .” (-1. i.150). conclusion in the last section sums up And, as the play progresses, Iago turns out to be a villain my argument. who conspires not only to destroy Othello´s life but that of all those who trusted him without clear reasons. This II. THE HIDDEN FACE OF IAGO: IAGO AND led some critics like T.S. Coleridge to claim that Iago´s HIS UNCONDITIONAL SELF-LOVE actions stem from his “motiveless malignity”, as a result In "Othello", critics argue that Iago is the most perplexing of his love for evil for its own sake and hating “good in character among all Shakespearean villainous characters itself” (Bradley, 1951, P.209). because he did not give any convincing reasons to justify Coleridge´s aforementioned argument of his misdeeds and massive desire to destroy the lives of “motiveless malignity” could have satisfied the those around him. Although Iago tried hard to justify to Elizabethan audience who explained the action in the audience his hatred by, firstly, introducing himself as terms of the dichotomy of virtue and vice (Scragg, an ambitious person who had been unfairly treated by 1968) and therefore “did not expect every Othello. Othello gave Cassio a military promotion which character to produce one rational explanation for Iago deserved, it became even apparent that Iago is not every given action” (Bradbrook, 1983, p. 59-60). interested in taking the position of Cassio but in Such an argument, however, seems to be hardly destroying him. convincing to the modern rational mind, which Secondly, Iago hated Othello even seeks to find a plausible explanation for each before Cassio was promoted. He action. Therefore, and given that “men’s attitudes repeatedly professes his hatred for www.ijels.com Page | 686 International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences (IJELS) Vol-3, Issue-4, Jul - Aug, 2018 https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijels.3.4.28 ISSN: 2456-7620 Othello, he says “I have told thee often, On another occasion, Iago states that he and I re-tell thee again and again,” he fears that Cassio may spoil the says. “I hate the Moor: my cause is relationship between him and Othello, heartened; thine hath no less reason. Let and once again Iago claims that he us be conjunctive in our revenge against suspects that Cassio has deceived him him.” (I.iii.373) by having an affair with Emilia. He, Then, on another occasion, Iago claims however, contradicts himself and that he was a wronged husband and his confesses that he is not certain about wife betrayed him with Othello. Iago this suspicion. says: Although one can argue that Iago´s ... I hate the Moor; circumvented ways of revealing his real And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my motivations for his vicious behaviour sheets make them less convincing, critics argue 'Has done my office. I know not if't be that the problem with Iago is not that he true; did not have motives but that he did not Yet I, for mere suspicion in that kind, reveal his real reasons, and that what we Will do as if for surety. (1.3.378-82) get from Iago´s direct words “is only And, therefore, Iago threatened that he part of the truth, an evidence of things would take revenge for his honour, he says, not seen, or not entirely seen”. (Eisman "And nothing can, or shall content my 1995, p. 177). Indeed, unlike many soul other Shakespearean characters, Till I am even'd with him, wife, for Shakespeare chose not to psychologize wife. about Iago. Throughout the play, we Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor know Iago through the others and his At least into a jealousy so strong actions towards them. The final scene, That judgment cannot cure." (II. i. 331- in which Othello challenges Iago to 5.) express and explain himself ended up in Interestingly, Iago´s behaviours toward Iago´s famous lines: “Demand me his wife do not reflect his love for her. nothing. What you know, you know. On the contrary, he despises her. For From this time forth I never will speak a instance, when Emilia steals word.” (V.ii.303). Desdemona’s handkerchief for him, he Following the aforementioned comments on her action by saying, “It’s argument which suggests that Iago a common thing–to have a foolish wife” reveals just part of the truth behind his (III. iii.302-304). In the essay “The hatred on the stage what could be his Polarization of Erotic Love in real motives to hate those around him? “Othello,” Arthur Kirsch affirms this Here, I am going to reveal another idea, he writes: “Although Emilia’s motive behind Iago´s vicious actions portrayal is very complex, it is following his psychological reasons. I nevertheless obvious that Iago has little argue that Iago´s motive can be ascribed affection for her.” (Kirsch 1978, p.758) to his psyche. Furthermore, in a comparison between Critics argue that Iago´s egoism and Othello´s reaction when he was told unconditional self- love can be about his wife´s adultery and Iago´s considered one of the key reasons for reaction when he suspects a vicious his behaviour. It seems that Iago´s ego relationship between Othello and his plays the most important role in his life. wife it shows that; "while Othello reacts In this context, one can start by referring to his wife’s adultery by spying on her to the choice of the name “Iago” itself and obsessing about knowing her which seems not a random choice but it infidelity for sure, Iago focuses all of his carries an implicit message. The name energy on Othello and noton the Iago "unfolds from the Italian io, Latin claimed unfaithful wife. This could add ego" (Adelmann ,1997, p. 127) a to the argument that Iago´s motive is to suggestion that manifests itself in the destroy Othello and that he is indifferent omnipresence of the "I" of Iago in his about "the stealing of his wife´s heart". speech; for instance, when Iago www.ijels.com Page | 687 International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences (IJELS) Vol-3, Issue-4, Jul - Aug, 2018 https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijels.3.4.28 ISSN: 2456-7620 describes his injured " I" he says, "I Desdemona also describes Iago as a know my price, I am worth no worse a good man. For instance, when she gives place" (1.1.11); "And I, of whom his Cassio her promise that she will help eyes had seen the proof... must be lee'd, him get his job back, Emilia says that and calm'd" (11. 28-30); "And I, God Cassio's difficult situation deeply bless the mark, his worship's ancient" grieves Iago, here Desdemona (1.