Annotation Iago's Soliloquy at the end of Act 1
What are Iago's motives?
According to Iago
Iago says in Act 1 Scene 3, "I hate the Moor: And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets. He has done my office." Here, Iago is saying that he hates Othello because of the rumor that he slept with his wife. Iago also said prior to the rumor that he is jealous of Cassio because Iago wasn't promoted to the position of lieutenant but Cassio was.
According to Me
The two reasons Iago mentions is contradictory because one minute he says this and another minute he says that. Due to this contradiction, I believe Iago's real motif is jealousy of Othello's high rank when Othello is an outsider. Iago has a binary thinking process and therefore causes him to get angry due to his inferiority. Iago is not thinking about why he is lower but instead just thinking why Othello is higher. Iago also says, "I'm not who you think I am" which proves the point that his claims can very well not be true.
What are Iago’s opinions about women and people who are different?
Iago believes women are useless, worthless, foolish, unfaithful, inconsistent and valueless. Iago believes that women are below men and he refers to them as creatures and animals and even property. He says he would rather trade his soul with a baboon rather than to fall in love with a woman. He believes falling in love with such being is stupid. He says, "[love] is merely a lust of the blood." and when he goes to Brabantio in Act 1 Scene 1, he says his daughter [Desdemona] was 'stolen' not taken referring to her as a property. This
is unlike Othello who thinks falling in love is fulfilling and honorable. Iago
believes to love a woman is to show weakness.
People Who Are Different
Iago is racist and this is shown in Act 1 Scene 3, "The moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by the nose, as asses are." Iago also says in Act 1 Scene 1, "Even now, now, very now, an old black ram, is tupping your white ewe..." When Othello says black ram and talks badly about him, it can be shown that Iago does not like different people.
Iago's Way of Thinking
Iago thinks in binary codes; it is either this or that.
Iago's mind is either reason or sex.
Iago has a pessimistic, bitter, dark and cynical view of the world and people.
However, he is very persuasive.
People Who Are Different
Iago is racist and this is shown in Act 1 Scene 3, "The moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by the nose, as asses are." Iago also says in Act 1 Scene 1, "Even now, now, very now, an old black ram, is tupping your white ewe..." When Othello says black ram and talks badly about him, it can be shown that Iago does not like different people.
Iago's Way of Thinking
Iago thinks in binary codes; it is either this or that.
Iago's mind is either reason or sex.
Iago has a pessimistic, bitter, dark and cynical view of the world and people.
However, he is very persuasive.