Iago shows the readers his motives at the very beginning of the play. In scene 1, Iago explains how Othello promoted Cassio to be his new lieutenant. Iago feels betrayed because he thinks that the deserved the promotion more ( “I know my price, I am worth no worse a place.” ; Act 1 Scene 1, l.11). Iago is clearly a man with great ambition and ego who knows, and sometimes overestimates, his own worth. Not only his self-esteem, but also his professional career have been damaged, so he starts his revenge by telling Brabanzio about Othello's and Desdemona’s marriage ( “[...] very now, an old black ram / Is tupping your white ewe. [...]”; Act1 Scene 1, l.88-89).
Another motive becomes clear when Iago convinces Othello of the apparent “affair” of Desdemona and Cassio ( “Look to your wife. Observe her well with Cassio.” ; Act 3 Scene 3, l.201). His main goal here is to damage Othello's marriage and to break his bond with Desdemona. Iago admits that even though he has a plan, it needs some improvement and details ( “[...] 'Tis here, but yet confused.”; Act 2 Scene 1, l.298).
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By doing so, he tries to make himself feel better and to convince himself that his lie is actually true, so he would not have a bad