Motivation In Othello

Shakespeare suggests that, when individuals are motivated by disempowering feelings they may seek revenge in order to achieve a sense of personal satisfaction. The disempowering feelings negatively impacts them into retaliating with a mindset of an ‘eye for an eye’. This can be seen in Othello, where Iago is motivated by the disempowering emotions of bitterness, humiliation, and jealousy to undermine Othello and Cassio, after Cassio is rewarded the promotion Iago believes he rightfully deserved, and Othello allegedly slept with Iago's wife, Emilia. By bringing Othello and Cassio down from their high pedestals, Iago aims to achieve various forms of personal satisfaction, especially over others.

Iago is motivated by feelings of bitterness regarding

Negative motivators result in Iago tearing down those around him, whereas Cassio’s positive motivators push him towards acceptance and bettering himself. In Act One Iago tells Roderigo how he is “worth no worse a place” than lieutenant, and Cassio’s soldiership is “mere prattle without practice”. Instead of asking why he did not get the promotion, Iago takes the position that he simply deserved it, while speaking ill will about Cassio behind his back. Iago is humiliated by the “daily beauty in [Cassio’s] life” that makes Iago “ugly”, and thus Cassio “must die”. Iago puts so much weight into the lives of other people that he is incapable of separating them from the good fortunes that are bestowed upon them. When Cassio is stripped publicly of his title after a drunken fight with the highly regarded Cypriot Montano, Cassio blames no one except himself; informing Iago that he “frankly [despises himself]” and is “presently a beast”. Not only is Cassio cursing himself for his actions, he is already seeing what he can do to get his position back; planning on “[beseeching] the virtuous Desdemona” to talk on his behalf. The contrasting decisions between the two men are entirely centered around their motivators. Iago seeks revenge

Iago will not let Othello have the peace of mind as to why his “soul and body” were ensnared, as for that moment on “[he] never will speak word”. As Othello withheld the position of lieutenant from Iago, Iago withholds the truth, the reason why his life was turned and twisted with such malevolence. It is only as Othello commits suicide, and Iago “[sets] down the pegs that make [his] music” that Iago is satisfied. The negative motivations driving Iago succeed in fulfilling his desires, as dishonourable and vicious as they were, Iago’s route to satisfaction through revenge and disempowering emotions