s demise begins. Iago’s jealousy is depicted early when he is suspicious of Othello pursuing his own wife, Emilia. Iago tries to have Desdemona’s father do the work for him, but it does not work. Iago’s rage grows and in the end of act I, he reveals his plan. “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 th’ nose/ as asses are./ I hav’t! It is engend’red! Hell and night/ must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light./” (I. iii. 380-385) Iago is filled with hate for the Moor and his whole life is now consumed with revenge. Also at the end of the first scene in Cyprus, Iago speaks of his own motivations for his deceit. He says of Desdemona, “Now I do love her too;/ not out of absolute lust, though for peradventure/ I do stand accountant for as great a sin,/ but partly led to diet my revenge/ for that I do suspect the lusty Moor/ hath leaped into my seat.” (II. i. 268-272) He desired revenge for his own suspicion that Othello has gone to bed with Emilia. It is was killing on the inside and Iago would not be happy, “Till I am evened with him, wife for wife;/ or failing so, yet that I put the Moor/ at least into a jealousy so strong/ that judgement cannot cure.” (II. i. 276-279) He reveals that he wants to kill Othello from the inside, make him succumb under his own power. Othello was married happily to Desdemona, but Iago planted some doubts in Othello’s mind concerning her “unchaste” lifestyle. Iago told Othello that his wife had been unfaithful and was “lying in Cassio’s bed” while they were married. Othello chose to believe this false story that Iago schemes up, and because of this his marriage was destroyed. All he could think about was his sweet Desdemona having a relationship with his first lieutenant. In doing this, he was ...
