ashley answers â€œDo you think that Iago's hatred for...â€� â€� Othello Q&A

Padmini Sukumaran asked this question about Othello:

Do you think that Iago's hatred for Othello stems from jealousy for Othello (after all he did suspect him of sleeping with his wife) and so he tries to duplicate the jealousy in Othello?

ashley Something my professor once mentioned was that Iago was jealous of the goodness he saw in other people. Iago was definitely a cynic, and one definitioâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðSomething my professor once mentioned was that Iago was jealous of the goodness he saw in other people. Iago was definitely a cynic, and one definition of a cynic is one who distrusts human sincerity or integrity --mostly because his own motivations are only motivated by self-interest. But, for a cynic to justify their own behavior, they have to attempt to see the same evil in others. I would have to disagree that the inkling of a thought that Emilia cheated on him would lead Iago to murder. And I also don't think the anger in Cassio's upgrade could provoke such an extreme response from Iago.

Instead, there was likely an inner struggle Iago had with himself that initiated his evil actions. Iago knew he lacked human empathy. In order to accept himself, he had to see the bad in the good around him. He brought the bad out of Othello, and he had Othello get rid of the goodness (Desdemona) around him.(less)

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