This is my thesis statement

Rather than jealousy, Iago, as displayed mainly in Act 1, is driven by a sense of entitlement which Shakespeare uses to teach the ultimate lesson on the unforeseeable effect of this kind of thought on a man.

I. Iago's entitlement

a. whats the difference between entitlement and jealousy?

b. quotes from the text

II. Effect on the other characters in the play

a. effects while alive

b. why it causes deaths

III. Conclusion

a. why shakespeare thought it was a good theme for his play

b. the importance of entitlement during the period it was written.


Here are some of the direct quotes from the text that I found helpful in coming to my opinion on Iago.


1) " I know my price, I am worth no worse a place. ( Iago insists here that he is entitled to the lieutenancy)
But he, as loving his own pride and purposes, (the "he" here refers to Othello and since he has now angered Iago by not choosing him, Iago expresses his feelings by saying how ridiculous it is that Othello would not chose him because he even had people high in authority suggesting him.)
Evades them with a bombast circumstance, (here he is refering to how Othello responded to the officials suggesting Iago for Lieutenant. Apparently his speech was "stuffed" with worries over war and wordy speeches.)
Horribly stuffed with epithets of war,
(and in conclusion)
Nonsuits my mediators, For "Certes," says he,
"I have already chose my officer,"
And what was he?
Forsooth, a great arithmetician,
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,
A fellow almost damned in a fair wife..." (I, I, 12-22)


2) "Why, there's no remedy. 'Tis the curse of service. (here Iago is responding to Rodgrigo's suggestion that it would be preferable to be O's hangman rather than his "ancient" or flagbarer )
Preferment goes by letter and affection,
And not by old gradation, where each second
Stood heir to th' first. Now, sir, be judge yourself
Whether I in any just term am affained
To love the Moor." (because of this 'oversight' on O's behalf, Iago feels he no longer has any loyalty required of him, so he is now free to enact his revenge) (I, I, 37-42)


3) " I follow him to serve my turn upon him. (Iago begins to plan his revenge motivated by the belief that that he has been denied his just desserts.)
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot truly followed. You shall mark
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave
That, doting on his own obsequious bondage, (obviously viewed as stupid and not normal)
Wears out his time, much like his master's ass. For naught but provender and when he's old,
cashiered,
Whip me such honest knaves! Others there are
Who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty,
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves,
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,
Do well thrive by them now; and when they have lined
their coats,
Do themselves homage. These fellows have some
soul... (here is where Iago shows his true morals. Being false and backhanded while lining ones' own pockets is MUCH preferable than serving a place that one has been appointed to the best of his ability and being promoted later. To Iago Othello's ignorance of his abilities is unforgivable and irreversible. Because of his "entitlement" obsession there is no room for this "flag barer" stage in his career.)
I do profess myself." (I, I, 46-61)

4) "Farewell, for I must leave you.
It seems not meet nor wholesome to my place
to be producted, as if I stay I shall,
Against the Moor" (Iago's first deceptive move towards the Moor. He leaves directly upon stirring up D's father so he will not be implicated yet. He definitely already has a bigger plan than just ruining the Moor's marriage.) (I. I, 161-164)


5)"Though in the trade of war I have slain men,
Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience (Iago has fun saying things to Othello to make him think the opposite of what he is planning. Because he feels so wronged by O he has no conscious and feels anything he does to O is justified. Here I is planning O's demise as he tells him that he wouldn't dream of murder because it is the very most basic moral. )
To do no contrived murder: I lack iniquity
Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten times
I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs. "

6)You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you. (here he makes a show in front off all his superior officer's solidifying his apparent comradary with R, in R's mind.)

7)Thou art sure of me:--go, make money:--I have told
thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I
hate the Moor: my cause is hearted; thine hath no (because R feels in love with Desdamona and has known her much longer than O, I enforces his idea of entitlement as just as just a reason for R to be vindictive towards O as I feels)
less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge
against him: if thou canst cuckold him, thou dost
thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There are many
events in the womb of time which will be delivered.

8)Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane,
If I would time expend with such a snipe.
But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:
And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets
He has done my office: I know not if't be true;
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety. He holds me well; (here he states a common rumor that he does not really believe but decides to use as an excuse for everyone around him. He knows no one will think his entitlement is a good enough reason, but he feels that in the end they will understand.)
The better shall my purpose work on him.
Cassio's a proper man: let me see now:
To get his place and to plume up my will
In double knavery--How, how? Let's see:--
After some time, to abuse Othello's ear
That he is too familiar with his wife.
He hath a person and a smooth dispose
To be suspected, framed to make women false.
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.
I have't. It is engender'd. Hell and night
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light.