Zac on "What you know, you know"

Iago's Last Words  (Zac Kieser)

My task today is to try to explain one of the most hotly debated topic among Shakespeare scholars. That is, what is Iago’s motivation, or more specifically, why does he refuse to reveal his motivation even when he is caught at the end of the play? Let’s look at the potential motives. In Act 1, Scene 1, Iago tells Roderigo how angry he is at Othello for choosing Cassio, not Iago as his lieutenant. So, is revenge the motive? Also, in Act 1, Scene 3, line 354, Iago talks about it being “a sport” for him to hurt Othello. So, is Iago just a sadist? In Act 1, Scene 3, line 366, Iago also talks about Othello having done his marriage “office”, so maybe belief that Othello has cuckolded him is what motivates Iago.

Or, maybe his motive is the misogyny that he expresses in his jokes to Desdemona around line 100 in Act 2, Scene 1. However, I believe all these potential motives are just fronts for Iago’s real motive. What Iago really wants is power. Yes, it is that simple. One reason for this is Iago’s talk in Act 1, Scene 1, line 40 about how he follows Othello to “serve my turn upon him.” In modern speech, this means “serve my own interests.” So, Iago seems to be saying he believes he can gain power by following Othello, not just take revenge on Othello for slighting him. He also goes on in that passage to speak admiringly of people who thrive off those above them and gain honor for themselves independently of their masters. Another reason is that Iago enjoys talking to us about the plans he is going to enact and seems to revel in thinking about how he will play everyone’s weaknesses against each other. This suggests that he enjoys having the power to destroy people, especially those with more wealth, strength, beauty, or political power than him. This is supported by Act 5, Scene 1, line 16, where we learn that Iago has defrauded Roderigo of “gold and jewels”, pocketing the money instead of giving it to Desdemona. Also, in Act 5, Scene 1, line 128, Iago tells us that this night (the night that he believes Othello will kill Desdemona) is the one that either “makes” him or undoes him. The word “make” in this phrase seems to be the equivalent of Iago saying he is going to have it made—that is, have the power he craves—if his plan ends how he hopes. Finally, we come to Act 5, Scene 2, lines 296-297, where Iago refuses to reveal his motive, saying “Demand me nothing. What you know, you know; From this time forth I never will speak word.” Viewing this through the motive of power, I believe this is Iago’s final display of power. He realizes that his plans have failed, but by refusing to say why he deceived Othello, he exercises a display of power over the devastated Othello who would probably at least like to know why Iago tricked him so horribly. But Iago is unwilling, even at the end, to stop fighting for more power.