Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay -- Othello essays

Iago in Othello In William Shakespeares tragic drama Othello we see a morally depraved character, perhaps a very mentally sick individual, named Iago. His personality and development during the play is the subject of this essay. In Shakespeares Four Giants Blanche Coles comments on the mental illness that appears to afflict the touching Iago When such old time critics as H. N. Hudson, who wrote nearly a hundred years ago, saw that Iago was not acting from revenge, one is more than surprised to husking modern critics, who have had the advantage of the progress that has been made in the study of abnormal psychology, accepting Iago for anything but what he is, and what Shakespeare intended him to be a insane personality. (79) Evidence of his psychopathic personality is seen early in the play. He manipulates the wealthy Roderigo into awakening the senator Brabantio (Rouse him make after him, poison his delight) and then he utters very offensive smutty lines about a black ram and wh ite ewe, which indicate the way his sick mind operates. He seems to be prompt by love of money which he has been receiving from Roderigo for some time (thou, Iago, who hast had my purse / As if the strings were thine). Iago himself says that he is motivated by revenge on the berth (I follow him to serve my turn upon him) because of the promotion of Michael Cassio to the lieutenancy. But regardless of the question of motivation, it is a fact that Iago hasnt a single true maven in the play in his disordered personality he can only manipulate or use people he is incapable of loving them. His manipulation of his general repeats time and again from the first meeting Nay, but he prated, And spoke such scurvy... ...eps due on To the Propontic and the Hellespont, Even so my bloody(a) thoughts, with violent pace, Shall neer look back, neer ebb to humble love, Till that a capable and wide revenge Swallow them up. (3.3) Iago is so in fancy of the generals contorted mind that he sp ecifies how the Moor should kill Desdemona Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. And the general dutifully responds, Excellent dangerous The enthusiastic answer causes one to suspect that the ancients psychopathology has taken possession of the Moor. WORKS CITED Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http//www.eiu.edu/multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos. Coles, Blanche. Shakespeares Four Giants. Rindge, New Hampshire Richard Smith Publisher, 1957.