Tuesday, May 13th, 2014...4:15 pm
Othello
Summary of Othello: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp6LqSgukOU
Article: http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic/?verb=sr&csi=10939&sr=HEADLINE%28Othello%29%2BAND%2BDATE%2BIS%2B2002
Clearly, throughout the entire book we see that Iago is the person who sets forth the play. With Iago’s hatred for Othello, he plots Othello’s fall.
Here is an analyzation Of Iago’s character:
According to Harold Bloom, Iago can be considered a “artist of evil”. Iago clearly finds enjoyment plotting against the characters we see in Othello. We can also assume that Iago is one of the most mysterious villains throughout the play. Throughout the entire play Iago dedicates his entire time plotting against Othello and Cassio. Clearly Iago is jealous of both Othello and Cassio because Othello is Iago’s general and Cassio was his lieutenant. He was able to convince Othello, that his wife, Desdemona, was cheating on Othello with Cassio. Iago end the end convinced Othello to murder his wife. Iago was also able to convince Roderigo to fight Cassio and both end up being wounded. However through all the tragedies that were caused by Iago, Iago didn’t get any benefit from all the deaths of the characters. Some argue that Iago had no motives and that he is pure evil, we never really find out why Iago wants to plot against Othello because he does not gain anything from killing Othello. Iago might be in lust with Othello because it seems throughout the play, he is plotting against Desdemona and trying to eliminate her from Othello, in the end he never killed Othello, it was Othello himself decided to suicide.
Discussion Question:
1. In most Shakespeare plays, usually characters plot villainous things in order to receive something in return, or do it out of revenge, clearly we never really find out why Iago hates him Othello so much, could it be that he is pure evil? Or could it be that Iago wants Desdemona?
2. If Iago isn’t in lust with Desdemona what could be his objectives for plotting against Desdemona and Othello?
7 Comments
May 14th, 2014 at 10:42 am
Honest I do not thing Iago was pure evil or in”lust” with Othello. If anything he was just upset that Cassio got a promotion over him. A lot of people would get upset in the same scenario. They might not go into the extremes that Iago did, but they would still be upset. Iago probably suffers from a disorder known as a sociopath so he would have no problems morally screwing so one over. Con-artist that suffer from this do the same thing as Iago on the regular bases simple because they can.
May 14th, 2014 at 11:08 am
#Clinton/boss/ook/papa/onone
May 14th, 2014 at 7:42 pm
I don’t think that we can plot where the hatred comes from because we don’t know much about Iago, Shakespeare thrusts us into the story without any explanation, which is unlike his other plays, ie. Romeo and Juliet where we understand the conflict between the Capulets and Montagues. But for Iago we do not understand his story and where he comes from. If we knew just a bit more, or there was more contact with Desdemona or Othello, I believe that we can understand more of Iago. But as it stands no.
May 16th, 2014 at 10:09 pm
Rarely is there a truly evil person, and that most people are motivated by material or intangible rewards, real or imagined. It is to my belief that Iago acted out of the enjoyment he received from watching the downfall of those he hated, and not for any other purpose such as lust or high position. Like Cato, who believed that the world could come crashing around him so long as justice is done, I believe Iago was capable of so much spite towards his enemies that he did not need to benefit in any material way in order to feel that his efforts were justified. It is their total ruin (such as Othello murdering his own wife and killing himself) that was enough. Iago is hate incarnate.
May 17th, 2014 at 9:34 am
I do not think that Iago is in lust for Desdemona because, it seems clear in the play that Iago is jealous of Othello because he received a promotion. He probably feels that Othello is not right for the role as General. And the only way of distracting him from his job is by making him concentrate on Desdemona’s infidelity so, he can probably get a demoted from his job and he’d get it instead.
May 19th, 2014 at 11:51 am
I think Iago is angry at Othello for promoting other instead of him. Even we don’t know much about Iago, but I think Iago is not pure evil because he is just jealous of Othello being better than him. Therefore, he is trying to make trouble to Othello and make himself feels better.
May 19th, 2014 at 2:35 pm
I think Lago didn’t like Othello purely out of jealousy. His status and race made him angry and just wanted to pit him back in his place. I think Lago just wanted to replace Othello and hated the fact he was working under him. Motive is unclear but I think race played a huge role. Also Othello and Lago are often seen as similar characters so maybe Lago had the jealousy trait like Othello which led him to just act on feelings alone.