How Is Iago A Sociopath

The fascinating intelligence of Shakespeare begins Othello, unlike other tragedies that begin with ancillary figures point out the character that will turn out to be at the center of the tragedy, with his genius creation of truly evil Iago instead of Othello. Shakespeare gave Iago the honor of being a main character, an antagonist too, in one of his blood soaked tragedies and made him survive the experience. Iago the genius villain whose intrigues and deception brought the downfall of the main hero Othello, is considered in today’s society a truly Sociopath. Sociopathy-as noted by Preston McAfee-is a personality disorder defined by certain characteristics such as manipulations, lack of empathy, sense of entitlement, and has a grandiose sense of his own importance. Those traits were manifestly shown by Iago in Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello.

Iago is a twenty- eight years old Caucasian married man and he is soldier in the Venetian army. Iago is viewed as modest, honest, and a good friend to people in public. People refer to him as “honest Iago” which lead them to trust him. Iago plans to destroy Othello by manipulating him to believe that his wife is being unfaithful to him with his promoted lieutenant Cassio, a position Iago wanted to have. Although the scandal that Iago came up with is a complete lie, Othello ends up believing him. Iago uses his ability to talk to people in order to accomplish his plan of destroying Othello because he wasn’t granted the position of the Venice army. (Sorto 1)

A manipulative person gives himself the full-rights to do as they please without taking the rights of others in consideration, and they go about doing so by presenting themselves in the purest image of a good moral person, while they hide the ...

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...ve anything he pleases when he pleases disregarding any fairness or reasonability to others, he takes everything for granted, he expects to receive favors from others without any intention of paying them back, and he believes that everything he receives is his due. The sense of entitlement a sociopath withholds is mostly related to his grandiose sense of his own importance.

The sense of entitlement that comes with sociopathy is astonishing to those who abide by the social laws and conventions of our culture. Where does the entitlement come from? It stems from an underlying sense of rage. Sociopaths feel deeply angry and resentful underneath their often-charming exterior, and this rage fuels their sense that they have the right to act out in whichever way they happen to choose at the time. Everything is up for grabs with sociopaths and nothing is off limits. (Meyers)