Othello 7 Deadly Sins Analysis

Shakespeare’s “Othello” categorizes multiple sins within this play. “Othello” has characters that represent specific sins of the Seven Deadly Sins. The characters, such as Iago, Roderigo, and Othello have sins such as envy, wrath, greed, and vanity that motivate them to commit acts of crimes. Iago is the root of all sins within this play, meaning he commits multiple sins. His envy and greed to become lieutenant motivates him to abandon his name of “honest Iago” and betray his own commander, Othello (Shakespeare). Roderigo is motivated through envy. His jealousy of Othello and Cassio cause Roderigo to become immersed within envy and driven to kill. Othello’s vanity stops him from believing Iago is a traitor and allows him to be tricked. His pride of his servants being completely honest betrays himself. This also drives his wrath onto killing his own wife. Sins such as envy, wrath, greed, and vanity manifest within these characters

which motivates them to commit acts that represent the sins.
Iago is the villain of this play. His greed and jealousy cause him to betray his own commander to satisfy his own deeds. Greed causes him to use other characters as well. Iago uses Roderigo for financial assistance. Iago’s greed manifests within himself that causes him to use Roderigo’s emotions to help him become the role of lieutenant that Cassio got instead. Iago also uses his own wife. Emilia was used to create a sense of betrayal that Othello had upon Cassio and his wife Desdemona. Instead of giving Desdemona her handkerchief, Emilia gives it Iago so he may set up a trap for Othello. Iago is abusing his wife for his own jealousy of Cassio as well as Othello. Roderigo, even if he was manipulated, was inspired by his envy to concede to Iago’s words. Roderigo was in love with Desdemona; however, she chose Othello instead. This jealousy fuels Roderigo into believing Iago was helping him out, when in reality he was being used. Roderigo let envy manifest within himself which influenced him into killing Cassio as well. Jealousy inspired Roderigo to commit murder even if it was not successful. Both Iago and Roderigo allowed sins of envy and greed manifest within themselves which motivated both men to commit acts of sins.
Othello is also motivated by sins too. Vanity manifests within Othello causing him to believe in every word Iago is saying. Othello’s pride forced himself into believing his subjects were trustworthy and honest, especially Iago. He believed Iago was the only man to be honestly by his side. In reality it was the complete opposite. Iago knew of Othello’s pride and utilized it to its fullest, confusing him into believing his wife was a harlot. Othello also allowed wrath to manifest within himself. The sin of wrath motivated Othello into actually committing the act of murder by suffocating his wife to death. Othello’s pride and wrath motivated him into murdering his own wife, and later his own life.
Shakespeare’s “Othello” displays some of the Seven Deadly Sins within itself, such as envy, greed, wrath, and vanity.

Iago’s actions were caused by his greed and envy of Cassio and Othello. His greed motivated him to use his wife Emilia and Roderigo and his envy towards Cassio and Othello cause Othello to murder his wife as well as commit suicide. Roderigo’s envy allowed him to become of use towards Iago’s greed. Envy blinded Roderigo of Iago’s action and motivated him to believe in Iago. This made Roderigo almost into a potential killer. Othello’s vanity deprived him of judgment on Iago. He believed Iago upheld to his name of “Honest Iago” and disregarded the fact of someone betraying. However, that was a lie and Iago abused Othello’s pride in his servants, and confused him into believing his wife of cheating. Othello, now blinded by his wrath, kills his wife due to his vanity and wrath. His vanity also leads him to suicide. Shakespeare shows to the readers of this play that sins of the Seven Deadly Sins can manifest within

characters.