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Analysis of Othello's psychological problems
Analysis of Othello's psychological problems
Analysis of Othello's psychological problems
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Imagine the word “psychopath.” Perhaps a serial killer comes to mind; however, the fact of the matter is, psychopaths are far more complex. They are, of course, individuals, but psychopaths do tend to share certain aspects in personality. Some of the core aspects include an excessive amount of charisma, a heightened sense of self worth, an innate ability to manipulate, pathological lying, lack of great emotion, lack of empathy, criminal versatility, and sexual behavior. In “Othello” by William Shakespeare, we follow the story of one man named Iago. Driven by his hatred of his lieutenant, Othello, he works tirelessly to overthrow his superiors. This tale soon takes a grim turn and five people are left dead in his wake. It is through the thoughts, …show more content…
One might argue that Iago is not a psychopath, but a sociopath. A sociopath is different from a psychopath in the sense that they have the ability to form bonds with others, and their lack of empathy and guilt is much less severe than a psychopath’s. Many would bring up …show more content…
Throughout the play he repeatedly manipulates the rest of the cast to fit his plan. He convinces Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful, and he does so not by outright accusing her, but by stringing together seemingly hesitant stories that allow Othello to come to the conclusion on his own. This is perhaps why he is so hellbent in her slaughter: he believes that he was the one who came to this conclusion. Iago is incredibly subtle in his accusations in only a way that a psychopath could be. Even as Othello attempts to refute the claims against Desdemona, Iago finds a way to interject, claiming that she hasn’t always been honest; “She did deceive her father, marrying [Othello],” (3.3.206). Iago is insanely skilled in his methods of manipulation, and the fact that he claims that “what [he has] spoken / Comes from [his] love,” convincing Othello that his goal is pure. This eventually leads to Othello executing his wife; however, his feelings towards the murder are not as you would expect. Iago has twisted and corrupted Othello so much so that he is justifying the slaughter of his wife as a sort of honor killing, imposing his own narrative upon the atrocious act. Iago’s competency at the arts of manipulation is a telltale sign of psychopathy; however, this is not his only psychopathic trait. There are still many more that further exemplify his psychopathic
...is no remorse in his answer. In fact, he asserts and defends his behavior. He even has the nerve to kill his wife. Iago clearly enjoys inflicting pain onto others. This is proven repeatedly, as he continues to hurt, manipulate, and use others. This is also proven when Iago says, “As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad” (IV.I.117). Iago is sadistic. He does not think twice about his actions, nor does he care about the repercussions and consequences that occur as a result. This also is a symptom of a psychopathic personality, which Iago certainly displays.
A psychopath is “calculating and measured in their actions” which makes is harder for one to be identified ("Characteristics of a Sociopath."). Although there is no clinical diagnosis for a psychopath one can be determined through their characteristics and actions for one is more “likely to construct a complex scheme or plan and to carry it out” if they suffer from this mental disorder ("Characteristics of a Sociopath."). They are the most dangerous personalities in society as they have the capacity for extreme violence and the intelligence to blend into a community as an average citizen. It is the personality Iago from Othello that could be diagnosed as a psychopath as he is cold, calculating, manipulative, and is elaborate in his plans. Iago
In Othello, Iago is Shakespeare’s most malicious character and serves as a vehicle to these two themes. Iago despises Othello; he has a strong will to destroy Othello’s life, yet the motive behind his plan goes unexplained. Iago is a great manipulator of the tongue and lies to everyone in order to advance his plan; however, every character in the play considers Iago an honest character, and Othello even associates Iago with light and eyesight. Othello continuously asks Iago to explain or make something clearer. Until the very end, Iago appears to be honest and helpful to the other characters, but underneath this seemingly harmless façade, Iago is a demon with the strongest will; he will stop at nothing until he ruins Othello’s life. Iago uses a positive appearance to enact his
Iago’s Subconscious Motive Iago, the antagonist of Shakespeare’s work, Othello, is often considered purely evil or sociopathic. At first glance, Iago appears to be a static, two-dimensional villain, but he is much more. Shakespeare, renowned for his awareness of the human condition, leaves many important aspects of Iago’s life up to interpretation. In published works and critical interpretations, Iago is commonly associated with a myriad of mental illnesses and personality disorders. Because it seems that Iago’s life revolves around Othello and Desdemona, it is understandable how people may suggest that Iago is in love with Othello, or that he is a psychopath with no true motives.
In the light of the various descriptions of an unstable person, Iago is a psychopath with his manipulative choice of words. He tells people things that they want to hear and he says it in a manner that makes him appear exceptional. “ I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, For too much loving you.” (3.3.106) In act three, Iago pretends to be Othello’s confidant, and he wants Othello to suspect his wife is having an affair. Iago has a pseudo relationship with Othello the entire duration of the play.
People with borderline personality disorder have constantly shifting self-images which can lead to fading moral values. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, “There are sudden and dramatic shifts in self image, characterized by shifting goals, values, and vocational aspirations” (664). This can be seen in Othello because everyone considered him to be an amazing general with the highest of moral values. However, after the events that transpired during the play, he was left as nothing more but a shell than his former self. He had become so consumed with getting revenge that his personality warped around his poisonous goals. The play says, “Thou dost stone my heart, / and makes me call what I intend to do / a
The reader can see Iago’s drastic difference from what he said in the beginning of the play, compared to his actions in the end of the play. Iago says “Though in the trade of war I have slain men, Yet do I hold it very stuff o' th' conscience To do no contrived murder. I lack iniquity Sometimes to do me service.” (Act I, scene, ii, lines 1-4) Iago tells this straight to Othello’s face that he truly finds murder of another man sickening, and that even though he has killed men before, he believes it to be wrong and will not kill out of his own reasons but only when his is forced to. Contradicting Iago's on words, in Act V, scene I, line 65, Iago murders Roderigo out of cold blood. Iago also murders his wife Emilia in Act V scene ii, line 149, because she wouldn’t obey him to shut up, when she is telling the truth about Iago’s horrible ways he has manipulated Othello into believing Desdemona was unfaithful to him. “Be wise, and get you home.” (Act V, scene ii, line
In the first scene, he expresses his anger toward Othello for not choosing him to the position of lieutenant and instead choosing the much younger and unexperienced Cassio. Jealous and resentful Iago wants everyone else to feel how he does so he plans to manipulate the other characters. He manipulates Othello by using his own fears against him and he also takes advantage of his insecurities. Iago makes groundless accusations toward Othello, for example by saying “It is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets / He has done my office” (I.iii.369–370). Claiming that Othello slept with his wife, Emilia. Later on in the play Iago mentions that he wants to go after Desdemona because Othello went after his wife, he wants to get even he expresses this by saying “wife for wife”
Borderline personality disorder can be described as, “...a serious mental illness that centers on the inability to manage emotions effectively. The disorder occurs in the context of relationships: sometimes all relationships are affected, sometimes only one” ("BPD OVERVIEW."). Over the course of the play, Othello manages to ruin every one of his relationships, especially those with people closest to him such as Desdemona and Cassio. While the symptoms of his disorder were prevalent beforehand, Iago’s manipulation of Othello was the catalyst of the events that preceded it. After a high stress, very intense event, it is hard for people with this disorder to return to normal ("NAMI."), which can be seen in Othello’s actions following his encounter with Iago. Iago manipulated Othello into believing his lies about Desdemona. After Iago convinces Othello of Desdemona’s truancy, Othello says, “Her name, that was as fresh / As Dian’s visage, is now begrimed and black / as mine own face” (Shakespeare 3.3.403-405). Previous to this encounter, Othello had already been insecure in his and Desdemona’s relationship due to the obvious differences between them. When his worst fears were confirmed with Iago’s conspiracy, he was plunged into a world of jealousy and rage. He was so hung up on this idea that it consumed his every thought and he was never able to see the truth of the situation. He figured that what Iago said made sense so he sought no further truth to the situation and refused to listen to reason when Desdemona offered it. Also, many that suffer from borderline personality disorder can have very productive work lives, but their personal lives may have severe problems, which can be clearly seen in Othello and Desdemona’s relationship ("BPD OVERVIEW."). Additionally, a potential cause of this disorder is, “A history of early loss or traumatic abandonment is
In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is the antagonist and villain who causes all the trouble and disorder. Othello is the protagonist, and is the main person Iago’s destruction and revenge is aimed towards. Othello is naïve and gives everybody his trust even though he may not know them or they haven’t earned his trust yet. He often refers to Iago has “Honest” Iago, which is a direct showing of irony because Iago is not honest at all (Shakespeare, I, iii. 289). Iago is so angry that Othello didn’t give him the promotion that was given to Cassio that he plans to seek revenge against Othello. He seeks his revenge against Othello by manipulating and lying to all of the people around him including his closest friend Roderigo, Cassio, Othello’s wife Desdemona and even his own wife Emilia. In the end, Iago’s lies and manipulation led to the deaths of Roderigo, Emilia, Othello and Desdemona. This isn’t the first time many of these individual characteristics have shown up in one of Shakespeare’s plays.
Fred West addresses the fact of Iago misrepresentation, “It is not sufficient to simply drape Iago in allegorical trappings and proclaim him Mister Evil or a Machiavel or a Vice. Such a limited view of Iago is an injustice to the complexity of his character, since Shakespeare’s studies in personality are acclaimed by psychologists for their accuracy and profundity” (27). West seems to be reminding us that just seeing Iago as the representation of evil within the play of “Othello” is the wrong way to paint him. Iago is a man wronged by Othello in the fact that he was not chosen to be Othello’s lieutenant, which is what put the dastardly idea into Iago’s head to trick them all and bring them to their knees. As Iago tells Roderigo within the first act and scene of “Othello”,
Iago is straight away introduced as a dubious character. Having his fingers in Roderigo's purse show his interest in money. The language that he uses is vulgar and rude and he has no shame in his deceitful actions. In order to get what he wants, Iago will do anything. This includes insulting Desdemona, an innocent young woman who does not intend to harm anyone. Her sorrow at her divided loyalties shows this. Like her husband, Desdemona deals with situations carefully. Othello is the opposite of Iago in that he does not pride himself on killing people. It may be his strong point, but he feels that it should not be bragged about, especially in noble company.
The Tragedy of Othello William Shakespeare’s, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, from the sixteenth century is an excellent example of Renaissance humanism. “A poet of unparalleled genius, Shakespeare emerged during the golden age of England under the rule of Elizabeth I.”(Fiero 3:98) He produced comedies, tragedies, romances and histories. According to Webster’s pocket dictionary, a tragedy is defined as a form of drama in which the protagonist comes to a disaster, as through a flaw in character, and in which the ending is usually marked by pity or sorrow. I would like to concentrate on the character Iago and the theme of deceit.
Iago has a sophisticated way of deceiving the characters of the play, making him a very intelligent person. Early in the play Othello introduces Iago to the Duke of Venice as, “My ancient / A man he is of honesty and trust” (!. iii. 284-85). This is but one of the times in the play that Iago is referred to as honest and true. Throughout the play Iago is considered to be honest, but is actuality the villain. In order to maintain this false image one has to have a beguiling character. After Othello and his lieutenant, Michael Cassio, return from the war against the Ottomans, there is a celebration. At this celebration Iago puts his manipulation to work. He knows that Othello and Desdemona’s love for each other is very true, but he tells Rodrigo that Desdemona had love for Cassio: “With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. / Ay, smile upon her, do…” (II. I. 164-65). This quote shows that Iago deceives Roderigo into believing that Desdemona loves Cassio, when in Roderigo’s eyes it is virtually impossible. Iago basically controls Rodrigo because Iago deceives him into believing that he can have Desdemona, by both Cassio and Othello.
...e other, in Cyprus is unknown and confusing for Othello. This change in scenery, combined with Iago’s plan to destroy Othello, is what pushes Othello to eventually kill Desdemona along with himself. However, the Ego does not feature in the setting of the play. Therefore, the setting of Othello is similar to Freudian theory, but does not mirror it exactly. Furthermore, the three main characters of Iago, Othello and Desdemona are portrayed as very good examples of the Id, Ego and Superego respectively, allowing ‘Othello’ to play out as an excellent example of Freudian literature. However, the fact that Iago seeks gratification over time rather than instantly is not congruent with the Id. On the whole, Freudian psychoanalysis is extremely applicable to the text of Othello. However, there are subtle differences between Freudian theory and Othello which set the two apart