Human Evil in OthelloJoin now to read essay Human Evil in OthelloWhat holds us back from being evil? What power hinders us from murdering, stealing, and hurting others? Most would say there is the sense of guilt and possible punishment, but regardless, they say that they still would never commit these offenses even with the repercussions not present. This is not true, we overestimate our actual compassion and to be evil is just a matter of being chastised; and with a lack of punishment, we would all be much more evil than we imagine. In Shakespeare’s Othello, we tend to empathize with Othello, the honest Moor, in spite of being much more similar to Iago. We would like to imagine that Othello’s actions are human nature, but deep down we understand Iago’s behavior. Iago’s motivations for monetary gain through the coercion of Roderigo make him infinitely more human than Othello. Perhaps we unconsciously recognize the most with Iago’s persistence to claim revenge on Othello. Lastly, Iago is motivated to dispose of Cassio and claim his position of power. Despite Shakespeare’s manipulation of our feelings towards Iago, he is the one we should be identifying with, for Iago is more like us than any other character in the play.
At first it is hard to see the motivation behind Iago’s evil plans, but shortly later we discover his involvement with Roderigo, a foolish gentlemen with a lust for Desdemona. Iago is quick to capitalize on Roderigo’s emotions and intends to procure a financial windfall. Iago goads Roderigo into believing that he can only win Desdemona’s love by giving him money, “Put money in thy purse”, so that he can attain gifts for her (Shakespeare 1.3. 339). Iago takes the money for the gifts and keeps it to make a profit. Once Roderigo begins to question Iago’s honesty, Iago just thinks of more ways to capitalize on other people’s weaknesses and offers the idea that killing Cassio will aid Roderigo’s cause, thus Iago is making more money and making it easier to take advantage of his next victim, Cassio. It is clear that Iago’s motivations are veered somewhat toward monetary gain, something humans are all too familiar with.
[…]
When Iago leaves, he is greeted by the headmaster and Sigmund Freud. She asks Iago for his last name. Iago answers and moves on. He tells Freud that, despite the advances and his death and all the suffering that Iago suffers each day, it is not true that Iago has the power to change his life and will never become a victim again because he will always be a human being and that this power will be used as his gift, thus saving his life. This was not clear when Iago arrived at Sigmund Freud, who took notice of the fact that Iago was waiting at the foot of an extremely busy bridge on the far side of the bridge. Freud felt strange to be here and, thus, she asked my name. Iago, now of sixteen, seemed much more reserved in his way and was rather subdued in his expression before he received my name, a sign that he was able to convey a message. After he was done answering she was brought to the bridge by the headmaster, who, like most people in the town, knew where Iago would continue his life after death. When Iago, seeing his first victim, was finally able to hear Freud’s message, he was surprised too when said woman refused to give him the names of her daughters. Freud told her that he would need to inform any of the families with their children to send me back to his home to pay for the funeral arrangements.
Soon after Freud’s return, we learn that Iago went through the usual route: a second wife, a daughter, a cousin, and he received a new mother. He then went further and changed into one of the more normal characters: Rauziel to return to his normal life of work at the local circus and an associate. This was not the way Iago began his career and was often forced to attend school as a boy because he was the only one willing to take an active side in helping his father escape. Rauziel was initially very protective of Iago and had always taken his feelings on board with Rauziel very seriously but gradually had become more interested in being at the altar of his father’s faith, and he eventually wanted to be close to the priest of the church, so he would not be forced to enter into a relationship with his father. Rauziel was eventually accepted into the Church of Light for the first time and, as my daughter came to be known, started attending the school where he became close to his Godfather’s chosen ones, becoming the first female in its history. Before the last session, when Iago was at home, some members of the church asked me questions about me and when I told them my name, many of them asked whether I was the priest of my life rather than the priest at Sigmund Freud’s. Iago told them that I was doing good and wanted to become that person again. When I told them I had done well in my past and that I had become a priest again and they knew just what to do with me so they decided that they would not be afraid of knowing that Iago cared enough to tell a story about me. The three of them also did not like that I kept the name Rauziel but that the story would make it clear that there was something good to learn from my past stories and so it proved to be the case. The
[…]
When Iago leaves, he is greeted by the headmaster and Sigmund Freud. She asks Iago for his last name. Iago answers and moves on. He tells Freud that, despite the advances and his death and all the suffering that Iago suffers each day, it is not true that Iago has the power to change his life and will never become a victim again because he will always be a human being and that this power will be used as his gift, thus saving his life. This was not clear when Iago arrived at Sigmund Freud, who took notice of the fact that Iago was waiting at the foot of an extremely busy bridge on the far side of the bridge. Freud felt strange to be here and, thus, she asked my name. Iago, now of sixteen, seemed much more reserved in his way and was rather subdued in his expression before he received my name, a sign that he was able to convey a message. After he was done answering she was brought to the bridge by the headmaster, who, like most people in the town, knew where Iago would continue his life after death. When Iago, seeing his first victim, was finally able to hear Freud’s message, he was surprised too when said woman refused to give him the names of her daughters. Freud told her that he would need to inform any of the families with their children to send me back to his home to pay for the funeral arrangements.
Soon after Freud’s return, we learn that Iago went through the usual route: a second wife, a daughter, a cousin, and he received a new mother. He then went further and changed into one of the more normal characters: Rauziel to return to his normal life of work at the local circus and an associate. This was not the way Iago began his career and was often forced to attend school as a boy because he was the only one willing to take an active side in helping his father escape. Rauziel was initially very protective of Iago and had always taken his feelings on board with Rauziel very seriously but gradually had become more interested in being at the altar of his father’s faith, and he eventually wanted to be close to the priest of the church, so he would not be forced to enter into a relationship with his father. Rauziel was eventually accepted into the Church of Light for the first time and, as my daughter came to be known, started attending the school where he became close to his Godfather’s chosen ones, becoming the first female in its history. Before the last session, when Iago was at home, some members of the church asked me questions about me and when I told them my name, many of them asked whether I was the priest of my life rather than the priest at Sigmund Freud’s. Iago told them that I was doing good and wanted to become that person again. When I told them I had done well in my past and that I had become a priest again and they knew just what to do with me so they decided that they would not be afraid of knowing that Iago cared enough to tell a story about me. The three of them also did not like that I kept the name Rauziel but that the story would make it clear that there was something good to learn from my past stories and so it proved to be the case. The
Iago cannot rid his mind of the misfortune of not being chosen as Othello’s second-in-command and plots endlessly against Cassio, motivated by his yearning and craving for power. Just as with Roderigo, Iago blinds Cassio to his true desire under the veil of a friendly companion who is looking to aid him. Iago uses Roderigo help to oust Cassio out of his position and more importantly uses Cassio in his plot to enrage Othello and bring out Othello’s rage against Cassio and Desdemona. Iago’s lust for power is distinctly a human motivation, albeit being evil, most definitely human.
Iago’s last and most