Othello, Shakespeare's tragedy, a story of jealousy, envy, betrayal and death displays the evil masterminding of a single individual. The ambitious Iago, a character filled with jealousy uses his manipulative traits to penetrate the minds of the play's characters to set them on a course of destruction. Being one of the most discussed villains from Shakespeare's plays the question if he is a monster can be argued both ways. Literary monsters depict traits that are very clear and allow readers to label them, Iago doesn't allow for this yet he manipulates readers as he does in the play. However his cowardice is eventually shown. His inability to display any legitimate motivation for the destruction he is causing is reason to believe that he is nothing but a monster with the desire to hurt others. Iago's exploitation of human traits, unjustifiable immoral actions, and the comparison to other literary monsters eliminates any doubt to what he truly is.
[...] Iago is the spirit that will not be, the spirit of absence, a pure negativity. (Bloom) The arguments over the comparison to the Bible vary, however it isn't hard to see Iago fits hand in hand with Judas. They both betrayed the one who was their superior figure, they both used trust and love as advantageous to themselves, and they both ended up with a negative outcome. They are both classified as monsters because what they did was nothing but evil, nothing positive was desired or achieved. [...]
[...] Iago's jealousy should not be overlooked as it is what fueled the monster and is very comparable to Othello, they both become obsessed with removing the one thing that enraged them so much. see jealousy through the comparable but contrasting experiences of Othello and Iago is to see it in focus, as the most desperate passion of man and the most devastating.” (Rand). The magnitude of jealousy found in Othello and Iago is what fuels the tragedy from one step to another, without the jealousy of these two men none of the events would of occurred the way they did. [...]
[...] Two things are clear at this point Iago wants Cassio's position and wants revenge for Othello's act of adultery, Iago cannot justify either one of these desires. His jealousy grows larger and his desire to hurt becomes even more present. The soliloquy at the end of Act II shows the next step of his plan taking place, “Emilia must ‘move for Cassio to her mistress”; and meanwhile Iago will bring Othello ‘Jump when he may find Cassio soliciting his wife'.”(Draper) His scheme is beginning to unfold but it remains unjustifiable, he has no reason to act on his jealousy of false accusations, let alone act the way he is acting. [...]
[...] Iago transformed into a monster that brought havoc to all who cared for him. Iago has proved that he should be classified as a monster and nothing else; he exploits people and acts in unjustifiable ways with intention to cause harm and destroy. He can also be compared to other literary monsters that have been recognized for their destruction in other respectable pieces of writing. I find the most interesting comparison, is the comparison to Judas from the Catholic bible. [...]
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