Othello By William Shakespeare And We Need To Essay Example

is the "villain" in Othello.

Shakespeare presents Iago as a highly blasphemous character when he enters the stage with the exclamation "S'blood". It is suggested that Iago's character is based on the Spanish Saint of "Santiago Matamoros", which translates to St James the Moor-killer. Although it may seem obvious to suggest that Iago's motive is racism due to his statement "I hate the Moor", Shakespeare reveals the prevalent racist attitude of his time through his plays as "Moor" was considered a derogatory term even then. The mono-syllabic tone of Iago's statement emphasizes his deep hatred towards Othello.

Shakespeare emphasized Othello's uniqueness in society through the implied perspective of racism, which wasn't questioned by the audience of Elizabethan times, where "moor" was strictly a religious term, not used for racial identification. Iago's bitterness towards Othello was likewise due to his race and his desire to discredit Othello's esteemed position as Army General since Iago was of a lower rank in Venetian society. Moreover, Iago's conversation with Brabantio at the start of the play alluded to his motive of revealing the oppressive nature of Venetians.

The use of racist and animalistic language by Brabantio, such as "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe," reveals his racist nature and Iago's savage side. It's unclear whether Iago himself is racist or simply skilled at using language to manipulate others. Iago has a talent for reading and understanding the true nature of people, as evidenced by his ability to unearth Brabantio's hidden side. Similarly, Kevin sees through his mother's hypocrisy about her belief in utopia, noting that she detests spoiled individuals despite being wealthy herself. Iago's skill for manipulation allows him

to have power over any character on stage, as seen in his advice to Cassio that the "general's wife is now the general," which is indeed truthful advice.

The notion of "honest Iago" can be considered a contradiction in terms since individuals in the Elizabethan era regarded a person's outer appearance as indicative of their true nature; this aligns with Iago's perspective that "knavery's plain face never seen, till used". It also reflects the societal belief that people often fail to look deeper than surface-level appearances. Iago benefits from this idea, as he maintains that "men should be what they seem". Conversely, his admission "I am not what I am" reinforces his reputation as a deviously manipulative character.

Both Iago and Rebecca are able to disguise their true nature behind a facade of innocence. Despite his ability to manipulate and deceive, Iago is known and respected for his honesty, although he himself deems it fake and useless. The term "honest" is seen as condescending and disdainful when applied to Iago. Similarly, Rebecca appears to be an angelic figure to everyone, including the narrator, concealing her promiscuous tendencies.

Maxim presents the perspective that Rebecca is completely corrupt due to her infidelity, referring to her as "rotten through and through." This characterization is fitting as Rebecca's cancer-ridden body represents her corrupted morality. However, some feminist readings find fault with this portrayal because promiscuous women were condemned in the time period the novel was written, leading to Rebecca's demise. Similarly, Iago in Othello is a discontent character who is displeased with the social hierarchy in Venice, feeling slighted by Othello's promotion of Cassio above him despite Iago's greater military experience.

According to Iago, his wrongful actions stemmed from a desire for retribution against Othello's unfairness in promoting Cassio instead of him. Iago perceives himself as a victim of the corrupt societal structure in Venice since Cassio lacks any experience in battlefield but holds the title of lieutenant. His resentment towards Othello's decision and portrayal of Cassio as incapable has fueled his personal animosity towards both of them. As a result, Iago has made it his mission to ruin their contentment, sanity, reputation, and ultimately their existence.

Kevin is discontent with the social structure of America, as his conversation with his mother reveals. Similarly, he and Iago are linked through Kevin's perception of his criminal actions as a form of entertainment, with Eva serving as his audience. Kevin perceives society as consisting of two types of people: the "watcher" and the "watchee". He chooses to be the "watchee" in order to gain notoriety and attention, possibly as a motive for his crime.

Kevin, a child, craves attention from his mother because he realizes that Eva did not truly want him; she was not ready for a baby. This same sense of inferiority is felt by Mrs. De Winter, who believes that she is a poor substitute for Rebecca and that Maxim is picturing Rebecca in her place. Similarly, Mrs. Danvers resents the narrator for taking Rebecca's place and expresses dissatisfaction with the social structure of Manderley, constantly reminding the narrator that the estate was "different when the late Mrs de Winter was alive".

The text discusses the potential homoerotic undertones of Iago's response to Othello's love and how it reflects possessiveness and control. Some interpretations suggest that

Iago's suppressed love for Othello, due to the illegality of homosexuality in Elizabethan times, may act as a motive for his actions to harm those close to Othello. Conversely, in Rebecca, there are hints of a homosexual relationship between Rebecca and Mrs. Danvers. Mrs. Danvers' behavior supports this suggestion.

Mrs. Danvers held Rebecca in high regard, while Danvers disclosed that Rebecca had contempt for all men. Meanwhile, Iago's escalating envy is symbolized as a corroding substance that eats away at him.

The word "gnaw" connotes negative emotion as it gradually consumes him, while "mineral" suggests its continuous growth. Iago abandons Othello to endure his suffering, mirroring his own experience. Iago's envy stems not only from Cassio's position as lieutenant but also from his constant attractiveness. His vengeful actions are fueled by his intense jealousy.

The use of sibilance by Iago in his utterance "set a squadron" portrays him as a snake-like character. This aspect is also present in Kevin and Rebecca's responses, where Kevin can "hiss without pronouncing any S's" due to overhearing his parents' discussion on their divorce. Such behavior expresses his resentment towards the decision of having his father gain custody over him, while he would rather live with Eva.

Eva's belief is that the moment when Kevin "decided" is what motivates him, but her point of view is considered unreliable. Eva acknowledges that she sometimes hastily assumes Kevin's guilt. Another perspective on deviousness is given by the narrator in Rebecca who likens the movement of Rebecca's handwriting to that of a twisting snake.

Du Maurier's comparison of Rebecca to a cold-hearted reptile implies that she lacks feminine qualities, possibly due to

her infertility caused by womb cancer, perhaps as punishment for her infidelity. A feminist reading critiques her behavior as she deviates from traditional gender roles expected of a wife and woman. Mrs. Danvers devises her plan after learning of Rebecca's murder. Common among all three works is the use of the "snake" metaphor to signify the villain's behavior.

The indications presented indicate that all of their motivations stem from a sense of loss. Iago loses his desired position, Kevin's family is breaking apart, and Mrs. Danvers is grieving the loss of Rebecca at the hands of Maxim. In Elizabethan theater, soliloquies addressed the audience directly.

Shakespeare's convention of utilizing Iago's soliloquies proved to be beneficial and versatile for the dramatist. By employing this technique, he was able to create dramatic irony, allowing the audience to psychologically engage with Iago. Through his soliloquies, Iago confides in the audience, divulging his plans and suspicions. In doing so, he demonstrates recognition of other's virtues, such as referring to Cassio as a "proper man," despite later contradicting that statement and fearing Cassio with his wife. This suggests that Iago is paranoid and filled with sexual jealousy, as he does not trust women. He suspects he has been cuckolded, as evidenced by his statement "And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets." The use of the conjunctive "and" indicates that Iago does not solely hate Othello for sleeping with Emilia, but rather there are other underlying reasons for his hatred.

It could be argued that Iago is creating new reasons to justify his crimes, as he accuses Cassio of wearing a "night-cap too" after admitting uncertainty about whether Othello has actually

committed the offense for which he seeks revenge. Even though he's unsure, he still wants to destroy Othello's happiness. His use of the term "office" to describe his sexual relationship with Emilia reveals his lack of affection and respect for her. He sees her only as his duty, not a person. Similarly, Kevin has a negative attitude towards women, stating that he wants to "Hump 'em and dump 'em." The colloquialism reveals his low opinion of women. Rebecca also expresses disdain for men, viewing herself as superior to them according to Mrs. Danvers.

Iago's use of the term "sport" implies that he views his malicious scheme as a form of entertainment and pleasure, which could be considered one of his motivations. This further supports the notion that Iago is a "motiveless malignity" as per Coleridge's observation. In comparison, Shriver does not offer any explanation that Kevin's actions were influenced by specific motives since Kevin was consistently uninterested and bored with his environment. The word "Machiavellian" originates from Niccolo Machiavelli, an Italian writer and diplomat from the Renaissance period. Eva describes Kevin as a Machiavellian character, but unlike Iago, Kevin does not commit misdeeds for personal gain or to manipulate and corrupt others. While Iago's objectives are to make the Moor grateful, love him, and reward him, which could be viewed as his first motivations or his strategy to destroy Othello.

The use of repetitive "me" implies that Iago is concerned only with his own interests. He takes pleasure in acting wickedly and confesses that "I follow him to serve my turn upon him," as his ultimate goal is to destroy Othello while still serving him. Eva's suspicion

of Kevin's instigation of the asthmatic girl's self-inflicted harm may have been a part of his wrongdoing, but it wasn't confirmed until he committed his ultimate offense, much like Iago. Despite Kevin's illness, Eva uncovers a layer of despair beneath his "fury," indicating that Kevin may not have been a bad person initially, but his wickedness may stem from past experiences.

The reader is left wondering if Kevin's malevolence is a facade and questions the reliability of Eva's narration. This sympathetic moment towards Kevin may be a rarity as Eva struggled with post-natal depression since his birth. Her difficulty bonding with Kevin stemmed from mistaking his rejection of her milk as rejection of her role as a mother, causing her to emotionally distance herself from him as a form of punishment. Eva's rejection of Kevin from the beginning led her to believe he was "heartless," aligning with Ecclesiastes' portrayal of "evil" in children. Sarah A Smith's review in The Guardian supports this theory, suggesting that Kevin may be a "monster" and his twisted mind could be attributed to nature rather than nurture.

Despite being a teenager, Kevin engages in destructive behavior to gain Eva's attention. However, Jai Arjun Singh believes that Kevin's character is not solely shaped by his mother's influence, as both nature and nurture play a role. Kevin utilizes the good qualities of others to harm them, preying on their vanity through the "Bright and Shining Promise Award" which ultimately leads to their downfall. The use of "Bright and Shining" suggests a dark outcome for his victims, similar to how Iago manipulates Desdemona's virtuous reputation for his own malicious goals. Both Kevin

and Iago are portrayed as cunning and merciless.

In the play, Shakespeare has given Iago a greater number of soliloquies in order to give insight into the mind of the villain. This, in turn, forces the audience to align with Iago as his nefarious plans are often revealed to us, such as his plan to "abuse Othello's ear". However, we are unable to intervene, adding to the heightened tension through the use of dramatic irony. Furthermore, this approach makes Iago a more psychologically engaging character for the audience as they are eager to unveil his true motives. On the other hand, writers employ a different technique when writing about villains such as Mrs. Danvers or Kevin. They write their stories in past tense as first-person narration, detailing their victims' responses and emotions but failing to show their own secretive thoughts during the crime.

By using biased narration, the authors have been able to create suspense and withhold major information from readers. As a result, it becomes difficult to comprehend the true motives of villains. This lack of understanding may be the key point of Shriver's novel - that human behavior is complex and cannot always be understood. Similarly, Iago's motivation in Shakespeare's play is hard to determine as he presents various different fronts to other characters, leaving us unsure about who the real Iago is.

Manderley, destroyed by a fire allegedly set by Mrs. Danvers, releases the narrator from her memories of Rebecca. It is difficult to imagine Mr. and Mrs. De Winter living happily at a place where Rebecca's ghost still looms. In a sense, Mrs. Danvers has helped to alleviate the narrator's burden.

One could

interpret Danvers' wrongdoing as a means of liberating the protagonist from her past, while Kevin permanently traps Eva in a life devoid of her loved ones and compels her to acknowledge that she truly loves "her son." By using the pronoun "her," Kevin suggests ownership, stripping Franklin of his role as a father, which Zoe Green from The Observer sees as advantageous since Franklin's willful blindness prevents Kevin's sociopathic tendencies from being taken seriously. Kevin's violation could be interpreted as the only way for him to feel close to his mother since they have been "at odds" from his birth. To assert dominance and possibly impress Eva, Kevin uses vulgar, explicit language and refers to her family home as a "shithole."

There are various interpretations regarding the motives of the villains in the play. In the case of Iago, it can be said that he is "motiveless" and continues to search for reasons as he proceeds with his plan. Despite having a good reputation, Iago feels he receives nothing in return and seeks revenge on society. He thinks of himself as only "playing the villain," suggesting he is only pretending. However, his bitter emotions turn him into a "typical stage Machiavelli" character, according to Hazlitt. Iago is an "amoral artist" who manipulates the world for his benefit, as evidenced by his fixation on "money." Some argue that Eva bears responsibility for Kevin's malevolence since she distances herself from her child when he needs her love the most.

The novel's style supports the idea that Eva uses the letters to express her thoughts, seek forgiveness, or assign blame. Kevin's evil nature may stem from his sense of having

reached the pinnacle of material success, leaving him with nothing else to achieve. Spoiled by his wealth, he believes he can act without consequences. In contrast, Mrs. Danvers embodies the memory of the deceased Rebecca, striving to keep her mistress's presence alive and tormenting the narrator as a result.

Danvers committed her ultimate offense in order to permanently eliminate Rebecca's existence. This was due to the fact that Rebecca chose to depart without consulting Danvers, resulting in Danvers feeling excluded and suffering from the loss. The narrator evades Danvers' clutches and proceeds to enjoy a joyful union with Maxim, unlike Iago and Kevin who never release their victims from their grasp. Eva is stuck in her new life without her spouse and child.

Othello is regarded as the tragic hero due to losing his reputation and wife, ultimately leading to his suicide. Iago's power of manipulation is sustained through his refusal to speak, allowing him to remain in control and manipulate people with his language. Kevin initially believes he knows the reason for his crime but begins to experience remorse during his punishment when he apologizes to Eva for giving her his sister's glass eye. However, some argue that his remorse may stem from fear of the real jail rather than true regret for his actions.