Othello Group

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nimato3
nimato3

In 'Othello,' do you agree that Iago is a motiveless malignity?

With reference to other historical villains such as Adolf Hitler...

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Posted by nimato3 on Friday September 4, 2009 at 1:54 PM and tagged with iago, malignity, motiveless, othello, shakespeare, villain.

Answers:

  1. parkerlee
    parkerlee Teacher

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    Why should he be? Iago is envious and proud by nature, always wanting to pump up his own self-esteem and image at the expense of others. He is pricked to the quick by not receiving the military promotion he was expecting to get (Othello gave the post to Cassio instead); he is also sexually jealous, thinking that Othello would readily make advances towards his wife Emilia if the opportunity only presented itself.

    If Iago is deceitful, prejudiced, and manipulative, all of these vices are the outgrowth of envy and pride, which are reasons enough to incite Iago to act as he does.

    As for Hitler, the same statement could be made, particularly in the context of his injured pride at being slighted as a mediocre artist. The difference here, though, is that Hitler found a public recipient for his fanaticism whereas in "Othello" Iago manipulates individuals instead.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/othello/iago-character-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/salem-history/adolf-hitler
    http://www.enotes.com/world-war-ii-biographies/hitler-adolf

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    Posted by parkerlee on Saturday September 5, 2009 at 12:13 AM

  2. donkerd
    donkerd Teacher
    Middle School

    In spite of common belief, Hitler is actually the reincarnation of Iago.

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    Posted by donkerd on Monday November 16, 2009 at 5:13 AM