Iago And Lady Macbeth Research Paper

Iago v Lady Macbeth Shakespeare’s plays Othello and Macbeth tell of power hungry characters who are both very similar in how they express their feelings and ideas. Iago of Othello and Lady Macbeth of Macbeth are both notorious characters who thrive by the thought of privilege over others. This causes both to carry out plans against others in order for themselves to benefit, even though they are willing to kill for power. Despite how their traits resemble one another, Iago is more successful in his plan to gain power because of his ability to ignore his conscience, unlike Lady Macbeth who is stricken with guilt. Iago and Lady Macbeth are motivated by the thought of gaining power. Iago’s hatred of Othello begins in the first scene of Act

Both implement their plans onto others in order to gain more power, as well as to execute their plans for them. Though both characters have others do the work for them, Iago partakes in the killing of others as well. Iago’s strategy for Othello to fire Cassio ends in the deaths of many. Though Desdemona and Othello’s death are caused by Othello himself, Iago assassinates Emilia and Roderigo himself. “Demand me nothing. What you know, you know/From this time forth I never will speak word” (Othello 5.2.316-317) shows how Iago is willing to go down with his plan instead of confessing, showing how he has no remorse for those he caught in his web of evil ideas. In contrary, Lady Macbeth doesn’t perform her “dirty work” herself. Instead, she persuades Macbeth into killing Duncan and his guards, and also hires three murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. “Naught’s had, all’s spent/Where our desire is got without content/'Tis safer to be that which we destroy/Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy” (Macbeth 3.2.6-9) shows how Lady Macbeth is hesitant to kill for herself and rather have others do so for her. Iago and Lady Macbeth both construct their evil plans themselves, yet they each take different approaches in how they will carry them out. This reflects their character because Iago isn’t timid to do things himself, yet Lady Macbeth cowers back and allows other to do her work

The reason why Iago is able to continue with his devious plan towards power is because he feels no remorse towards those he hurt. He was able to manipulate his own wife, Emilia, into helping him with his plan, only to call her a “Villainous whore!”(Othello 5.2.241) when she confessed his evil deeds. Not only does Iago stab Emilia after this incident, he causes Othello to murder Desdemona, and Cassio to murder Roderigo. By the end of Act 5, Othello stabs himself from guilt, yet devious Iago remained alive, yet powerless. He refuses to confess to his actions, having ignored his conscience from swaying him to make the right decisions. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth allows her conscience to stop her from making any more decisions. From the time Duncan is killed, she isn’t able to rest. The gentlewoman is worried about Lady Macbeth because she sleepwalks and motions as if she is washing her hands, “It is an accustomed action with her to seem thus washing her hands/I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour” (Macbeth 5.1.20-22). Lady Macbeth regrets her involvement in the murder of Duncan and is desperate to wash her sins off of her hands. After many restless nights filled with guilt, Lady Macbeth is found dead. Macbeth expresses no emotion towards the death of his wife and says “She should have died hereafter/There