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Sociopaths In Othello

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A sociopath is someone whose social behavior is abnormal. Sociopaths seems to be normal people and are only interested in their personal needs and desires, without worrying about the effects of their behavior on others ("sociopaths"). An example of a sociopath is the character Iago from William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello. Iago 's motivation for his evil deeds is never specifically revealed in the work. He is troubled and jealous that Cassio was elected lieutenant for him, even though he, Iago, had more experience in the military service. This causes Iago to have a great hatred towards Othello. However, his refusal of the lieutenant is not the real reason for the uproar of Iago 's manipulation. It is about Iago wanting everyone to …show more content…

One trick that they use is a good sense of word choice, and Iago is a master with playing with words, by misleading them and getting the reaction he wants from them. The Early Modern Literary Studies, in their article "Where Iago Lies: Home, honesty and the Turk in Othello," provides a good example of Iago’s manipulation skills when he and Roderigo confront Brabantio about his daughter. Brabantio, originally, does not believe what Iago and Roderigo say about his daughter, Desdemona, and becomes angry because they woke him up late at night. Early Modern Literary Studies also states that Roderigo starts to explain his reasons of waking him up and accusing him, causing Brabantio to be even more angry. Iago, however, replies by complimenting Brabantio. Brabantio yells, “Thou art a villain” (1.1, 115) to where Iago responds, “You are a senator” (1.1, 116). Brabantio is shocked by his comment which causes him to rethink the situation going on, which decreases his anger and causes him to believe Iago and Rodrigo, especially when he checks and realizes that Desdemona is not in her bed chamber. The trick that Iago used against the Senator is by describing him by a noun instead of a verb, helping him get the response he wants

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7. I believe Iago is a sociopath. Iago is a man of multiple faces. At times he can seem trustworthy, but in actuality he is plotting something evil behind everyone’s backs. He listed a number of reasons for his motives to do the acts that he has committed but none of these motives are very specific.

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In the beginning of the novel, Shakespeare describes Iago as a mastermind of manipulating others. Iago holds a grudge and resentment towards the Moor, Othello, because another soldier, lieutenant Cassio, has been promoted

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The Touch of a Psychopath A psychopath is an individual who manifests certain traits such as a lack of empathy, irresponsibility, manipulativeness, pathological lying, high intelligence, lack of remorse or guilt, and shallow behaviour due to an antisocial personality disorder. In the tragedy of Othello, William Shakespeare demonstrates that psychopaths can negatively impact everyone around them due to the certain characteristics that they possess. Iago possesses all of the traits associated with psychopaths and it is clear that his behaviour is motivated by his psychopathy. Iago is a malicious individual whose psychopathic behaviour is strongly reflected in his traits, such as his vast intellect and lack of emotion.

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On top of all the evils he had done to othello iago also manipulated Roderigo from the beginning of the play to the end. Iago manipulates Roderigo many times but the biggest of them all was when he and roderigo planned on killing Cassio and right before the attack iago said to

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1581 Words | 7 Pages

Iago’s jealousy and rage of not being chosen for lieutenant is leading him to create a plan for revenge on Othello and the others. Iago is immediately portrayed as an antagonist because when he finds out that Roderigo is upset about Desdemona marrying Othello he uses that vulnerability. He then uses Roderigo to play a role in Othello’s downfall. Omer explains that “In his pain Roderigo cannot but take in avidly Iago’s loving reassurances. Anguish makes one ready to believe” (Omer,99).

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757 Words | 4 Pages

Psychopaths have attributes of detachment, insincere speech, selfishness, and violence. In the tragedy, Othello, the playwright William Shakespeare constructs an antagonist with such traits. This evil character, Iago, is known for being one of the most sinister villains Shakespeare has even written. Through Iago’s psychopathic manipulations and detached persona, Shakespeare shows that psychopaths are not redeemable in the play.

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Jealousy is first represented in Iago by his desire to become Othello’s lieutenant, however the position was offered to another character named Michael Cassio. Iago sincerely believes that he should hold the position of lieutenant and that the

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1097 Words | 5 Pages

He expresses his jealousy for Cassio when he says that Othello “already chose [his] officer” who he calls “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine” who “never set a squadron in the field.” Iago believes he should have gotten the promotion because he had more military experience and training. After he gets Cassio drunk and dismissed from service, he devises a plan to manipulate Othello into believing he is cheating with Desdemona in order that Cassio never gets his position again or even killed. Iago also hears a rumor that Othello slept with his

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901 Words | 4 Pages

In the book Othello, Iago is a very manipulating man, throughout the book he manages to manipulate three main people, Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello. He uses all their weaknesses to bring them down. Iago wants revenge on Othello, because Othello overlooks Iago and his abilities, so Iago manipulates these three characters to get back at Othello in the long run. He comes up with a very good plan to get each other to turn against one another. So in the end he ends up getting what he wanted, revenge.

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In the play Othello, William Shakespeare creates an elaborate tragedy with various in depth characters, enhancing the story with powerful characterization. Iago, the main antagonist of Othello, exemplifies Shakespeare’s use of characterization to create in depth and complex characters. Using his manipulative nature, intellectual mind, egotistical attitude, and dishonesty, Iago controls the other characters in order to achieve his goal, leading Othello to succumb to an overwhelming jealousy causing his downfall. In order for Iago to gain control of the characters in the play, he manipulates Othello, Roderigo, Cassio, and more to believe false information and turn on one another.

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He is manipulative and tells Othello to “observe her [Desdemona] well with Cassio” (Shakespeare, 3.3:197). Iago feeds Othello with countless lies and makes him miserable with something that is not factual. He is determined to get revenge and he does not realize Iago stands insincere. Furthermore, Iago is selfish when he tells Othello, “I am yours for ever” (3.3:479). He betrays Othello yet still let’s him depend on him for his own

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944 Words | 4 Pages

As the tragedy begins, Othello and Desdemona had run off and gotten married without telling Desdemona’s father. When Iago finds out he did not get the job he wanted, he tells Roderigo to “Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen”(I. I. 76-80). Brabantio, who did not know about his own daughter’s marriage, is finding out from two strangers. This allows Iago to take advantage of Barbantio’s surprise and to come in between the newly weds with his disapproval.

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1225 Words | 5 Pages

The exploitation of Othello’s race leads to the manipulation Roderigo, Cassio, Brabantio, the Venetians, and the audience to see Othello as inferior although, the only difference between him and the Venetians is his lineage. In the first act of the play, Iago and Roderigo go to Brabantio’s house to rile him out of his sleep. This is seen as the first step of defaming Othello’s character. The two

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1826 Words | 8 Pages

Kolin observes that Iago stands out among Shakespearean villains since he is the only one to survive his own monstrous acts (25). Unlike Richard III, apart from telling stories, Iago carries out a downright fraud through other means of manipulation, which makes him the most evil and intelligent character. To be exact, Iago is a puppeteer who sets up scenes to deceive the “credulous fools”—Othello, Cassio and Desdemona (4.1.45). Iago talks to Cassio about Bianca while telling Othello that the subject of their conversation is the Moor’s wife. He is so smart and careful that he even gestures Othello to come closer when Cassio is about to illustrate how Bianca entangles him.

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982 Words | 4 Pages

Iago’s powerfully disruptive insinuations torment Othello to fall precipitously into his intricate trap, believing in the prospect of Cassio and Desdemona’s fictitious affair. Through the use of linguistic techniques such as elliptical speech, subservient vocative choices and a hesitant tone, Iago is able to construct artful innuendoes to deceive and manipulate Othello. Supplementary to linguistic techniques, dramatic techniques such as dramatic irony reinforces Iago’s role as a two-faced villain, who is making a pretence of being Othello’s loyal ensign. Eventually, Iago’s villainy nature sows a seed of doubt in Othello that germinates into the murder of Desdemona. Through the characterisation of Iago as a notorious villain, Shakespeare is able to hold Iago’s actions accountable for the play’s tragic downfall, establishing a sense of powerlessness amongst the

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