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Theme Of Empathy In Othello

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Dr. Robert Hare, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia defines a sociopath as “the use of deceit and deception to cheat,lie or defraud others for personal gain in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one’s victims.”1 In the play “Othello” by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare portrays various themes like appearance vs reality. More specifically, this relates to Iago because he displays various traits of a sociopath such as his two faced character and lack of empathy thus, motivating his evil behaviour. Igao is a very charismatic character who is known as a sociopath. This is demonstrated by his lack of empathy Iago carries. This is because he does not seem to care for the feelings of others, he goes to Brabantio's house in the middle of the night and forcefully wakes an old man up he demands Roderigo to “Rouse him, make after him, poison his delight, Proclaim him in the street, incense her kinsmen, And though he in a fertile climate dwell, Plague him with files: though that his joy be joy, Yet throw such chances of vexation on’t As it may lose some colour” (1.1.68-74). In these lines it shows corruption in Iago and how he wants to corrupt Brabantio's opinion of his daughter, Desdemona. This …show more content…

Iago seems to not care about the feelings of others as he manipulates them and uses them for his own personal gain. Furthermore, Iago impersonates to be someone who he is not which relates to the theme appearance vs reality. This is because Iago makes it seem as if he cares about Othello and Cassio but secretly does not as he stabs them both in the back. Thus, proving the lack of empathy he carries and the game of deception he is playing with his two faced characteristics exposing his sociopathic

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