Shakespeare's Othello

Shakespeare’s Othello 2.1.242-270

Modern Translation:

Iago “Be silent and listen as I speak.  Remember when she fell crazy in love with the Moor as he told her made-up, insane stories?  Do you expect her to love him for merely talking?  You’re too intelligent to think that.  She needs someone young and good looking.  How can she enjoy being with Othello, who is ugly and old.  Sex gets tiresome after a while without something to stimulate the appetite.  She needs a young stud her age, which has the sexual urges of the young, handsome, and acts as she does.  Othello lacks all the qualities she needs.  Since he is lacking, she will soon grow bored and sick of his advances.  Looking upon him in disgust and hate as she turns from Othello, she will begin to look for a replacement.  Now if this is true – well obviously this is true – who better to replace the old goat than Cassio?  He is charismatic, handsome, and he hides his intentions through proper manners.  A sly villain he is.  He is exactly the kind of man all the young women lose their heads over.  A true bad boy and Desdemona have chosen him as her replacement.”

With the above speech Iago is setting the bait needed to draw Roderigo, who it should be noted is a patsy for Iago throughout the play,  further into his plan, to rid Cassio of his newly acquired rank and also get revenge upon Othello. Iago is a master manipulator without considering or even seeming to care for the feelings of others around him.  In fact he seems to relish in his very detailed plans and the chaos that erupts from them.  These are all classic signs of a psychopath.  According to the website Psychologytoday.com: “psychopaths are unable to form emotional attachments, or feel real empathy with others, although, they often have disarming or even charming personalities. Psychopaths are very manipulative and can easily gain people’s trust. They learn to mimic emotions, despite their inability to actually feel them, and will appear normal to unsuspecting people. Psychopaths are often well educated and hold steady jobs. Some are so good at manipulation and mimicry that they have families and other long-term relationships without those around them ever suspecting their true nature. When committing crimes, psychopaths carefully plan out every detail in advance and often have contingency plans in place. Unlike their sociopathic counterparts, psychopathic criminals are cool, calm, and meticulous. Their crimes, whether violent or non-violent, will be highly organized and generally offer few clues for authorities to pursue. Intelligent psychopaths make excellent white-collar criminals and "con artists" due to their calm and charismatic natures.” (psychology para 5) 

Iago consistently shows this frame of mind throughout the play, from the opening sequence when he is manipulating Roderigo into shouting fire so as to wake Brabantio and inform him of the elopement between his daughter, Desdemona and the Moor, Othello; to the very end of the play when instead of accepting fault where fault lies at his feet, he sought to blame anyone but himself for his own actions.  It was Emilia’s fault, for she is a liar.  It is Cassio’s fault, for he stole his rank.  It was Othello’s fault, for he did not give him what he deserved.  It was Desdemona’s fault, for she chose another.  It was Roderigo’s fault for being too weak, and not a real man.  In Iago’s mind nothing is ever his fault. 

Iago in this specific scene shows the charisma of a classic psychopath in his ability to manipulate Roderigo with simple words.  He doesn’t use flowery, extravagant speech.  Instead he plays on the man’s weakness.  His, Roderigo’s, lack of self-confidence in his knowledge that Desdemona chose another; and even though she had the chance to choose him, she still did not.  Iago does this earlier in the play, just before they are to leave for Cyprus, when Roderigo is depressed, feeling as if all his chances to once more win Desdemona is lost.  Iago, playing at being his confidant and friend, comes up with a solution to benefit all.  “Sell your lands and turn them into money.  Become a soldier and follow us to Cyprus, where you will be able to be near Desdemona, in order to help drive a wedge between Othello and her.  Surely once we prove she is cheating with Cassio, Othello will toss her aside and you will be there to pick up her broken heart.”  (Act 1, Scene 3)

Iago continues to use the same tactics upon Roderigo throughout the play, showing that Roderigo is easily manipulated.  Even when later in the play Roderigo begins to doubt in Iago, Iago is able to sway him back to his way of thinking.  This shows not only does Iago have the charismatic of a psychopath but also the manipulation needed for tactical thinking in order to control those around him.  It is for these same reasons that he is able to control Othello and Cassio, two men, whom under any other normal circumstances, should have been viewed as both logical and practical minded men.  In fact, Othello chose Cassio for his extremely high intelligence, while a man like Othello to have survived wars and slavery in order to obtain the rank of General within the Roman Military is nothing to ignore, and yet Iago is able to manipulate both of these men with cunning and charisma.  He consistently has a backup plan and has the ability to think quickly in order to adapt in the situation.  Even at the end of the play, when one would think Iago has lost, he has not. 

Iago “I bleed sir, but not killed”  (5.2.339)

Those around him believe they have won, but in fact, in Iago’s mind they have won nothing.  Othello has fallen.  Roderigo has harmed Cassio; he will never be a soldier again.  Othello has killed Desdemona.  Iago has rid himself of his shrew wife.  Othello did elevate Iago to second in command.  All of Iago’s plans came to fruit.  Whether or not Iago lives matters not.  What is important is that in the end, Iago won.  The game of chess is complete.  The final has been made.  The queen has fallen.  Checkmate.

Research Notes:

Burns, Scott. "How to Tell a Sociopath from a Psychopath."Https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wicked-deeds/201401/how-tell-sociopath-psychopath. Sussex Publishers, 14 Jan. 2014. Web. 31 Jan. 2015.

Onions, C.T. A Shakespeare Glossary. Oxford: Oxford at the Clarendon, 2013. Print.

Shakespeare, William. "Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 242-270." The Tragedy of Othello The Moor of Venice. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks - FOLGER Shakespeare Library, 2009. Print.