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Iago is the arch atypical villain; this point stands true only when compared to more modern literature. In essence, Iago's persona and the evil that drives him is not a new concept to literature. However, Iago's behavior and plotting can be considered a literary archetype when applied to more contemporary villains. Using the word contemporary loosely, villains from Charles Dickens Oliver Twist and Great Expectations, George Orwell's Animal Farm, and from the movie Ghost will be compared to behavioral standards set by the honest Iago. Charles Dickens Oliver Twist is a tale of the social injustices in England, during the early 1800 s. Dickens's end novel tells the story of the orphan Oliver set against the seamy underside of the London criminal world.
The main villain Fagin, is a crafty old Jew who ran a band of young thieves. Fagins character is introduced when the main character, Oliver Twist, takes up with Fagin's band of thieves. Fagins deeds are like Iago in that he exploits others to achieve his goals. Iago subtly manipulated Othello's court to accomplish his goal of revenge against Othello, whereas Fagin directly manipulated his recruited thieves to do his dirty work and earn him money. The primary parallel between these two villains is their persuasion of others to carry out their evil deeds. Fagin like Iago is thinking criminal; his evil is not by chance but rather careful planning and manipulation.
Both Fagin and Iago demonstrate a lack of conscience and integrity. Great Expectations, one of Dickens many classics, is the story of a poor English boys rise to high society. The poor unrefined Pip (Phillip Pirrip) is first selected to join high society by an elder eccentric lady named Miss Havisham. Havisham is a very rich and grim old woman. Although Havisham is a seeming unlikely villain; her wicked motives are similar to Iago. Miss Havisham is the adopted mother of a fair and beautiful young lady Estella.
Havisham, who was left at the altar years before, loathes men and teaches Estella to break men's hearts to avenge her own. The young Pip will be the first to fall victim to Havisham's' heartless plot. Havisham, like Fagin and Iago, manipulates someone into being the unwitting perpetrator of evil deeds and an implement of destruction. Estella's character can be paralleled with Rodrigo as a pawn and unknowing servant to an immoral puppet master. George Orwell's Animal Farm, is an allegorical classic, written to a mirror the Communist Partys rise to power in Russia. It includes a villain that is a prime example of a carefully planned and skillfully executed evil.
The two main characters, the pigs Napoleon (Stalin) and Snowball (Trotsky), are first united in their coup de tah of the farm. As the story continues the power thirsty Napoleon plans to oust Snowball. Napoleon uses rumors and Snowballs own actions to sway the farm animals in his favor. Napoleon twists Snowballs behavior as Iago did Cassios, to give the appearance desired. Napoleons persuasion is aimed to reveal Snowball as a criminal against the farm; ultimately give Napoleon power to eliminate Snowball.
In Iago's case Cassios actions were manipulated to give the appearance of unfaithfulness of Desdemona. Both the farm animals and Desdemona were manipulated to serve in the villains plan. Napoleon again fits Iago's mold in his ability as an intellectual criminal. Napoleons evil does not arrive by accident but rather crafty planning.
When Iago's archetype is applied to the early nineties movie Ghost, the intended pattern of behavior between villains in this essay is apparent. The antagonist in this film, who happens to be a very good friend of the main characters (i. e. Swazyes and Moore), holds almost the same position in relation to Iago's position of confidant with Othello and Desdemona. The villain, like the other villains represented uses others to carry out his baneful plan to kill Swazyes character, get his money and a favorable position with the wife character.
Like Iago the sly villain remains on very good terms with Demi until the end, only to have his plan is unraveled by psychic Whoopi Gold burg and Swazyes ghost. Correspondingly Iago also remains on good terms with Othello until the last scene when wife Emilia unravels his plan. What makes Iago an archetype? He is a thinking villain. Iago is well aware of his spiteful nature and embraces it to thwart his enemies.
Another recurring theme for contemporary villains to model Iago methodical behavior; in order to carry out a preconceived plan of malice, involve other characters as pawns and implements of destruction. Bibliography: none... do it your self
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Research essay sample on Oliver Twist Evil Deeds
