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Example research essay topic: Claudius And Iago Desdemona Infidelity Othello - 1,069 words

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... eople do well, it builds up their ego and moves them slightly away from being pawns of the villain. Success in others runs contrary to the purpose of a villain. By turning every victory into a defeat, by spoiling every triumph, the villain advances his own aim a little farther. Claudius poisons Hamlets wine in case he should win at fencing; Iago turns Cassio's promotion into a weapon against him.

In this way, Claudius and Iago are furthering their goal. Villains exploit weakness. They recognize the flaws in other human beings, and make these defects into tools to be used to attain their ultimate goal. Willingness to trust, jealousy and anger are mere playthings for the villain. A villain looks for that fatal chink in the armor and then aims directly for that most vulnerable spot. His villainous capacity for self-deception, though, keeps him from seeing his own flaws (Geitzen, 2).

Villains cause people to doubt one another or themselves. A mans trust in his wife or son is a powerful bond but one that can shatter with some carefully placed words. Iago has no trouble convincing Othello of Desdemona's infidelity. By severing the links between people, the villains isolate and weaken their victims. To the Machiavellian mind of a villain, breaking people up into factions makes them easier pray. By causing enough doubt, the villain can reduce others to the way he sees the world: that we are each a faction onto ourselves (Geitzen, 3).

Claudius has an amazing ability to make his evil acts appear to be acceptable. When he marries Gertrude, Hamlet is the only one who reacts normally to this abnormal, incestuous situation (Coe, 99). Villains mislead their prey, by misrepresenting facts, or by distracting their prey from fully realizing, and acting on, the facts they know. People make choices base on the information available to them. Control of this information grants control of the resulting choices.

Villains understand this and know how to alter peoples perception in a way that aids the villain (Geitzen, 4). Desdemona's father might have been overjoyed at her marrying Othello, but Iago presented the information to him in a way that made the situation unbearable. When Roderigo discovers that Iago has been pocketing his money, he screams at Iago and threatens him. However, when Iago tells him some fanciful plot to capture Desdemona's heart, Roderigo forgets Iago's threat and agrees to kill Cassio. Iago himself admits to fooling people. As he says about Othello: The Moor is of a free and open nature That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, And will as tenderly be led by th nose The ability to say the right things at the right time is what makes a villain so successful (Charney, 254).

Claudius and Iago have a lot in common, but they are also quite different. Both Iago and Claudius use poison as a tool of their evil schemes. However, the poison that is used by Claudius is physical poison in the liquid state. He kills the king, Hamlet, by pouring poison in his ear.

He also poisons the sword he is to use to fight Hamlet as well as the water that Hamlet may drink. Iago, on the other hand, is an expert at poisoning peoples minds. Iago tricks Othello into believing that his wife is having an affair without any concrete proof. Othello is so caught up in Iago's lies that he refuses to believe Desdemona when she denies the whole thing (Williams, 97). While both Claudius and Iago are villains, their morality systems are different. Although Claudius has been said to be more of a hypocrite, based on his outward shows of affection for Hamlet (Coe, 5), his conscience is much in evidence in the play.

Claudius has no illusions about the magnitude of his own guilt, and his questions to G-d are searing in their passionate intensity: Were thicker then itself with brothers blood, Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens To wash it white as snow? (3. 3. 43 - 46) Although Claudius admits his guilt, he is not truly penitent because he knows that he cannot be forgiven (Charney, 243). Of those effects for which I did the murder, My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. (3. 3. 53 - 55) Nevertheless, Claudius admission of his guilt, even if it is only to himself, and the obvious difficulty he has in living with feelings, make him more human. Iago is also full of hypocrisy. One minute he hides his hatred for Cassio, and dismisses reputation as an idle and most false imposition (2. 3. 68 - 69). The next time we see Iago, he is acting as a close friend and confidant to Othello, despite his dislike for the Moor, and tells him Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, / Is the immediate jewel of their souls (2. 3. 155 - 156). On the other hand, Iago's technique for controlling others clearly demonstrates his connection to Satan.

Iago captures the souls of his puppets by offering them gratification in exchange for service. Roderigo desires Desdemona, Cassio desires a return to favor, and Othello desires certainty. Iago grants his pawns their wishes at a high price (Geitzen, 10). In 2. 3, Iago himself makes a connection between himself and Satan, saying, When devils will the blackest sins put on They do suggest at first with heavenly shows He further expounds on his nature as corrupter of Othello: Ill pour pestilence into his ear, as he plans to slander Desdemona. As for her goodness he will turn her virtue into pitch/ And out of her own goodness make the net/ That shall enmesh them all.

Once Iago obtains Desdemona's handkerchief, he gloats that Othello will Burn like the mines of sulphur (3. 3. 332). After Iago has convinced him of Desdemona's infidelity, Othello thunders All my fond love I do thus blow to heaven Arise black vengeance from the hollow hell (3. 3. 448 - 50). As Othello swears to destroy Desdemona, he kneels, and after a moment, Iago kneels with him. This stunning image is an overt pact with the devil, and the scene ends with Iago's ominous line I am your own forever. (Geitzen, 10) This brazen, amoral, abuse of another's trust and feelings to achieve his evil goals makes Iago the epitome of villany.

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