Narcissism In Shakespeare's Othello

Iago plants ideas in Othello’s head, uses the innocent actions of others as his proof; and Othello, who is not practiced in worldly matters, believes his the misnomer of the “honest Iago”, and eventually is consumed by the lie.

Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is not an envious character, but he is just a clever man, who is able to decipher and magnify other characters’ flaws, to benefit him. To fulfill his selfish desires, he uses the most destructive weapon in the play; trust. Iago manages to manipulate Roderigo’s incompetence to think for himself, Othello’s insecurities and Cassio’s chivalrous nature to achieve is greatest intent.

In addition, Iago’s confidence has strengthen throughout the play. He convinces Roderigo to take part of his malicious plans. One of which are to talk behind Othello’s back about his secret marriage to Desdemona with her father, Brabantio. Iago is sure that he could break Othello’s marriage by passing the news to Brabantio. Iago’s desire to lead is growing throughout the play. He believes highly of himself, thinking that he is one of those followers who wear themselves out in their master’s service and do not look after themselves, he states, “Do well thrive by them. And when they have lined their coats, Do themselves homage. These fellows have some soul; and such a one do I profess myself” (I.i.53-55). This quotation shows that Iago is confident enough to think that he deserves the promotion more than Cassio, believing he is a better person. Iago’s self-confidence has engaged innocent victims to accompany him in his plan. Furthermore, Iago has successfully accomplished inspiring both Roderigo and Othello with a shared

Once a seed of suspicion or doubt is planted in a person’s mind, the noxious effect of jealousy is soon to ensue. Jealousy and suspicion are Othello’s flaws hubris throughout the play and foreshadow to the audience his imminent downfall. He believes what Iago tells him so strongly that he compromises his close relationship with his best friend and his love for his wife. Iago manipulates Othello through the use of extortion, literary techniques, and his keen judge of character. His syntax and diction are so simple yet so powerful because he uses the correct rhetorical questions and addresses Othello with respectful terms such as “my lord.” He allows Othello do most of the talking

“Othello” is a play written by william shakespeare in which a Iago plays a chess game with all the other characters, as if they were chessmen. Honest Iago as he goes by gets everyone to trust him, but in reality he controls their fate. He uses their ambitiousness and passion to implant false accusation to motivate them to do whatever he wants them to do. Iago pretending as if his everyone best friend, in which he set them up for their own downfall. Iago manipulates each character in the play by taking advantage of their own doubts and weakness against them.

The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events, in other words, Power of the People, is irrefutably manifested in Shakespeare Othello. We notice how the characters all perceive Iago, and how Iago exploits their misconceived judgment of his personality. Repetition of the epithet ‘Honest Iago’ asserts that he stands a man with moral integrity in the eyes of the other characters naming him so. This presents dramatic irony, as those he is closest to trust him entirely. Iago openly admits to Roderigo in the first scene “I am not what I Am” which makes clear the deception within the relationships Iago has with the other characters and the paradox remains true throughout the play. Iago constantly masks his real self from others because the way the people see Iago is of great significance; if he were seen as the manipulative, scheming, duplicitous man he really

Narcissism can be defined as “ a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultra confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that 's vulnerable to the slightest criticism” (Narcissistic personality disorder, n.d.). With this disorder people generally are unhappy and disappointed when they are not privileged to special favors or given admiration they believe they deserve. With narcissistic personality disorder problems in many areas of life can arise such as work, school, financial affairs, and relationships.

Iago's manipulative nature has a profound effect on the decisions made by other characters in Shakespeare's ‘Othello’. Through his relations with those around him Shakespear characterizes him as a man full of malice, vengeance and dishonesty that is wholly inspired by jealousy. Furthermore it would appear that Iago has an exceptional ability to scheme, a talent which he uses to snake his way into the lives of others and exploit them through their weaknesses. Whether he does this for profit or for pleasure is a separate issue.

Someone with narcissistic personality disorder would show an exaggerated sense of self-importance, a preoccupation with being admired, and a lack of empathy for the feelings of others (Hooley, p.349). Many studies support the fact that narcissism has two sub types: grandiose and vulnerable narcissism (cain et al.,2008; Ronningstam, 2005, 2012). The grandiose sub-type is manifested by traits related to grandiosity, aggression, and dominance. They usually overestimate their abilities and accomplishments and underestimate the abilities and accomplishments of others. They feel entitled, behave in stereotypical ways, and often think they can only be understood by those of

William Shakespeare’s Othello, the Moor of Venice is a play of great manipulation and jealousy. Iago is the antagonist character of the play Othello. Iago becomes irate and filled with jealousy when Othello names Michael Cassio as his lieutenant, because Iago believed he should have been the one promoted not Michael Cassio. By manipulating everyone around him, Iago portrays himself as an honest noble man whom can be trusted. Iago being known for the honest man he earns everyone’s trust and therefore learns their weakness for his ultimate plan of destruction. Iago’s greatest skill is disguising his manipulative schemes of destroying and betraying the ones around him with what he leads people to believe as honesty. Iago uses their

Othello is described by Iago as being pompous and immodest, Iago is only serving Othello to “serve [his] turn upon him”, this immediately shows the self-serving nature of Iago. We are quickly shown that Iago is bitter and twisted that he has not gained the rank of Othello’s lieutenant, thus his estimation of Othello is not fully believed or accredited by the audience. Furthermore Iago goes on to admit to his own deceptive nature by explaining he is not what he seems to be, he explains “I am not what I am”. In the first scene Iago launches into a speech of how he despises “knee-crooking knave” who serves his master for nothing but “provender” (bed and board). He then explains how he admires the servant who wears a “visage of duty” while serving no one but himself. These servants “have lined their coats” and then when they have used their master for money they “Do themselves homage”. Iago, once more, confesses to being one of these self serving and deceptive men. By showing Iago’s true colours, Shakespeare is casting Iago’s view of Othello in a very low estimation.

Iago has a fixed mindset. He is a character filled with negativity and holds negative views on Othello that never change, along with his misogynistic views on women. Iago does not make any attempts to try and change his thoughts on Othello, he rather focuses on destroying him. Carol Dweck's expresses that “everyone can change and grow through application and experience.” Iago does not change once seeing Othello’s kind brave nature. (page 52) To further explain Iago responds to Othello's confidence in his honesty, valor, and his future wife by stating “By Janus I think no.”( 1.2,31) He doubts Othello’s confidence and is ready to give up. Iago is supposed to be Othello's trusted adviser, yet he displayed signs of doubt, and hatred towards the man he served. While Iago hates Othello, he also hates Othello’s lieutenant Michael Cassio who was promoted to lieutenant rather than himself. Moreover, Iago was not promoted to be Othello’s lieutenant probably because he gave up too soon, and he hated Cassio for his success. People with a growth mindset celebrate others successes, Iago looks at Cassio’s success as a chance to prove how unfit he is for the

     Iago, the villain in Shakespeare’s Othello, is a round character of great depth and many dimensions. Iago works towards an aim that is constantly changing and becomes progressively more tragic. Yet, at times, "honest" Iago does actually seem honest. This essay will explore the complex character of "honest Iago.

In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare illustrates Othello as a benevolent military noble who shares an intellectual love with his young wife, Desdemona, that is of utmost purity and innocence. At once the evil character of Iago is introduced and uncovers the hero's tragic flaw; ultimately that of naiveté. Although Othello is usually a very even-tempered man, as can be seen when he refuses to let Iago persuade him to get angry at Roderigo, (I, ii, 6), an exteriour opposing force characterized by Iago, perpetuates the tragedy of the play by provoking the interiour opposing force, or the hamartia of the protagonist. Near the beginning of the play, Shakespeare's clever demonstration of dramatic irony allows the reader to realize Othello's tragic flaw in the fact that he hands his full trust over to a man who is "Janus-faced" and dishonest. "...my ancient; a man he is of honesty and trust. To this conveyance I assign my wife". The irony from this line lies in Othello's misconception of his ensign, Iago, who is already plotting against him for his own means. After witnessing Iago's conspiracy with Roderigo at the ruination of Othello in the previous act, the reader immediately sees Iago's villainess, however in innocence, Othello is blinded to it and by it. From this we see, as in many tragedies, the tragic hero's flaw is not actually a defect in itself, but rather an excess of a virtue. In the case of Othello, this perilous virtue