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Molly Hargon

Ryder

English 6

March 16, 2015

Is Iago a Psychopath?

While many people may feel that Iago is a sweet, enjoyable, and genuine

gentleman, there are many traits that he possess to prove that he is a psychopath.

Some major characteristics of a psychopath are superficial charm, pathological lying,

and manipulating. In the tragic play Othello by William Shakespeare it is often thought

that Iago is charming, unassuming, and an honest man because he is always so loyal to

Othello and a genuine gentleman throughout the play.

This view seems convincing at first, but once we look into Iagos actions we start

to learn that he may be a psychopath. In the tragic play Iago is tends to be very

charming to deceive others so they like and trust him. Iago says, I should be wise for

honestys a fool and loses that it works for. (3.3.379-380). Iago is saying that honesty is

a fool and always makes him lose his friends even when he is trying to help them. Iago

is being somewhat charming in this quote saying that he has friends and really doesnt

want to lose them, but he had to be honest. Iago being honest and not wanting to lose

his friends prove that he is very charming, but dont let the charm deceive you he wants

Othello to think he is charming so he will trust him. Iago also says, But I am much to

blame. I humbly do beseech you of your pardon for too much loving you. (3.3.211-213).
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Iago takes blame for telling Othello all about Cassio and Desdemona. Then he says I

beg your pardon for loving you too much, which basically means he told out of love for

Othello. In this quote Iago is very charming by apologizing and portraying his love for

Othello. Iago uses his charm to manipulate Othello, so that he thinks that Iago is this

sweet, loyal, and honest man. This all leads back to Iago trying to change what people

think of him so that he can succeed in his master plan. Iago being so charming helps

him with his sneaky ways and carrying out his plan.

Iago may seem to you to be a charming and kind person, but do you think that he

uses his charm to manipulate others? When Iago says to Othello, Think my lord?

(3.3.104) right after Othello asks what he is thinking is proof of him being manipulative.

At this point in the play Iago keeps answering Othellos questions with questions on

purpose to make Othello think that he is hiding something and trying not to say it.

Othello finally catches on and says to Iago that he should tell him the truth about

Desdemona and Cassio because he knows that that is what Iago is hiding. Iago does all

of this manipulating to Othello to make him extremely jealous of Cassio. Just as Othello

makes an alliance with Iago and tells him that he is his new lieutenant Iago says, I am

your own for ever. (3.3.476). Iago committing himself to Othello is just another form of

manipulation. When Iago says this Othello thinks that he will be by his side forever, and

that is just what Iago wants Othello to think so that his plan will succeed in the end. As

you can see Iago is quit a manipulating character, but this is just another trait to a

psychopath.
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Although some people might argue that Iago is an honest man, there are many

points in the play that prove that he is quite deceiving and a pathological liar. When Iago

says Why, then, tis hers, my lord; and being hers, she may, I think, bestowt on any

man. (4.1.13-14). Iago is straight up lying to Othello and making up the fact that

Desdemona would give her handkerchief to any man. Iago only says this to Othello to

make him exceptionally jealous and think that his wife is not loyal to him. By planting

this thought in Othellos head Iago is slowly breaking down Othello and making him

more and more mad. In the beginning of the play Iago lies to Montano about Cassio by

saying, Soldier fit to stand by Caesar and give direction.(116-117). We know that Iago

doesnt really think that Cassio is fit for his position; he only says that to Montano so that

he thinks that Iago thinks highly of Cassio. Iago just needs to have other people think

that he is a good person for his plan to work, so far so good. This form of pathological

lying is just another psychotic characteristic that Iago possess.

With these key traits of a psychopath, we can conclude that Iago is truly a

psychopath. While reading this book some people think that there is no possible way

that Iago is a psychopath because he always charming, unassuming, and an honest

man. Iago really uses psychopathic traits such as manipulating, charm, pathological

lying so that he can succeed in his master plans to destroy Othello. Since Iago is a

psychopath he has great importance when we relate it to life. Psychopathic traits and

qualities prove that all psychopaths end in a downfall because of their terrible deceiving

characteristics.