Othello and the human conditio

At the start of the play Iago debates on why Cassio was chosen over him by Othello. Here Othello is unknown to the audience, and Iago appears to be justified in his argument. His justification comes from the fact that he has battled by Othello's side for years, wher

Othello could be viewed as the old style of human (a strong, moral, honest but primitive man) while Iago represents the modern human who has evolved to manipulate others, along with the invention of money. In this sense we have lost some of the good values of our ancestors and have gained many hedonistic attitudes such as enjoyment from watching others get hurt. This enjoyment is partially because we are all somewhat jealous of another, and ever-willing to point the finger of justice, and say something like "serves you right". Othello's slightly non-civilized stance is also more honorable, as in if he saw another of his tribe in trouble when he was a moor, he would have aided them regardless of whether they could manage it themselves or not. This devotion to each-others lives, and the respect of life in general was lost on Iago, and was being lost in the times when Shakespeare wrote Othello.

The human entity has changed since Shakespeare's time, just as he was changed by the moralistic plays he watched in his youth. Archetypes that Shakespeare used in his tragic plays are still used today in childhood rhymes and the like. The thing that Shakespeare did was to bring our hidden emotions out into the open, and make us more understanding of the human psyche. Othello's journey into jealousy, the "green eyed monster which doth mock / The meat it feeds on" (Iago - Act3, Scene3) leaves him feeling "turned Turk" (Othello - Act2, Scene3). Othello's demise leaves him with nothing but his honor. When Lodovico and Gratiano prepare to take him to Venice to be punished with the proper justice system, he stabs himself, so at least he can die with honor. Iago on the other hand immaturely states "Demand me nothing; what you know, you know. / From this time forth I will never speak a word." (Iago - Act 5, Scene 2).

Once, when speaking to Othello, Iago states, "I should be wise; for honesty's a fool / And loses that it works for."(Iago - Act3, Scene3). This is a clear example of him playing life as though it were a game. It is also an example of how he treats everyone degradingly, or in a cheeky manner. He also uses his apparent intelligence to fool

Some topics in this essay:
Iago Act, Act3 Scene3, Scene2 Iago, Act2 Scene3, William Shakespeare, Moor Othello, South Africa, Archetypes Shakespeare, Lodovico Gratiano, Othello Iago, human condition, iago act1, act3 scene3, modern human, iago iago, iago act3 scene3, audience iago, act1 scene1, example human, moor othello, iago hand, example human condition, iago act1 scene1, act1 scene2 iago, iago act1 scene2,