Iagos motives.

Camillo Estrada

ENC 1102 Sakal (8)

December 1, 2003

Iago↔Psychopath

Iago↔Psychopath

Thesis: Is this same disorder that Iago, the villain of Othello: The Moor of Venice, suffers from and is his psychopathy that gives him the advantage to carry out his malignant "peculiar end" (Shakespeare 1.1.57). Via a psychological analysis of Othello's dialogues Shakespeare portrays the classical case psychopath.

I.What a psychopath is

A.Characteristics of a psychopath

a."...charming, self-interested, glib and impulsive individuals..." (Kaihla)

b."...brag about grandiose life ambitions but utterly lack the skills or discipline to achieve any of their goals..." (Kaihla) "...grandiose sense of self worth..." (Conner)

c."...bored and crave immediate self-gratification..." (Kaihla)

d."...do not form deep or meaningful attachments, and often end up hurting people who get close to them..." (Kaihla)

e."...intellectually aware of society's rules, they feel no guilt when they break them..." (Kaihla)

B.Confusion with other mental disorder

a."...psychopath itself is much misunderstood and misused, especially by authors..."

From the Library of Congress: TITLE: Thos. W. Keen...

English: Photographic full-length portrait of Edwi...

Illustration of Othello and Iago

(Kaihla)

b."...confusion arises because people routinely mix up the words "psychopath" and "psycho," which is a slang expression for psychotic..." (Kaihla)

c."...distinction is that individuals who are actively psychotic are out of touch with reality because they suffer from delusions, hallucinations or other disordered states..." (Kaihla) "...popular and legal term for mental disorder that renders patient unfit to manage own affairs or safely remain free..." (Compton)

d."Psychopaths, on the other hand, are rational and quite aware of the difference between right and wrong." (Kaihla)

II.Who Iago is

A."...young man, only twenty-eight years old, the youngest of all the men who figure in the tragedy, excepting, possibly, Roderigo..." (Grant)

B."Othello's ancient, or ensign...soldier with good deal of experience in battle, having been on the fielded with Othello both Rhodes and Cypress." (Shakespeare's)

C."...I have looked upon the world for four times/seven...