Iagos Mind in William Shakespeares Othello Essay -- Iago Psychology

Iagos Mind in William Shakespeares OthelloIn Shakespeares play Othello, the character of Iago takes on the voice of a person warped within his give thoughts and feelings. Although people today have the benefit of psychology, back in the 1600s people with severe psychological disorders were go forth un-medicated and free to roam as citizens of society. Although Iago would have benefited from medication of today, in his straits he was the best, even though his own imagination got the better of him and fed his own misguided intellectuality. One of the best examples of this warped mentality is a conversation which Iago has with Othello mid-way through the play (3.3.160-66). As one analyzes Iagos words, the depth and complexity of his mental unrest ooze between the lines of this speech. And after careful analysis of the complexity of Iagos thoughts in this speech, Iagos psychological shortcomings of conceit and self-worth unravel before our eyes. At first glance, as Iago s tarts to verbally protect his reputation in the eyes of Othello, who has accused Iago of conspiring against thy friend (3.3.147), Iago appears to be utterance of the nature of his reputation. But the lines can be analyzed on a much deeper level. When Iago says, Good name in man and woman, dear my Lord (3.3.160), the obvious first impression is that he is publicise the beginning of a statement well-nigh his own reputation. But, deep within the layers, this statement can be seen as a start in expressing how Iago feels about Othello having taken his reputation as a man and smashed it in the public eye. Iago mentions early in the play that, it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets / He has make my office (1.3.369-70). By this earlier statement we s... ...y as a man, Iago ploys, Reputation is an idle and closely false imposition, oft got without merit / and lost without deserving (2.3.251-52). Hence, we wonder, was Iago speaking of Othello, or Cassio? Or both? Within t his albeit short speech we get a strong glimpse at how tangled the web of Iagos mind can be. We get a feel for the depth of his psychological unrest and see how his mind can wrap quickly his feelings from one person to other in one quick jump of phrases. In these seven short lines we see Iagos self-concern about how others perceive him, we see his own statistical regression on how great he sees himself, and we see how he deceives himself. For me, Iagos psychosis intrigues me to read this play again and again since, on a very basic level, most of us can probably see parts of Iago within ourselves, no matter how deep within ourselves we have to look.