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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 4 page essay that examines the various methods that Iago uses to poison Othello mind against Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello. The writer argues that a psychological perspective is illuminating in studying this aspect of the play. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khiagoth.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
properly! Critic Haim Omer summarizes the effect that Iago has on Othello by saying that "Iagos conversations with Othello
in Shakespeares play may rank among the greatest displays of persuasive skills ever penned" (99). He goes on to argue that a fuller appreciate for Iagos genius can best be
achieved by adopting the perspective of modern psychotherapy, and that recent progress in this discipline in terms of such phenomena as "indirect hypnotic suggestions and paradoxical interventions" serve to illuminate
Iagos amazing prowess. In fact, Omer rates Iagos skills as being equal or superior to those of a modern therapist - not that Iago seeks to benefit Othello. Rather, "Iago
is a therapist from hell," as his aim is not to cure Othello, but to destroy him. Similarly, Karl Zender has also written concerning Iagos orientation toward language. Using the
ideas of Omer and Zender as a starting point, the following discussion of Othello will explore the idea that Iagos poisoning of Othellos mind was perpetuated by Iago precisely to
prove his virtuosity with language after - as Zender suggests - being humiliated by Desdemona in a courtly word game. In Act II, scene 1, lines 83-181, Shakespeare
pictures an interlude in which Desdemona "beguile(s)" the time before Othellos arrival at Cyprus by questioning Iago on how he would praise various sorts of women. Zender asserts that Shakespeare
frequently employed a seemingly inconsequential episode relative to the plays plot to alert the audience as to significant characteristics of the featured players (323). For example, there is no obvious
reason why Othellos ship should arrive later than Desdemonas - in fact Orthellos ship left Venice earlier than the one carrying Desdemona. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that Shakespeare
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