Shakespeare's Villains

Paper Summary:

This paper examines two of the most infamous villains in all of Shakespearian literature, Iago in "Othello" and Claudius in "Hamlet". The paper points out that both Claudius and Iago are driven by immoral ambitions. It adds, however, that unlike many "evil villains" in literature, these two characters are far more complex than may be seen at first. The paper praises Shakespeare as a master at providing an audience with keen insight into the human psyche through the actions and words of his heroes, and even more so, his villains. To conclude, the paper maintains that Iago and Claudius, although driven by different ambitions, are both villains in the sense that they have a specific target in mind and will stop at nothing until that aim is reached.

From the Paper:

"Another common aspect of Iago's and Claudius's villainous character is their use of women to further their own goals. It is unclear how much Claudius is driven by lust for Gertrude, but marrying her was definitely a strategic move, and part of his master plan to keep the thrown away from Hamlet. By doing this, he is using Gertrude to advance his scheme, convincing her that her son is insane and must be sent away. Iago, a character who does not seem to plan out his every move, also makes women mere pawns in his game. The woman whose innocence and naivety he exploits the most is Desdemona. Claiming to be driven by lust, as perhaps was Claudius, Iago says he lusts after Desdemona to get revenge for Othello's infidelity with Emilia. As he says, it is "wife for wife." This is not the main reason he harms Desdemona, although he enjoys the pain he causes to all those around him. Rather, he uses Desdemona's sweetness to convince Othello that she is cheating on him with Cassio, whom Iago sent to speak to her. This meticulous orchestration of events proves that he is clearly aware of his villainous behavior and feels no regret for any of the losses suffered by the other characters under his influence."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Coe, Charles Norton. Demi-Devils: The Character of Shakespeare's Villains, Bookman Associates, Inc., 1963.
• Rackin, Phyllis. Shakespeare's Tragedies, New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1978.
• Shakespeare, William. Hamlet, New York: Signet: 1998.
• Shakespeare, William. Othello, New York: Signet: 1998.
• Traversi, D.A. An Approach to Shakespeare, New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1956.

More papers on Shakespeare's Villains:

• Analytical Essay # 64140 : "Richard III in Shakespeare and History"
• Comparison Essay # 49870 : "William Shakespeare's "Othello" and "King Richard III"
• Analytical Essay # 110527 : "Shakespeare's Villains"

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