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Iago And Richard III Analysis

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Art of Master Villains: Duel between Iago and Richard III
Dr. Lecter, The Joker, Norman Bates—these are some of the greatest villains on the movie screen. Nonetheless, few of them can compare to the top villains created by Shakespeare. Among them, Iago in the tragedy Othello and Richard III in Richard III are the finest and most polished. Although Othello is named after the “Moor of Venice”, Bloom comments that “it is Iago’s play” because he predominates the stage and remains in one’s mind long after one has finished reading or watching the play (433). His ascendance prompts thoughts of Richard III who is definitely the captivating protagonist in the history play. Both Iago and Richard III are Shakespeare’s most thrilling and sinister figures. Despite the fact that the two are similar in their powerful language and …show more content…

Kolin observes that Iago stands out among Shakespearean villains since he is the only one to survive his own monstrous acts (25). Unlike Richard III, apart from telling stories, Iago carries out a downright fraud through other means of manipulation, which makes him the most evil and intelligent character. To be exact, Iago is a puppeteer who sets up scenes to deceive the “credulous fools”—Othello, Cassio and Desdemona (4.1.45). Iago talks to Cassio about Bianca while telling Othello that the subject of their conversation is the Moor’s wife. He is so smart and careful that he even gestures Othello to come closer when Cassio is about to illustrate how Bianca entangles him. Another obvious example of the handkerchief is Iago’s major tool in deceiving Othello, which symbolic meaning is largely subverted. Boose further explains this, writing that Iago makes use of the token of love to create falsity as he first puts the object in an erotic context and transforms the motif of marital consummation into an evidence of adultery

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