If there’s anything Shakespeare knows how to do, it’s a good tragedy. His disastrous tales, such as “Romeo and Juliet” and “Macbeth”, have resonated with audiences for hundreds of years and continue to be a source of insight into human nature. Two of his villains, Iago from “Othello” and Richard III from “Richard III”, serve as great examples of why his plays are still famous today. Despite the differences in motives and outcomes of these villains, both are used to warn the audience of the dangers of humanity’s flaws.
Both villains have different motives behind their malicious plots. Iago schemes against the title character, Othello, as revenge for awarding a beloved friend, Michael Cassio, the coveted position of lieutenant. Iago, bitter at this unfairness, sets out to ruin Othello and Cassio’s happy lives– “to get [Cassio’s] place and to plume up my will in double knavery–how, how?” (Othello,I.iii.395-397). …show more content…
Richard resents the peace his older brother, Edward IV, has established after the long civil war between the royal families of York and Lancaster; “I am determined to prove a villain/ and hate the idle pleasures of these days” (Richard III,I.i.30-31). Richard uses his skills of deception and knowledge of politics to kill those who stand in his way, and his subsequent rise to power is steeped in the blood of his friends and family. Both villains use similar tactics to further their goals, but their resulting defeats prove that no amount of malevolence can bring them
Both villains have different motives behind their malicious plots. Iago schemes against the title character, Othello, as revenge for awarding a beloved friend, Michael Cassio, the coveted position of lieutenant. Iago, bitter at this unfairness, sets out to ruin Othello and Cassio’s happy lives– “to get [Cassio’s] place and to plume up my will in double knavery–how, how?” (Othello,I.iii.395-397). …show more content…
Richard resents the peace his older brother, Edward IV, has established after the long civil war between the royal families of York and Lancaster; “I am determined to prove a villain/ and hate the idle pleasures of these days” (Richard III,I.i.30-31). Richard uses his skills of deception and knowledge of politics to kill those who stand in his way, and his subsequent rise to power is steeped in the blood of his friends and family. Both villains use similar tactics to further their goals, but their resulting defeats prove that no amount of malevolence can bring them