“Weakness,” as defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, is “an infirmity of character, a failing” (OED n.2.b.). Having a weakness does not necessarily mean that a person is flawed; instead, it is how he or she chooses to cope with a weakness. If people allow their disadvantages to consume their life, then they can be considered to have a flawed personality. With weaknesses comes the possibility of failure; if there is a house in the process of being built and the wood used is rotting, the house will fail. The house in this case is the person being affected, if this person is being raised poorly he or she will be flawed. The wood in this scenario is the weakness. Having negative flaws can lead to a chain effect, such as, one mistake caused
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“Mercy” as defined in the Oxford English Dictionary is the “compassion shown to a person who is in a position of powerlessness or subjection, or to a person with no right or claim to receive kindness; kind and compassionate treatment in a case where severity is merited or expected” (OED n.1.a). Iago is ruthless, when he wants something he will get it no matter what pain is inflicted. In Marvin Rosenberg’s book, The Masks of Othello, he introduces a theory that defended Iago’s decency in his actions; he claims that Iago only acts out when he is provoked by others to do so (166). Although Rosenberg is referring to Iago, his argument could also refer to people in general. Iago had no mercy to stop his actions, so whether Rosenberg’s claim is true or not, it does not defend Iago’s merciless plan to destroy others. Mercy is not in his characteristics whatsoever, he even uses his wife and forces her to steal. He feels no sympathy for his actions because of his insatiable desire for power. He feels betrayed by Othello because he has been by his side and fought more battles with him than Cassio has. So in order to get what he wants he does not mind putting his feelings of Othello as a friend in the shadows and only using his trust to stage his own demise on Othello. He is driven by his jealousy. He is extremely jealous of Cassio and his rank in Othello’s army. He is also envious of Othello’s successful life especially since he is only a “Moor” (Shakespeare 1.1.40). In Fred West’s article, “Iago the Psychopath,” West argues that Iago is “an accurate portrait of a psychopath” who ensues a plan derived from the jealousy toward Othello, because he is convinced that Othello and Emilia, has had an affair (“Iago the Psychopath”). So it is like killing two birds with one stone to Iago. If his plan works out he will be the lieutenant and he will have destroyed Othello’s happiness. He destroys marriages including his own
“Mercy” as defined in the Oxford English Dictionary is the “compassion shown to a person who is in a position of powerlessness or subjection, or to a person with no right or claim to receive kindness; kind and compassionate treatment in a case where severity is merited or expected” (OED n.1.a). Iago is ruthless, when he wants something he will get it no matter what pain is inflicted. In Marvin Rosenberg’s book, The Masks of Othello, he introduces a theory that defended Iago’s decency in his actions; he claims that Iago only acts out when he is provoked by others to do so (166). Although Rosenberg is referring to Iago, his argument could also refer to people in general. Iago had no mercy to stop his actions, so whether Rosenberg’s claim is true or not, it does not defend Iago’s merciless plan to destroy others. Mercy is not in his characteristics whatsoever, he even uses his wife and forces her to steal. He feels no sympathy for his actions because of his insatiable desire for power. He feels betrayed by Othello because he has been by his side and fought more battles with him than Cassio has. So in order to get what he wants he does not mind putting his feelings of Othello as a friend in the shadows and only using his trust to stage his own demise on Othello. He is driven by his jealousy. He is extremely jealous of Cassio and his rank in Othello’s army. He is also envious of Othello’s successful life especially since he is only a “Moor” (Shakespeare 1.1.40). In Fred West’s article, “Iago the Psychopath,” West argues that Iago is “an accurate portrait of a psychopath” who ensues a plan derived from the jealousy toward Othello, because he is convinced that Othello and Emilia, has had an affair (“Iago the Psychopath”). So it is like killing two birds with one stone to Iago. If his plan works out he will be the lieutenant and he will have destroyed Othello’s happiness. He destroys marriages including his own