Comparison of an Evil mastermind in Shakespeare’s Othello...

Iago is one of the most renowned villains of pre-modern literature, as first introduced in Shakespeare’s Othello. His deceiving personality and complex nature is painted such that readers are amazed by his ingenious schemes. At the beginning of Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is represented as trustworthy and honest, but readers soon realize that he is the opposite of what he seems. Even though Iago’s personality and thoughts are revealed less in MacDonald’s Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), he carries on the same immoral legacy as in Othello. Throughout the plays, he turns his friends against one another who look to him for guidance and support. Iago thirsts to upgrade this status in society which causes him to take advantage of†¦show more content†¦Iago explains to Rodrigo that he does not serve Othello because it is it duty, he does so because he feels he can exploit and take advantage of him. Iago believes that people who are what they se em are foolish and says that â€Å"I am not what I am†, which implies that he is also playing a deceitful game with Rodrigo. Desdemona in MacDonald’s Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) is interpreted as a capable, independent, and even violent character who marries Othello because of her passion for combat and conquest. Desdemona’s character goes beyond the limits of breaking feminine stereotypes and is seen as a savage who hungers violence. As a result of her rage-filled personality, Desdemona is gullible and easily irritated by others. She looks for the evil in others and searches for conflict. â€Å"In this Desdemona, Logos reigns, she exhibits primarily characteristics that we have designated as ‘masculine’: love of horror and a desire for blood, violence, and vengeance† (Snyder 49). Desdemona easily becomes jealous of others, which Iago takes advantage of. The character of Desdemona is seen to break the stereotype of powerless wom en and goes to an extreme of representing Desdemona as a violent female who is easily manipulated. The