Thursday, January 31, 2008

Blog #3 - Morality Just Got Burn'd!

In the beginning it was all about the battlefield. Iago complained of Cassio's appointment despite all of the recommendations that supported this so called "moral pyromaniac." The paradoxical title does not seem to fit Iago, however, for all his actions were most definitely immoral--simply, evil in fact. But of course, I guess the manipulation of others to further your desires of revenge is obviously something the judges look for in a Miss America.

As for the pyromaniac bit, Iago fits nicely into the description. Iago's actions not only effect the main target, Othello, but also effect the people around him. In comparison, not only does a fire completely destroy the space it originated from, but it also spreads out to burn down other targets. It is in this pyromaniac stage when Iago starts to drift from a religion of war, to the game of war.

Thus, it seems foolish to me that one would call Iago a "moral pyromaniac", for that implies that he is committing Shakespearean arson at the same time he is performing in a morally right fashion. Rather, it should be recognized that Iago transitions from a moral stage of honoring Othello as the god of war, to a pyromaniac who burns the other characters' lives to a crisp.

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