Iago's Psychology

Iago's Background: • Iago is a standard-bearer or soldier who has fought beside Othello for numerous years. • When Othello promoted Micheal Cassio rather than Iago himself, he became a very spiteful and angry individual. • Iago is married to Emilia whom he constantly manipulates along with his other acquaintances in order to get what he wants. • Iago has no values or morals, he will take anyone down to achieve his goals.
Iago's Symptoms: • Iago has a strong feeling of jealousy, he states: • “I hate the Moor:
And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets
He has done my office: I know not if't be true;
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety” • “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,
A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife; that never set a squadron in the field,
nor the division of a battle knows more than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric,
wherein the toged consuls can propose as masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice,
Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election: And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof
At Rhodes, at Cyprus and on other grounds Christian and heathen, must be be-lee'd and calm'd
By debtor and creditor: this counter-caster,
He, in good time, must his lieutenant be” • The patient, Iago depends on the attention and approval of others; for example, he desires Othello's attention and approval to manipulate him. • Iago has shown tendencies of acting on impulse regardless of the possible outcome of putting himself at risk or being exploited. • In addition to his apathy, Iago is often insincere and superficial which explains Othello's inaccurate opinion of Iago as “Honest Iago”.
Disorder:
• The individual can be diagnosed with Histrionic Personality Disorder • Histrionic Personality Disorder is a cluster B personality disorder, meaning it is a “dramatic” personality disorder. • Individuals with the disorder have unstable emotions and their self-esteem depends on the approval of