To respond to this passage, I actually begin outside of Othello and refer first to what has become of organized religion in our world today. Man is inherently too weak to take responsibility for his own actions, and, voila, religion was born. Religion is just used as man's way of justifying his actions, and allows an easy way out for self-forgiveness after a wrongdoing. Furthermore, it is used as a means of control, with an elite few telling the masses what to believe and how to believe it, as a means for subduing the public from rebelling against their rule. While I do believe in a higher power than that of man, I do not agree with religion as it is practiced today. Way back in the day, even before TV, there was a series of Crusades in which a bunch of Christian dudes killed a bunch of other Christian dudes in the name of God. After that, indulgences were sold by the church, effectively absolving someone of their sins... for a monetary price. And more recently, families of sexually abused children have been paid by the church to stay silent, rather than the priests having to be responsible for their abhorrent actions. All of this is to say religion has come a long way from what I believe to be its noble intentions of teaching man to respect and love one another, to become almost a game to be played by those struggling to gain some sense of control of their and other people's lives.
Iago is a classic example of the type of person that really exemplifies the major problems with religion today. His intentions started well, a lieutenant under Othello, doing what he thought was right, going to war for his country. However, the evils of jealousy and envy eventually overcame him. Thinking that Othello was cheating with his wife, Iago allowed his good intentions to be shadowed by the easier goals of pretty much screwing everyone else over to meet his means. Just as in the case of religion, his life and his intentions turned into a game, in which he was able to manipulate everything around him to reach his diabolical plans. His morals turned into nothing but fuel for his fire against the people around him, hence the appropriate metaphor of "the moral pyromaniac"
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Ok, I'm not a huge fan of religion either, but you've got a pretty skewed view of structured religion. Catholicism is exactly what you describe, and alot of people really don't like Catholicism. But there are hundreds of other religions that urge free thought, and urge self interpretation of the religions teachings. I'm just saying that it is a really great thing for alot of people who need something bigger than themselves to grab on to.
I also agree that iago's plan spiraled out of control from his intentions. but his intentions were never good ones, even before we are brought into the story, Iago is a huge ass-hole. he is previously using Roderigo, he has horrible manners (his conversation with Emelia and Desdemona), and i think generally expects the worst of people. Also, I feel that he's just has a great professional personality, which has fooled everyone else in the play. But on the inside, he is truely sour.
I also don't think that necassarlily his jealously and envy overcame him, but Everyone else's jealousy and envy overcame him. I said on another comment that Iago did not win. he was brought down just as hard, if not harder, than Othello and Casio and Desdemona.
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