Iago Vs. Moriarty an Argumentative Comparison - 1364 Words

In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the antagonist Iago shows evil motivations towards the protagonist Othello that could be considered obsessive. This pattern of behavior can be compared to the BBC television rendition of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and its antagonist Moriarty. Iago and Moriarty’s obsessive behavior greatly effect Othello and Sherlock’s lives respectively that provide a solid argumentative comparison between the two. William Shakespeare’s Othello presents and â€Å"evil† character, Iago, who can be compared to the Arthur Conan Doyle TV adaption of BBC Sherlock’s Moriarty. Iago takes on many different persona’s to enact his plan of revenge upon Othello. He plays the friend, a trustworthy and credible source of†¦show more content†¦Fallings just like flying except theres a more permanent destination.† (Sherlock.) The Fall is referring to Jim’s plan to blackmail Sherlock into suicide or else his friends would be targeted. Moriarty seems to be so insecure about his cleverness that he would kill and target innocent people to get the glory he believes her deserves. This plan parallels to Iago’s against Othello. The event of Othello’s elopement is the turning point for Iago’s obsession and plot to destroy his life by sabotaging his relationships with Desdemona and his closest friends. Othello’s tragic flaw of trusting the wrong people leads him to his demise. Iago’s first plan of action brings Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, into play. He speaks of how â€Å"The Moor†, Othello, is deflowering his daughter’s purity. â€Å"Even now, now, very now, an old black ram / Is tupping your white ewe† (1.1.88-89) (Othello.) Iago’s obsession goes so far as to bring his own wife into his plot without her knowledge. Iago asks Emilia to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief as â€Å"evidence† of her infidelity. â€Å"My wayward husband hath a hundred times / Woo’d me to steal it; but she so loves the token....I’ll have the work ta’en out, And give’t Iago: what he will do with it Heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy.† (3.3.292-299) (Othello.) A man who prided himself on being trustworthy was so blinded with jealousy and hatred that he would sabotage his own wife to take down Othello’s life. Pride is also a