OTHELLO & an ILLIAD

Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello, and Achilles in Homer’s The Illiad, are in a rage at being slighted. Iago at being passed over in rank advancement; Achilles at losing his battle prize, the beautiful Briseis, to Agamemnon.  

Iago spills his jealous rage on Roderigo and batters Brabantio’s household with his venom, prefacing this action by saying—

“...I am not what I am.”

Than proceeds to ooze and schmooze friendship on all. 

“Thought I do hate him as I do hell,
Yet, for necessity of present life,
I must showout a flag and sign of love—
Which is indeed but sign.”

And so we watch as Iago turns the noble, trusting Othello into a jealous rage, with suggestion, innuendo and deception.  

Achilles faces Agamemnon, to keep his prize, drawing his sword for the kill, but the goddess Athena stays him. 

”And with that 
Achilles stayed his burley hand on the hilt and
and slid the huge blade back in the sheath.
He would not fight the orders of Athena.”

Smoldering Achilles retreats to his tent where he festers for nine years while the Trojans and Aegean’s slaughter each other. Achilles could quote Exodus saying— 

“I Am that I Am.”  

HUBRIS!

(Othello could be titled “Iago” and The Iliad  “Achilles”.)

Othello succumbs to Iago’s insidious subtleties and—

“Put out the light, and than put out the light.”

Achilles, driven from his tent by the death of his best friend Protocols, propels his rage at the Trojans, driving them back inside Troy. Eventually, as prophesied, he dies in glories combat at Troy.

Iago wounded, lives on ignominiously. 

How many Iago’s and Achilles have you groveled with?

Is there any Iago or Achilles in you”

Deep thinking time. There is meaning here. 

There is nothing like live theatre reflecting reality!

From my tub to yours 

Carpe Diem,

Carl