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Shakespeare's Villains: The Displacement Of Iago And Edmund, Julius C. Adena

Theses and Dissertations

My thesis argues that Shakespeare’s villains, Iago and Edmund, are displaced from their rightful positions and are left isolated from society. While many critics either condemn or defend Shakespeare’s villains, I will examine how both characters use their knowledge of rhetoric and persuasion to survive the displacement that they have experienced. The first chapter explores the importance of military ranks and the mentality of a soldier in Othello. War becomes a metaphor to Iago, and because of his displacement as lieutenant, he takes initiative to win the war. I will examine the different masks he wears, his powers as …