Often times in theatrical productions it is all too easy to spot a character in a play who is evidently insane due to their erratic actions and miscellaneous babbling on stage. However, not every case of insanity shows itself as a ranting and raving madman, it can also be cool, calm, and collective.Yet, a characters mental state is not so black and white and it would be an injustice simply label a character as “insane” or “sane”, especially when it comes to more intricate, and developed works of theatrical art, such as one of William Shakespeare’s famous tragedies The Tragedy of Othello. Within the tale of Othello, the main driving force of the plot and sole conductor of Othello’s suicide by the end…show more content… Though Iago may come off as a straightforward and bland villian who seems to only be hellbent on revenge; however, there is more to Iago than just the surface. Iago as a person seems to have some form of mental instability which allows him to commit such heinous acts throughout the story without relent or remorse. This complete lack of feeling towards harming someone can lead a reader to believe that Iago suffers from Antisocial Personality Disorder, or other wise known as ASPD. Iago exhibits many of the common symptoms associated with ASPD, as documented in the U.S. National Library of medicine, such as: persistent lying, the manipulation of others, arrogance, impulsiveness, and a lack of empathy (Antisocial Personality Disorder: MedlinePlus). Throughout Shakespeare’s story of Othello, Iago stands out as a character who suffers from ASPD due to the multitude of…show more content… Iago is not usually one to slip up and make rash decisions throughout the play. However, near the end of the play, Emilia lets slip that Iago had been behind framing Cassio with having Desdemona’s handkerchief in his possession. (5.2.225-229) The realization of what Emilia has done hits Iago like a brick wall, one could only imagine the cold sweat which came over him and subsequent rush of wrath which erupted within him when Iago snaps and proceeds to call his wife a “Villainous whore!” (5.2.230). This rage comes to a head when Iago stabs his own wife before fleeing from the guards who chase after him. This impulsiveness to act upon rash decisions in a moment of rage is yet another apparent symptom of his acute
