Schapiro, Barbara A. "Psychoanalysis and the Problem of Evil: Debating Othello in the
Classroom." American Imago, vol. 60 no. 4, 2003, p. 481-499. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/aim.2004.0010.
In her article, Barbara Schapiro addresses the psychoanalytical elements of evil at play in Othello and how they framed certain debates and writing prompts in her classroom. Schapiro opens the article with a series of questions all dealing with how we understand evil and destructiveness in the play and in society. She then moves into her discussion of evil by providing context to inform us that Shakespeare, in making the play his own, removed the motive that Iago (or the Ensign in the original) holds for his actions. This creates a discussion and debate in the classroom about motiveless malignity and whether it exists in Iago’s case or not. This then further leads to the ongoing issue Schapiro wishes to confront: Is Iago’s evilness innate or responsive? She continues to examine this by demonstrating that Iago’s actions “would have no power over Othello were Othello not in love” (484). The connectedness of the two men then sways the debate to the side of destructive responsiveness, as opposed to innate evil. Schapiro also analyzes Iago by saying that he suffers from traumatized rejection, which in turn leads to his evilness. After exploring these topics, Schapiro also references debates she included in her classroom and the various and differing responses she received from students. Finally, she concludes with the claim that by viewing Iago’s evilness as responsive, we can turn our attention to the causes.--Michelle Vucsko
