Jealousy and rage are the main driving force for Iago and Hugo, who are inherently evil. They have very few saving qualities, one of which is the ability to convince and charm people to believing in their loyalty and honesty. For example, although Iago is referred to as “Honest Iago”, the audience is soon introduced to his rage and strong desire for revenge - in spite of the fact that he does not have a good enough reason for this. They both feel inadequate, and this brings about jealousy which they allow to take over and completely control their lives. Hugo and Iago’s sinister actions were fuelled by their own jealousies and shortcomings.
‘O' the movie is based on the play by Shakespeare, 'Othello.' One main difference between the movie and the play is that is that the play is set in ancient times while the movie is in modern times. Another disparity is that the play is set in the military while the movie 'O' has a high school setting.
Iago and Hugo’s characters are consumed with jealousy and hatred. Iago is clearly jealous of Cassio for having obtained the position of Lieutenant when he believes he was better suited for it, he is also jealous of Othello because he believes that he slept with his wife. “It is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets / He has done my office” (1.3.369–370) He wants to do the same to him “wife for wife”, he says (2.1. 286). Again, he is jealous of the position Othello holds despite his race. On the other hand, Hugo is jealous of Mike and Odin for the recognition they receive for their outstanding performance in the basketball game, and Odin for the attention he receives from his father. He compares Odin to a hawk and says that one day, he too will fly. “All my life I always wanted to fly. I always wanted to live like a hawk. I know you're not supposed to be jealous of anything, but Odin is a hawk. He soars above us. He can fly. One of these days, everyone's gonna pay attention to me. Because I'm gonna fly too” (Kaaya).
Iago and Hugo represent cruelty and evil. They are deeply unpleasant as is clearly seen in the play and in the movie. Although Iago acknowledges Othello’s noble character, he comes across as villainous when he prepares to ruin his life in spite of this. He says that in spite of him being “The Moor – howbe’t that I endure him not- Is of a constant, loving noble nature, And I dare that he’ll prove to Desdemona A most dear husband” he will still destroy him (2 .1. 287-290). Hugo also admits that Odin may be better than him, but this does not stop his plans. They are not bothered by having to destroy the lives of other people who are not involved in their plans just to get their revenge. Hugo and Iago are very cruel and kill even the people they appear to like to save themselves.
In both the movie and the play, Hugo and Iago have perfected the art of war (Jacobsen 497). They both know how to strategize and play their enemies against each other. In the play, Iago plants ideas in Othello’s head and convinces him that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. He goes as far as manipulating Emilia to get him the handkerchief which he uses as evidence against Cassio and Desdemona. He also uses Roger to help him fulfill his plans and get his revenge against the people he hates. Hugo also plants ideas in Odin’s head and convinces him that his girlfriend Desi is having an affair with his friend Mike. He also convinces Emily to get him the handkerchief which he uses as evidence against them. All this they do without considering how the other people will be affected by their decisions. To them, the other people are just collateral damage, innocent victims in the war they are in.
Both Iago and Hugo have no loyalties and are incapable of truly loving. The manner in which they treat the women they claim to love is questionable. Iago constantly disrespects his wife and says that “It is a common thingTo have a foolish wife” (3 .3. 306 - 308). When he is pleased with her, instead of giving her actual compliments, he refers to her as “A good wench” (Line 319). He also manipulates and uses her for his own selfish gains and does not consider how this could affect her. When she finally discovers what he has done, he does not have a problem with killing her to prevent this information from leaking (Shakespeare 1291). In the article Where Iago lies, Iago is seen as “an improviser who revels in his ability to manipulate his victims" (Wood).
Hugo also does the same thing with his girlfriend Emily. When she complains about stealing, he convinces her that she simply borrowed. “You didn't steal anything; you just borrowed it for a little while” (Kaaya). When she tells him about her feelings for him, he tells her “You have things for lots of guys” (Kaaya). He clearly does not respect her. He uses and manipulates her and eventually kills her. This is not characteristic of true love.
Hugo and Iago are both very disloyal to people who consider them their friends. They are quick to double cross them after using them. They betray Roger and Roderigo after getting them to do their dirty work for them and after colluding with them throughout the story. “Sorry bro, Desi is dead” says Hugo before killing his “friend” (Kaaya).
Even at the end of the story, they both remain unrepentant and feel justified in their actions. Iago says that they must not demand anything from him and refuses to say a word concerning the matter. “Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I will never speak a word” (5. 2. Line 309-310). Hugo does not apologize for his actions when the police finally catch up with him. He also refuses to talk and says “I did what I did, and that's all you need to know. From here on out I say nothing.”.
Unlike many of the other characters found in the story whose personalities are completely transformed by their actions (Most notably Othello and Odin, who change and go from being strong, bold and secure to insecure and jealous murderers) Iago and Hugo’s characters remain unchanged by all the actions of the story. They continue to be cruel, mean and unrepentant.
Like in Shakespeare’s time, jealousy is one of the biggest driving forces for many vices. The ideas in Shakespeare’s Othello still as valid today as they were in his time. The movie ‘O’ is proof of this and it shows exactly how this emotion can shape one’s life and destroy a future that could have otherwise been bright. It is today as common as it was in years past, just like love and sorrow.
Works Cited
Jacobsen, Ken. Iago's Art of War: The "Machiavellian Moment" In Othello. Modern Philology
106.3 (2009): 497-529. Literary Reference Center Plus. Web. 19 July 2013.
Kaaya, Brad. Dir. Tim Blake Nelson. Perf. Mekhi Phifer. Prod. Eric Gitter. O. Lionsgate,New
York. 2001.
Shakespeare, William. "Othello." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and
Writing. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. Twelfth ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. 1290
1391. Print.
Wood, Sam. Where Iago Lies: Home, honesty and the Turk in Othello. Early Modern Literary
Studies 14.3 (2009). Literature Resource Center. Web. 19 July 2013.
