Cheat+Sheet+1+-+John+Wain’s+Introduction


 * John Wain’s Introduction **

-Wain’s argument is based on the misunderstanding of characters. -Wain argues that all the characters in the play completely misjudge each other. -Wain never completely takes a side but rather analyses the points made by various critics interpretations, including Leavis and Bradley, among others. -He uses the following quote as an example of one of the many misunderstandings. It is an example of Emilia’s ill founded interpretation of men not being interested in love: “They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; They eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They belch us.” For example; -If Othello understood Desdemona, he would know it simply is not in her nature to cheat. -If Desdemona understood Othello, she would know that he does not understand womanizing, and would go mad at the slightest inclination of something amiss. -If Emilia understood Iago, she would know of his sadistic nature -The author states that Iago does not even know his own nature until the resolution of the play. -After the first few pages the author ceases to make points of his own, and begins to reference the arguments of previous scholars, specifically, Leavis and Bradley. -He states that, “Othello is the least heroic of Shakespeare’s heroes.” -He tends to lean towards the ideas of Leavis. -That said, he still makes reference to the arguments made by Bradley and compares their validity. -He says that Iago does not properly understand his own motivations, citing the reference to the rumour of Othello “doing his office.” -He thinks he is doing it for love, and desire for Desdemona. -He also references a critic named Hazlitt, who states that Iago is an anarchist doing that for his own enjoyment -Hazlitt believes that Iago is jealous of Cassio because he thinks that he could never be as good as him, and therefore did not get the promotion that Cassio did. Iago blames this on his lack of education compared to Cassio, and thus feels inadequate. -The Author also makes reference to Laurence Olivier who played Iago in 1938, in which Iago is represented as a repressed homosexual, who is attempting to break up Desdemona and Othello’s relationship in order that he may be able to show his love for Othello. The critic suggested that it is likely not to be the case and sticks with a more conventional belief of Iago’s characterization (Jealousy of Desdemona and Cassio’s position.