Reflective Essay Blog Entry

Grace Weisenbach, period 3, Feb. 13, 2012, Reflective Essay

            Situations often arise where people are faced with the opportunity to work hard and be resourceful to succeed, or take advantage of other people instead. Manipulation is a greedy, self-absorbed person’s way of getting what they want. In Shakespeare’s play Othello, Iago uses manipulation as his main tactic to get revenge; however, he ends up causing his own demise when his lies are revealed. Scar, from Disney’s Lion King, also uses deceit and lies to become powerful, but is thwarted when good conquers evil. Similarly, the Wizard in the Broadway Musical Wicked exploits young Elphaba’s strange and unique talents, which causes her to become the Wizard’s biggest fear – the Wicked Witch of the West. As displayed by Iago, Scar, and the Wizard, manipulative and inherently evil plots cause iniquitous characters suffering and defeat in the end.

            Iago’s cruel intentions were unseen by almost every character throughout all of Othello, just as no citizen of Oz every suspected the Wizard to be corrupted enough to misuse Elphaba’s gift of magic. Roderigo is used to do Iago’s dirty work throughout the play. He is manipulated to a point where he would willingly kill Cassio.  Iago never thought taking advantage of Roderigo would come back to haunt him, until the letters found in Roderigo’s pockets by Lodovico reveal Iago’s entire twisted plan to rise to power (V.i.87-88,115). Iago’s plan came crumbling down as his manipulative acts stopped succeeding. The Wizard in Wicked planned on abusing Elphaba’s magical powers to make himself seem powerful, as well as for his own enjoyment. He did not take into consideration that she may catch on to the evil she was being forced into creating.  “Sure, I meant well…So be it then, let all Oz be agreed I'm wicked through and through” (Wicked: A New Musical) were Elphaba’s exact words when she realized she had been unknowingly using her powers for evil. Elphaba vowed to haunt the city of Oz after being taken advantage of by an evil force; in the same way, Roderigo’s letters convicted Iago after he realized that Iago was lying and scheming the entire time. Both guileful characters were exposed and inevitably harmed by their decisions to manipulate innocent characters.

             Evil being conquered by good is a common theme among many stories; nonetheless, malevolent actions catching up to the villain and causing their downfall brings even more justice. Iago’s well organized plot, which seemed to be fool-proof, is what causes his collapse. Simba’s evil uncle Scar in Disney’s Lion King plots to take over the Prideland by the same conniving plan used by Iago- playing the role of “good guy” while secretly destroying lives. Both villains are guilty of continuing their manipulation and trying to place the blame for their crimes on other characters. Iago shows false sympathy for Cassio and reprimands Bianca and Roderigo for allegedly causing Cassio’s wounds (V.ii.322-326). Scar’s life is in the hands of his noble nephew Simba when he screams, “But, Simba, I am family. It's the hyenas who are the real enemy. It was their fault. It was their idea” (The Lion King). These two villains both try to maintain their guiltless facades until they are forced to concede. The true sign that Iago, Scar, and the Wizard of Oz are cowardly villains is their lack of preparation for any sort of obstacle in their plan. Once one aspect of their motives was revealed, they could do nothing but watch their effort crumble and brace themselves for their self-made consequences.

Works Cited Page

The Lion King. Dir. Roger Allers. Perf. Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew 

         Broderick. Walt Disney Pictures, 1994. Videocassette.

Perrine, Lauerence. “Othello.” Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense.   

         Fort Worth. Hartcourt College. 2002. 1362-462. Print.

Wicked: A New Musical. By Stephen Schwartz. Gershwin Theatre, New York. 30   

          Oct. 2003. Performance.