Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Apology For The Character And Conduct Of Iago.
If we allow this interpretation , Othello added insult to injury . Whatever stress may be laid on this circumstance , it certainly required no common degree of Christian charity tp forgive such treatment as Iago had experienced from the Moor . But what excuse , it may be said , is there for his behaviour tp Cassio ? He never personally injured him ; nor does it appear that he
had , at any time , endeavoured to supplant Iago , though he was fortunatel y preferred before him . I cannot , however , allow that lie had no cause for resentment against Cassio . He suspects him no less than Othello of a criminal intercourse with iEmilia : ( act ii . sc . S . ) and ' revenge , though contrary to the precepts of the gospelis not so stronglprohibited by
, y the military code of honour . Again : though it does not appear that he had attempted to supplant Iago , yet the circumstance alone of his undeserved promotion over him , must have kindled in his breast , unless endowed with the apathy of a stoic or the meekness of a saint , some sparks of anger and indignation against the successful rival as well as the unjust
patron . On this point , I believe , I might with safety appeal to the officers of the British army ; to those who , like Iago , having signalized themselves in the field , have met with the approbation of their General , who witnessed their exploits , and honoured then ) with apparent friendship . If in such circumstances , some young man , some meer 'bookish theorique , ' was promoted over them , would they
feel no disgust , no indignation at the person so promoted ? Can they conceive many circumstances more likel y to kindle such resentment as mi ght be fatal , or more excusable , if attended with such effects ? It would have been certainly much more noble in Iago to have suppressed his resentment against Othello and Cassio ; and wiser , probably , to have winked at the frailties of . / Emilia ; but many allowances ought surely to be made for the imperfections of human nature , when placed in trying situations : and why should not Iago be entitled to the benefit of this plea as well as more exalted characters ?
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Apology For The Character And Conduct Of Iago.
If we allow this interpretation , Othello added insult to injury . Whatever stress may be laid on this circumstance , it certainly required no common degree of Christian charity tp forgive such treatment as Iago had experienced from the Moor . But what excuse , it may be said , is there for his behaviour tp Cassio ? He never personally injured him ; nor does it appear that he
had , at any time , endeavoured to supplant Iago , though he was fortunatel y preferred before him . I cannot , however , allow that lie had no cause for resentment against Cassio . He suspects him no less than Othello of a criminal intercourse with iEmilia : ( act ii . sc . S . ) and ' revenge , though contrary to the precepts of the gospelis not so stronglprohibited by
, y the military code of honour . Again : though it does not appear that he had attempted to supplant Iago , yet the circumstance alone of his undeserved promotion over him , must have kindled in his breast , unless endowed with the apathy of a stoic or the meekness of a saint , some sparks of anger and indignation against the successful rival as well as the unjust
patron . On this point , I believe , I might with safety appeal to the officers of the British army ; to those who , like Iago , having signalized themselves in the field , have met with the approbation of their General , who witnessed their exploits , and honoured then ) with apparent friendship . If in such circumstances , some young man , some meer 'bookish theorique , ' was promoted over them , would they
feel no disgust , no indignation at the person so promoted ? Can they conceive many circumstances more likel y to kindle such resentment as mi ght be fatal , or more excusable , if attended with such effects ? It would have been certainly much more noble in Iago to have suppressed his resentment against Othello and Cassio ; and wiser , probably , to have winked at the frailties of . / Emilia ; but many allowances ought surely to be made for the imperfections of human nature , when placed in trying situations : and why should not Iago be entitled to the benefit of this plea as well as more exalted characters ?