Reasons Why Hitler Was Iago In A Past Life

Coincidental comparisons between one of the most evil dictators of all time and Shakespeare's most evil character of all time. Even though Iago is a fictional character and Hitler was real there are significant comparisons between the two. Here are just a few of the comparisons between the characters.

1. The Dictator!

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Just like Hitler, Iago manipulates his way to head straight to the top. Yes, his rank may not have reached "dictator status" like Hitler, but he does have the same impact Hitler had. Both had already convinced people that they were genuine and honest. All they did was plant seeds into people's brains in order to turn everyone against each other.

For Example: Iago implies that Desdemona is unfaithful to make Othello question whether she is cheating on him or not.

2. Undying Evil

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Regardless of how awful they were as people. EVERYONE knows them. When was the last time someone asked you.. Who's Iago? or Who's Hitler? People know the names. What they did when they were alive is never erased! Their evil is never dead! I mean.. You never here people say , "wow... that holocaust man, well its in the past now.. whatever bro it happened!" Even at the end of Othello, Othello admits that what Iago did will never die. Othello says, "If thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee." (5.2)

3. Hitler = Anti-Semitic and Iago = Racist

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Both use racist or anti-semitic ideas to give people more of a reason to turn against someone. Hitler blames the Jews for the misfortunes of Germany because he knows people already have anti-semitic thoughts against them. Same happens in Othello, Iago highlights the fact that Othello is black in order to make Barbantio disapprove of his marriage with Desdemona even more than he already does.

4. Iago and Hitler Reference Those They Hate As The Devil

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In "Mein Kamp" Hitler makes consistent references to the what he believes is the devil. He refers to Jews as being devilish. He actually says, "the personification of the devil as the symbol of all evil assumes the living shape of the Jew." Iago does this as well, when he talks about Othello. Through out the play he makes references to hell and evil. For example, Iago says, " Hell and night, must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light" (1.3)

5. Homosexuality? Iago and Othello?

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Whether you are reading history books on Hitler or diving into Iago's devious mind in Othello, historians and critics have questioned Hitler and Iago's sexuality. Some have argued that both could possible be homosexual.

6. Pray On The Weak

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Iago and Hitler both tend to pray on the weakness that people have. Iago uses the fact that Roderigo is slow in order to use him for his money. Iago says, "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse" (1.3) Iago also does this to Cassio and Othello because Cassio's weakness is drinking alcohol and Othello's weakness is his jealousy. Hitler just takes advantage of the fact that the general population in Germany is weak and is looking for an answer.

7. Death Of Innocent People

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Hitler and Iago may not have been personally responsible for all deaths when they were alive. However, it is because of them that people unnecessarily die. Hitler was indirectly responsible for around 50-70 million deaths. The majority had not done anything wrong besides be something that Hitler did not like. Iago may not have been responsible for 50-70 million deaths, but the people who did die in Othello were people that Iago simply did not like. For example, Desdemona is unaware of what is to come she senses that she will die, she does nothing wrong through out the entire play. She says, "If I do die before thee, prythee, shroud me in one of those same sheets" (4.3)

8. Loyal Wives

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Even with Iago and Hitler causing a lot of problems. They had wives that stayed with them. It was not until everything was revealed that the women in their lives turned against them. Both Emilia and Eva Braun did not necessarily believe that their husbands were doing anything particularly wrong. It is not until the end of their own lives that both women see their men for what they truly are. Eva Braun and Emilia both died due to there husbands' actions. Eva Braun committed suicide with her Hitler after people began to start going after him. Emilia was killed by Iago after people began to go after him.

9. REJECTED!

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Both Hitler and Iago are rejected whenever they wanted something. Hitler originally wanted to be an artist but was denied from the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. Historians pay attention to this fact because Hitler's friend, August Kubizek,wrote that after Adolf received his rejection letter, Hitler launched into a tirade. August said "his face was livid, the mouth quite small, the lips almost white. But the eyes glittered. There was something sinister about them. As if all the hate of which he was capable lay in those glowing eyes." It was as if that moment was the start of Hitler's evil ways. It is similar to Iago because once Othello gives a higher position to Cassio rather than him he decides to plot revenge.