In Euripides' dismal play Medea, the great tragedy is driven by Medea's malevolence after Jason's self-righteous actions. Medea's impetuous passion quickly transforms her love for Jason to an intense and utter hatred, thus fuelling her malevolent and vindictive nature. It is this that primarily drives Medea to murder her children. Yet, it is only after Jason's selfish and self-righteous acts to leave Medea that this fuel is sparked. Had Jason not left Medea, or even more sympathetic to her position, such a tragedy may not have been initiated.
Godfrey discusses that Iago has jealousy towards any kind of love and happiness. Godfrey’s first point he makes is that Iago knows that jealousy will ruin Othello. He knows that with jealousy, comes irrationality. This irrationality controls and takes over its victim, consuming their thoughts and clouding their judgment of rationality. This is exactly what Iago wants to happen to the Othello.
In “In following him, I follow but myself”, Iago reveals his plan to Roderigo and shows his deception and malicious deceit to Othello. Iago’s malicious acts of jealous are also motivated by the fear of the fragility of his reputation, so he sets out to protect what he has wired vigorously to achieve. “I hate the Moor.” Iago confesses to the audience in his soliloquy. And it is thought abroad that “He’s done my office. I know not if’t be true”.
Montresor seeks the destruction of his rival due to Fortunato's insult. The need for revenge, in these stories, is shown to hurt other people emotionally and physically. Both these stories exemplify the dark side of human nature. Revenge can overwhelm a person, and become the single most important objective in their life. Throughout the short story "A Cask of Amontillado" Edgar Allan Poe, develops the feelings of revenge, held by the central character Montresor.
A major difference between the two are the motives. The characters motive in the Tell Tale Heart is that the old mans "hideous" eye had agrivated and disgusted him and it got to him so much that he felt he had to kill him. It was nothing against the old man though. In the Cask of Amontillado his motive is that of revenge. Montressor is getting Fortunato back for the many embarrassments and insults he has imposed on him.
Lastly, Pearl’s abandonment from her father and isolation from society brings about the evil she demonstrates. Arguably, the Puritanical conception of sin confuses these main characters’ knowledge of the nature of evil. Hester and Dimmesdale’s adultery leads to Chillingworth’s transformation into a sinister being as he attempts to impose Puritanical evil on them. For example, Chillingworth’s idea of evil, influenced by the Puritans, helps him decide how to punish the lovers explaining, "I [will leave] thee to the scarlet letter. If that [has] not avenged me, I can do no more!"
This creates the envy that sought out to destroy Billy’s life. He accuses Billy for trying to star a mutiny and tried to convict him of high treason. This envy that Claggart is submerged in, clouds his good judgment and creates a quagmire for Billy. The envy grew in Claggart so much that Billy could not bare it anymore.
The carefully calculated hints of infidelity, his echoing Othello’s “Honest, my lord?” “Think, my lord?” does not merely state, but essentially plants the seed of jealousy in Othello’s mind, this in turn developing and branching off into further deeds such as irrational actions. After Iago’s manipulation and Othello’s misinterpretation of the scene regarding the handkerchief, Othello asks “How shall I murder him, Iago?” this effectively contrasting and exposing Othello’s id-like rationality and reaction. This id-like behaviour continues
“ I will cause fear....do I swear inextinguishable hatred....I will work at your destruction....you shall curse the hour of your birth....fiendish rage animated him ”. (Pages 133 and 134 Lines 32-3) Between these two passages, it is seen that the creature is loving and evil at the same time. The creature was made to love and to be able to have feelings just as a human being; despite this, he ultimately chooses the path of evil instead of good. To pick a life of evil instead of good is terrible. This further shows that the wretch is a monster because a life full of revenge and evil is
Some people use their power in a wrong way, and commit crimes because they want even more power that they already have. The blinding act marks a turning point in the play, because some actions like cruelty, betrayal, and even madness may be reversible, but blinding is not. Gloucester reflects the profound despair that drives him to desire his own death, after being blinded by Cornwall and Regan, “As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; they kill us for their sport” (4.1.37–38). More important, he emphasizes one of the play’s principal themes, the question of whether there is justice in the universe. Gloucester’s philosophical musing here offers an outlook of miserable despair, he