Tina: Friend or Foe?

               One of the most universally strongly disliked type of person is one whom we all have known at one point in our lives. It's not the tyrant. Not the hypocrite or the landlord. Not the liar (well perhaps to some degree...). It isn't even the criminal, no. No no, friends. It is someone who can hurt us far worse than that. It is...

The backstabber.

back·stab  [bak-stab]  Show IPA
verb (used with object), back·stabbed, back·stab·bing.to attempt to discredit (a person) by underhanded means, as innuendo, accusation, or the like.
Dictionary.reference.com

               Remember? Back in 2-6 grade or so, that one girl or guy who was your absolute "BFF"? Whether it was the stolen love interest or the snide behind-your-back comment, they knifed you, and it hurt.  Also, there are those who simply use you for their own personal gains, often not to your benefit. There are the backstabbers who live to dirty your reputation because they can and feel like it. My personal favorite is the two-faced backstabber. A brilliant representation of this type of character is Iago, from Shakespeare's Othello. 

1995 version of Othello, with Laurence Fishburne and Kenneth Branagh. Iago (right) Othello (left)

               I was very intrigued with Iago's character. A perpetually scheming man, Iago seems to live for the sole purpose of ruining the lives of others. He just manipulates people but he's so good at it that they don't even realize that they are being duped. They believe that he truly is their friend and only wishes to help them. Ever since we started reading Othello I've just been on the look out for new ways Iago going to mess with their lives. It sounds childish when I say it, 'mess" with them. It seems like a very important aspect of Othello, all the backstabbing that is sure to ensue. I look forward to gaining a deeper insight about Iago and his mysterious character.
               On a side-note, not all people who seem like backstabbers are bad people, or backstabbers at all. One of my favorite stories/movie is Hercules. Meg, the supporting actress character supposedly lives for her own benefit. I love how at first she couldn't have cared less about Hercules but then gains his trust only to lose it again when Hades is unhappy with her work ability. There are two backstabbers in this story line. The perceived backstabber, who in this case is Meg and the actual backstabber, Hades lord of the Dead. Hades leaves Meg for dead in that giant pool of lost/damned souls even after all her hard work. Meg was claimed to be a backstabber by first timers watching the movie for the first time because of how she caused Hercules to lose all his power (not to mention TRUST in her.). In the end though there is a happy ending and Meg comes out victorious in love but for awhile, Phil, Hercules's satyr mentor, didn't believe her goodness. I liked Meg because she was obviously heavily conflicted about tricking Hercules.I'm glad she chose to deny Hades.