Few plot elements inspire as emotional a response in readers as hypocrisy. Not only do readers feel genuine anger at the actions of the hypocritical character, but they also feel deep sympathy for the Hester Prynnes of the stories they read. This tandem of anger and sympathy is a powerful tool an author can use to draw readers into their story, because creating an emotional response in their audience is the best way to identify them with the story. Reader response to these situations is fascinating. Perhaps the reader remembers a time when he was the victim of double-dealing. Perhaps stories about hypocrisy evoke a sense of moral outrage or awaken a sense of justice in the reader. Perhaps the reader is simply fascinated by having a secret that they are unable to reveal. For some reason, authors have carefully woven threads of hypocrisy into the fabric of their stories since the very dawn of literature. Some of the best examples of this skill (like many others) come from the writings of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare's astute observations about human nature, coupled with his incredible craftsmanship with words, created some of the most memorable hypocritical characters in all of literature. From Iago's twisted, jealous hatred in Othello to Angelo's vigorous self-satisfaction in Measure for Measure, we can get a sense of Shakespeare's masterful manipulation of hypocrisy to create a tantalizing tale. Iago and Angelo are complete hypocrites. In Othello, we first meet Iago, a military officer under the command of Othello, a well-respected Moorish captain. Iago's hatred for Othello is revealed in the first lines of the play, when it is revealed that he has been... middle of paper... characters who display hypocrisy. Whether it's anger at the hypocrite or empathy toward the victim, a good author or playwright can capitalize on this tendency but construct a plot with a few hypocritical beams. Shakespeare was a master of such structures, introducing two in Othello and Measure for Measure. Both Iago and Angelo are men of relatively high status whose own hypocrisies lead to their downfall. Iago's hypocrisy permeates every facet of his character, including loyalty, friendships, and marital relationships. Angelo, on the other hand, falls victim to his desires and commits a major hypocritical act, displaying both lust and lawlessness. That both of these plays are motivated by these hypocritical actions is a testament to the ability of hypocrisy to elicit a response from the audience and is a testament to the bard's incomparable playwriting skills..