Evil must first be seen within
Tis here, but yet confused.
Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used”
- Othello Act 2 Scene 1
Dishonest and greedy people will lie to you if it’s in their interest to do so. They will cloak themselves in WHATEVER you want to get you to let down your guard and exploit your weakness, a weakness you likely aren’t even aware of. In 1603 Shakespeare created a whole character Iago, arguably the greatest villain in all literature, based on this particularly malicious form of deception and betrayal.
Rose Armitage’s character in Get Out is a good modern example of this enticing deception. As a pretty white girl, she hunts black men for her family, being the model of progressivism, empathy, and even skepticism of her “so white” family to earn the trust of her “boyfriend” Chris Washington.
Don’t be fooled by those who say “I never saw this coming!”. The reason people say that is because they are hypocrites. There are always signs. You must detect and remove the evil within so you might notice its signs and tricks in others.
This is why so many are blind to malice. They don’t see it coming because they refuse to acknowledge the evil crouching in their own hearts. Evil crouches in the shadows of trauma, resentment, bitterness, and malice. Only from here can it launch its attacks. By taking the log out of your own eye, you may see the speck of evil clearly in your brother’s or sisters.
“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5
And there are always signs.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:5-16
You must become skilled at watching people, wrestling with their character, and testing them.
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1
This is how you avoid becoming a tragedy like Othello and a victim of the Sunken Place like Chris. If you don’t, you won’t see the face of malice until it’s too late.
’Tis here, but yet confused.
Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used”
Watch movies to learn these things. Read Shakespeare. Read Scripture. Thats what they are made for, to allow you to learn from cheap observation and contemplation of characters instead of from expensive, often fatal, trial and error.
“Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse.” Proverbs 2:12
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