The Theme of Jealousy in Othello by William Shakespeare
Othello is a unique tragedy in that it focuses on the destruction of love through sexual
jealousy. Jealousy is not inherited in a person, but developed from the fatal factors of their
character. Othello is plagued with his ego and pride which contributes to his demise. Othello is,
however, a truly romantic character because he is very passionate and full of deep feelings. It keeps
a person wondering what could have possibly brought the sweet Desdemona to be his wife. Was it
because he has lived a life of adventure and war and he is somewhat exotic due to his origins and
dark complexion? On the other hand, is it because she fell head over heels in love with him because
he represented all that was noble and strong. She tells her father, Brabantio, that she fell in love
with his character and the wonderful stories that he has told her about his life. Whatever the case
may be, Desdemona represents the innocence, truth and goodness of the play. She truly represents
the goodness and light associated with "true love." Her father troubled by her love for Othello
insists that she abandon her love for the Moor and obey his wishes. She tells Brabantio how she
loves him according to her bond. "My father I do perceive here a divided duty. To you I am bound
for the life and education; My life and education both do learn me How to respect you. You are the
lord of duty; I am hitherto your daughter. But here's my Husband, And so much duty as my mother
showed To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to
the Moor my lord!" This young beautiful and bold women asks the Duke if she c...
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...at kind of behavior in his Lieutenant. Desdemona
pleads his case to Othello, because she knows him to be a good man. Iago uses the fact that
Desdemona is interceding on Cassio?s behalf, to further convince Othello that Desdemona is
cheating on him, with Cassio. He hopes this will remove Cassio and open up the way for him to
become Lieutenant.. Othello could always wonder if Desdemona really loved him, or if she was
just using him to rebel against her father. With Iago constantly putting these ideas in his head,
Othello was convinced to kill his wife. Often, reputations and a person?s true character are very
different. People rely on their previous experiences or knowledge of others to make judgments
about them. Iago used this to his advantage to manipulate everyone.
Bibliography:
1. Funk and wagnalls new encyclopedia
But as concerns you, my daughter, who are so dear to me / I would be liable to great blame and reproach / If I were to lead you on the beaten path, / Seeing that your heart is born into virtue.
as an extra plan Iago is making Othello trust in him because only a good friend
her love in relation to their filial bond. Although her father views this as a
The William Shakespeare tragedy Othello features various types of love, but none compare to the love we find between the protagonist and his wife. In this essay let us examine “love” as found in the play.
Desdemona represents many characteristics throughout the play Othello. The attributes of one such as Desdemona appear to be the perfect qualities that a woman can possess. Yet it is these same seemingly wonderful qualities that turn against their host, blinding them to the realities of society. Her trust in her husband does not allow her to see the beast he has become. Her loyalty to her friends blurs how the relationship may be seen from outside sources. Overall, this “perfect” Desdemona leads herself to her death, yet has no knowledge of doing so while on her life's journey. She leads on the perfect life, but in the end shows to every extent, that not everything can last forever. Not even your own loyalty to a relationship can last forever.
Before coming directly to the forming of the love-theme that differentiates Othello from other Shakespeare plays that utilize the same theme, I turn arbitrarily to Iago to inspect a distinguishing mark of his of which the relevance to thematic form in the play will appear a little later. When Iago with unperceived scoffing reminds Roderigo, who is drawn with merciless attraction to the unreachable Desdemona, that love effects an unwonted nobility in men, he states a doctrine which he “knows” is true but in which he may not “believe.” Ennoblement by love is a real possibility in men, but Iago has to view it with bitterness and to try to undermine it. (333-34)
The love between Othello and Desdemona is a great venture of faith. He is free; she achieves her freedom, and at a great cost. Shakespeare, in creating the figure of her wronged father, who dies of grief at her revolt, sharpened and heightened, as everywhere, the story in the source. Her disobedience and deception of him perhaps cross her mind at Othello’s ominous ‘Think on thy sins.’ If so, she puts the thought aside with ‘They are loves I bear you.’ . . . Othello is a drama of passion and runs to the time of passion; it is also a drama of love which, failing to sustain its height of noon, falls at once to night. (141)
It is apparent that Othello idolizes Desdemona, through the language he uses in describing her as well as how he treats her during their interactions. While most female characters in the play are oppressed and demeaned by their male partners, Othello’s respect for Desdemona is a testament of his feeling inadequate and strive to entice her. Although he has an alterior motive of evading a conviction of witchcraft to win Desdemona’s heart, he confesses to many noblemen including Barbantio, Desdemona’s father, that Desdemona does not love him, just his war stories. Incidentally, his war accomplishments were the only way a man of his background would be able to be so close to a prestigious woman such as Desdemona in a time plagued with so much racism. In the second scene of Act V, Othello has been pushed well beyond his breaking...
When many people decided to sit down and read a book or a play it is because the title or summary entices them. As the story comes to an end it is decided whether or not the person related to or understood the point of the literature. Great authors and playwrights know this and set in place concepts. Many different concepts, to catch different audiences attention and to deepen the understanding of the literature. In order to understand Shakespeare’s play Othello, it is necessary to examine the emotions of jealousy, manipulation, being consumed by something, and gender.
As Othello is known in the play as the Moor, he often faces discrimination that his peers did not face. When Brabantio finds out that Othello married his daughter, he claims that Othello must have “enchanted her” (1.2.64) and that his daughter “…t’incur[ed] a general mock,” (1.2.70) by “run[ning] from her guardage to the sooty bosom.” (1.2.71) In other words, Brabantio is saying that he is in disbelief as to why Desdemona would marry a Moor when her socioeconomic status was so much higher. As a result of being treated as an inferior due to skin colour, Othello puts more weight on honour and reputation. Since his high ranking position in the army set him apart from other Moors, he uses it as compensation towards many aspects of his life such as marriage. For example, Othello associates the “…services which [he] has done the seignniory” (1.2.17) to Brabantio’s criticisms about him. Othello knows that his position holds power, and he is able to confidently articulate why he is suitable candidate to marry Desdemona. Unfortunately, Othello’s confidence does not last later in the play when his honour is suddenly threatened by presumptions that Desdemona is engaged in unfaithful acts. Soon thereafter, he loses his
In William Shakespeare’s Othello, unspoken fears of being an outsider and concerns about his public image contribute to the downfall of a tragic hero named Othello. Othello, a general in the Venetian army’s, final monologue reflects the importance of reputation and the conformity needed to fit his surroundings. He is seen as an outsider of the Venetian culture; he is frequently referred to as “the Moor” and is called an abundance of racial slurs by the Venice born natives. Although Othello never voices his internal struggle to feel accepted by the people around him, his image and physical appearance are some of major issues he faces. Even in the moments before he stabs himself, Othello is more concerned with the legacy he is leaving behind than with the death of his wife, Desdemona. Shakespeare uses Othello’s transformation from a heroic military soldier to a tragic figure to warn of the dangers of obsessing over one’s reputation and the need to feel accepted by society.
As explained in the last paragraph, love is one of the major emotions in Othello. In the play, the actions committed by characters consumed by love are greatly amplified. Two characters that exemplify this are Othello and Desdemona. Throughout the first two acts, some of their actions are unrealistic for a couple in love. Take this quote, for example: ?Brabantio: Raise all my kindred! Are they married, think you? / Roderigo: Truly I think they are. / Brabantio: O heaven! How got she out? O treason of the blood!? (I:i:166-168). Othello and Desdemona are so consumed by love that they elope with no intention of telling anyone else, as evidenced by Brabantio?s reaction in the quote. They just acted according to their love without thinking of the effects of their elopement. Roderigo is also a prime example of how an emotion like love has near complete control of the characters? actions in the play. Roderigo is in love with Desdemona, and it seems that his actions are almost solely dri...
One of the first impressions gained of Othello is that he is a great war hero. Before much else is said of him, tales of his skill and valor in battle are illustrated and he is shown to be a great and famed warrior. He naturally possesses many attributes typically associated with soldiers. From the beginning Othello is noble, quick to act, judicious, trusting, and gives much weight to the importance of duty. These are all traits that serve to make him great at the beginning of the play, and later, ironically become key elements in his downfall. These aspects can be considered the internal causes of Othello’s tragic flaw. “Othello's nature is all of one piece. His trust, where he trusts, is absolute…. Love, if he loves, must be to him the heaven where either he must leave or bear no life. If such a passion as jealousy seizes him, it will swell into a well-night incontrollable flood.” Othello is pure an...
Consoling her grandmother she says, “Amma, I’m here, I’m your daughter, Amma, I’m your son, I’m here with you, Amma, I’m here . . .” (233).And with her accommodation to break and abutment her grandmother, Aru accepted her grandmother’s beforehand assertion, “Daughters don’t belong. All three of you birds will fly away to your own nests” (198), wrong and validates her declaration, “I’m not going anywhere, Amma” (198). She demonstrates that ‘daughters as well belong’ and if bearing demands they can cut beyond the borders of their gender role. They are as well able of administration all array of plan done by man. They can reside on their own, after any advice or support from their