Love in Othello

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Recommended: Critical analysis of Othello

Love in Othello

However strong the emotional attitude of prejudices may be in Othello, Love is the most powerful emotion and ironically the emotion that leads to the most vulnerability. Loves of all kinds are tested in the tragedy and ultimately all fail to rectify the horrible situation. Marital love for Othello and Desdemona serve as both a heaven and a hell on earth. As Othello portrays by saying,

If I were now to die

'Twere now to be most happy; for I fear

My soul hath her content so absolute

That not another comfort like unto

Succeeds in unknown fate. (act 2.1 188-191)

Such statement gives mixed messages suggesting happiness yet weariness about the future. Susan Snyder has cited the same irony in Othello’s statement "… Othello celebrate his peak of joy, yet so markedly his invocations of death and fear make us apprehensive" ("Beyond the Comedy" Critical interpretations 24). Emilia’s love for her husband, Iago, leaves her nothing but regret and deep despair. Emilia, out of love for her husband, Iago, betrays Desdemona and steals her precious handkerchief. Emilia does this "to please Iago’s fancy"( 3.3 lines 290-295). By the time Emilia realizes her horrible mistake, Desdemona is dead which could possibly be partly due to Emilia's misgivings. Cassio’s love and admiration for Othello leaves him constantly striving to regain Othello’s love and respect. Even after being demoted by Othello, Cassio still loves and shows the utmost respect for Othello by saying "I would rather sue to be despised than to deceive/ so good a commander with… so drunken…officer." Love is the central emotional attitude in the play, Othello. Yet, love does not help the characters workout their problems.

Feelings of insecurities, in th...

... middle of paper ...

...aims, " In other word the play undoes what it does: It turns a heroic Moor into a villainous Moor…"(Introduction, Critical Essays, 2). This is exactly what Shakespeare wanted to prove, that love can turn to hate and admiration can turn to jealousy. Most importantly, Shakespeare demonstrated that everything good in life may turn into something bad.

Othello is a tragedy about human nature and relationships. One critic has written that the love of Othello and Desdemona is like the love of Adam and Eve before and after the fall (Barthelemy, Introduction Critical Essays 12). This is true because Othello commits a horrific act out of jealousy and self-insecurities. However he learns from his mistakes and regrets his actions. Shakespeare, through Othello, reminds humans how vulnerable they truly are and that they must accept themselves and other people as they are.

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