Othello's Psychological Degradation

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Mental health is crucial to human behaviour as it affects emotional, psychological and social well-being. Unfortunately, there are various factors that have the ability to negatively impact a person's mental stability. Any form of decreasing psychological capacity can be extremely destructive to the individual, and their surroundings. In the play, Othello by William Shakespeare, the psychological degradation of the male characters furthers the plot development as it is the cause of their demise. It is through their experiences of jealousy, revenge and passion which result in their mental deterioration. The downfall of the male characters is due to their psychological degradation caused by jealousy. Firstly, jealousy causes the characters …show more content…

Cassio is the former lieutenant of the Venetian army, and after witnessing his admission, Othello commands Iago to his assassination. This quotation shows how Othello’s jealousy drives him to adopt uncharacteristic, murderous behaviour. Thus, Othello's intense feelings of jealousy lead him to experience cognitive deterioration, which can be evidenced by his change in conduct, and it is this newfound hostile behaviour which entices his destruction. Furthermore, the feeling of jealousy also causes the characters to become desperate. This is introduced in Act 1 when Roderigo says that “It is silliness to live when to live is torment; and then / have we a prescription to die when death is our physician” (1.3.308-309). In this quotation, Roderigo, a Venetian man who loves Desdemona, Othello’s wife, has just found out that she will be parting to Cyprus with Othello. In this scene, Roderigo tells Iago about his extreme despair at having heard the news, and his sudden will to end his …show more content…

Firstly, the pursuit of revenge causes the characters to lose sight of reality. This can be witnessed when Iago says “nothing can or shall content my soul / Till I am even’d with him, wife for wife” (2.1.286-287). Iago is Othello’s ancient, and he speaks these words in a soliloquy after having witnessed the strength of the love between Othello and his wife Desdemona. Iago swears to get revenge on Othello and ruin his marriage, due to a rumour that Othello has slept with Emilia, Iago’s wife. Iago’s obsession with revenge obstructs his ability to think logically and consider the likelihood that the rumour is untrue. Thus, Iago's escaping grasp of reality as a result of his obsession with revenge, causes him to reveal his narcissistic characteristics to the audience, which prove not only his psychological degradation but also reveal his intentions which lead to his demise. Furthermore, revenge also causes the characters to become irrational. This is demonstrated when Othello says “I’ll tear her all to pieces” (3.3.432). This quotation depicts the moment in the play where Othello becomes convinced that his wife, Desdemona, has been unfaithful, due to testimony by Cassio. Therefore, Othello swears to Iago that he will seek revenge for her infidelity by murdering her. Othello's lack of willingness to discuss the issue with Desdemona demonstrates how his search for

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