Othello Struggles In Marriage Essay

Submitted By Tate-Kennedy
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The role of Jealousy in Othello

The main character in the play Othello is a Christian Moor and general of the armies of Venice named Othello. Othello and his wife Desdemona, the daughter of the Venetian senator Brabanzio, are presented with many impediments in marriage. Jealousy is one of the many impediments to a marriage that would be the main component to the downfall in Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. In result of the how Othello faced the obstacle of jealousy, their marriage failed and left both of them dead at the end of the play.
Throughout Othello, jealousy is very evident. The tragedy focuses on the downfall of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage as a result of jealousy. In Othello, jealousy is mainly portrayed by the two main characters: Iago and Othello. Iago, known as the antagonist of the play, is the one who plants the seed jealousy into the mind of Othello. After the night that Cassio becomes intoxicated and embarrasses himself in front of Othello, Cassio decides to speak with Desdemona. Cassio ask asks her to speak with Othello on his behalf. Wanting the quarrel to be resolved, Desdemona agrees to speak of his behalf with Othello. Later on, Othello and Iago enter and Cassio, who is ashamed and embarrassed of his antics the previous night hugs Desdemona and departs. Iago seizes the chance to make an undermining comment and says, “Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it that he would steal away so guilty-like seeing you coming.”(3.3.) These words further insinuate that if that were Cassio, he wouldn’t sneak away looking so guilty when he saw Othello coming. Iago is pretending to be a man who cannot believe what he sees, but really he is inserting jealousy into Othello’s subconscious.
Othello’s insecurities start to hatch open and he fears that Brabantio was right. As earlier mentioned by Brabantio, it was unnatural for Desdemona to love him, being that he is a moor and that their marriage could not last. Othello contemplates his marriage and it’s authenticity. He ponders the thought that he could be tricked and be married to a women who is already bored and looking at other men, maybe a Venetian man who is not away from home all the time at war like Othello. Othello tries to convince himself that she is loyal and that their marriage is honest. When Iago speaks with him, he recalls that Desdemona deceived her own father once. Desdemona acted as if she was afraid of Othello and lied to her father, yet “she’d loved them most” (1.2), meaning Othello’s features and appearance. The implication of Iago’s words is that If Desdemona deceived her own flesh and blood; she might as well easily deceive her husband.
After hearing these things about Cassio,
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