Is it possible to love without jealousy? Of course it is not. All people are jealous but one can manage it, another one cannot overcome its destructive power. Now let’s trace the feeling of jealousy in the play “Othello the Moor of Venice” written by William Shakespeare. Nobody can deny the fact that Othello surrenders himself over to influence of such incinerating jealousy. A just question arises up. What impels Othello to kill Desdemona? What actually make people to be blinded by jealousy and transform from loving person in a cruel animal? A fear to be deceived, humiliated and abandoned provokes us to do unjustified actions.
It should be noted that Othello is a man with a well-developed imagination. Besides, he is a very trustful person. Such trustfulness actually stimulates envious schemers to take advantage of Othello’s trust in order to mislead him and turn against his wife. Iago is a bright embodiment of envious representatives who understands that every husband is afraid of wife’s adultery and he is going to persuade Othello in Desdemona’s infidelity. It should be argued that he managed to incarnate his insidious plan in life. Othello is discouraged by suspicions and does not believe his wife any more. He believes only Iago and thinks him to be an honest person who deserves trust. Nevertheless, jealousy pierces not only Othello. This insuperable feeling reaches to Roderigo who loves Desdemona and is envious with Othello because of jealousy; Iago is overwhelmed with jealousy to Cassio because Othello appointed Cassio as a lieutenant instead of Iago.
It is evident that Iago manipulates people, he wants everything and at once. Iago pay no attention to people’s feelings, he tries to turn Desdemona’s father against Othello declaring that Othello bewitches Desdemona and has made her marry Othello, he manipulates even his wife and makes her steal the handkerchief which is the symbol of Othello’s and Desdemona’s love. Nothing saint is present for Iago. He destroys everything on his way. Still it should be unfairly to blame only Iago.
Othello’s Jealousy Leads to Death
Othello loves his wife very much asserting Desdemona “lov’d me for the dangers I had pass’d, And I lov’d her that she did pity them.” ( Shakespeare scene III). Why does Othello disbelieve her beloved? Who is to blame? One cannot but mention the fact that Othello is an Afro-American general who is alien to Venetian society. Despite it he marries Desdemona who is a Caucasian girl. William Shakespeare wrote his play at a time of racial unrest. The author intentionally depicts Othello an Afro-American. The writer calls society to stop judge people according to the color of their skin. It is a prejudice and people should get rid of it. Othello is just a victim of manipulations and love affairs produced by Iago. He could not resist destroying him force of jealousy. Unfortunately this feeling burned him out. Jealousy, in its turn, generates anger, fear, offense and other destroying personality feelings. It could be unfair to justify Othello. His jealousy kills his wife though he loves her very much and finally kills himself. Speaking about reasons of Othello’s crime it should be appropriately to mention a complex of jealousy and offended honor. He considered her to be an ideal wife, an embodiment of fidelity. Suddenly there is an evidence of her betrayal. Of course it hurts Othello to the innermost of his heart. He realizes that he has lost his beloved and is furious about this fact. Nevertheless, how could Othello kill her if he loves her so much? Maybe this love is doomed on bringing pain and sufferings. It is essential to admit that Othello not only loves Desdemona he wants to control her life, he considered her to be his property. She should be only his otherwise he would kill her. People should be merciful but not vindictive. Othello could not manage with all challenges sent by his fate and succumbed to temptation.
His love perishes from a collision with the world of ambition and profit incarnated in Iago. A catastrophe that takes place is conditioned in equal degree by the actions of Iago and the character of Othello who rejected suggestions of Iago for long time, keeping head and clarity of mind but did not made to surrender before irrefutable reasons that presented. Othello feels the greatest insult inflicted to absolute veracity and mutual trust connecting him and Desdemona. Othello could not carry Desdemona’s “falsity” because he considers it not as offense for itself but also as an objective evil. Therefore he kills her as a judge, as avenger for a human truth. The greatest Othello’s suffering is a loss of faith in Desdemona’s honesty and in possibility of honesty on earth in general. But when Iago’s deception disrobes this faith goes back to Othello and he leaves life having lost price for him after Desdemona’s death clarified and becalmed. Othello believes in good and truth, he is full of generosity and trustfulness. Although Othello becomes a victim of his trustfulness still morally he appears a winner in a play. Othello’s greatness becomes apparent because of having believed the villain and committing crime he punishes himself severely.
Thus, we understand that jealousy is a destructive power which takes away good people who do not deserve it. Our life is full of temptations and that’s why we should be aware of people who provoke us and wanted to manipulate our feelings. It is necessary to believe people loving you and then everything will be OK. Othello could not manage. Nevertheless, he could confess his errors and repented.