Jealousy and Hate in Othello, Essay

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This intellectual error thus prevents Othello from thinking clearly about his wife after Iago has planted the idea that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. Furthermore, "The Fall of Othello," John Arthos notes, "Othello fell into chaos before the murder was done" (95). Othello's confusion is evident as he tells Iago, "I think my wife be honest and think she is not;/I think that thou art just and think thou art not (Shakespeare 3.3.385-386). Iago manipulates Othello into believing women cannot be trusted based on his own prejudices against them. Iago, in a conversation with his wife Emilia claims that women "are pictures out of doors,/Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens,/Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,/Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds" (2.1.111-114).

Iago further exploits Othello's uncertainties about Desdemona to the point where he eventually convinces him that he must kill Desdemona for her "infidelity." After Desdemona inadvertently loses a handkerchief, which Othello later claims is enchanted, she puts herself in a position that raises the utmost suspicion, and irrevocably alters how Othello perceives his wife. As Desdemona is continuously chastised without reason, she can only defend herself by stating "I have not deserved this," as she is never given the proper forum to voice her concerns or explain herself (4.1.252).

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Desdemona becomes one of Iago's targets because he does not respect women and thus believes that they should be manipulated as they manipulate others. Desdemona was never able to establish her true identity with Othello because she was not allowed to due to both his stubbornness and the lies Iago fed him. Ultimately, Iago is able to successfully convince Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful, and is actually encouraged by his "loyal" friend to murder Desdemona when she cannot produce the handkerchief. Iago suggests, "Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even/the bed she hath contaminated," which Othello agrees upon (4.1.197-198).

Othello realizes too late that he has been manipulated by Iago and has had his love for Desdemona exploited. Othello laments he was "one not easily jealous; but being wrought/Perplex'd in the extreme" (5.2.395). Othello put his trust in the one person who could not and should not have been trusted, Iago, and disregarded his instincts as a military leader and husband. In the end, Iago has not only successfully taken everything away from Othello, but has also lost everything he had including his wife and friends, in his futile attempt to be someone he could never be.

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