MICIAH WHAYLAND

Othello
Othello is the most famous literary work from Shakespeare. The
play mainly focuses on the severity of jealousy and how
dangerous it can be. The play shows how jealousy is fueled by
false tellings which bring anger out in people.
Othello loses everything, reputation, love and life because he
cannot control the emotion of jealousy when it is introduced in his
world. He had never fallen in love before because he says from
year to year the battles, sieges, fortunes, that I have passd (I-ii).
What he means when he says that is ever since he was 7 years
old he was fighting in wars. He never had time to love or meet
any women. Iago begins to fill Othellos head with untruthful
things such as if you promise not to get jealous, you should
watch Desdemona with Cassio, but objectively not out of
jealousy. Othello was persuaded by what Iago has said and its
clear that the seed of suspicion and jealousy has been planted.
Jealousy and its destructiveness becomes the greatest theme in
Othello.

MICIAH WHAYLAND

Desdemona is the innocent victim of the jealousy between

three men, Iago, Rodrigo, and Othello. Iago has put different
fables inside of everyones head, making it hard for them not to
get jealous and create problems. Desdemona knows she hasnt
done anything wrong because she is head over heels for Othello.
She always calls him my lord, meaning she has respect and love
for him and wouldnt to hurt him in any way. Desdemona knew
something was wrong with Othello. She asks Iago for help. O
good Iago, what shall I do to win my lord again? Good friend to
him, for by this light of heaven, I know not how I lost him. Here I
kneel: if eer my will did trespass gainst his love either in
discourse of thought or actual deed, or that mine eyes, mine ears,
or any sense, delighted them in any other form, or that I do not
yet, and ever will, though he do shake me off to beggarly
divorcement, love him dearly, comfort forswear me ! unkindness
may do much, and his unkindness may defeat my life, but never
taint my love I cannot say whore it doth abhor me now I speak
the word; To do the act might the addition earn not the worlds
mass of vanity could make me. The meaning of this quote is that
Desdemona is basically saying she hasnt done anything wrong,

MICIAH WHAYLAND

she hasnt cheated, she hasnt betrayed him and she definitely
isnt a whore. She wants Iago to figure out why Othello has been
acting the way he has. This is the outcome of listening to
untruthful things from a non-reliable source, especially someone
like Iago who is just out to make people jealous so maybe he will
get a promotion. It shows how in reality you cant trust anyone
because theyre always out to betray you.
Roderigos obsession and jealousy leads to desperate acts
that bring on his destruction. Roderigo was also in love with
Desdemona. Another example of when a character listens to Iago
who never tells the truth. Roderigo says, It is silliness to live
when to live is torment and then have we a prescription to die
when death is our physician. Iago has convinced Roderigo of so
many false things about Desdemona that he is going crazy. That
is basically what that quote is saying. Roderigo would rather die
than be alive because living is torment for him. He says
everyday thou daffest me with some device, Iago; and rather it
seems to now, keepest from Me. Roderigo is finally figuring out
that Iago is nothing but trouble and is nothing but filled with lies.
Later on in the book, Iago , Cassio and Roderigo get into an

MICIAH WHAYLAND

altercation and that ends with Roderigo saying, nobody come?

Then shall I shall bleed to death. And after he says that Iago
pushes him into the wall and stabs him. Roderigos last words
were, O damnd Iago!! O inhuman dog! and Roderigo died and
Iago acted like he was innocent.
To conclude the book Othello is very interesting it is full of
love, hate, and jealousy. It shows the outcomes of when people
believe fake rumors and lies, it never ends well. Jealousy and its
uncontrollable destructiveness Is the greatest theme in this book.
Shakespeare wrote very many books and plays but, by far this
one has to be my favorite because of the drama and heart break.
All of his plays usually have a really good lesson and in this one
its not to trust just what one person says because most likely its
a lie and they are doing it to just make you jealous or angry. I
have definitely learned what not to do and not to believe just
anyone.