Question: In Othello, it is the representation of intense human relationships that captivates audiences. Evaluate the significance of at least one intense relationship in the play.
Othello is a Shakespearean tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the early seventeenth century. The play aims to contrast, through setting, staging, and language, the social order imposed by the sixteenth century with the martial law and breakdown of relationships in Cyprus. The play focuses on Othello, a powerful but culturally insecure Moorish general, as he navigates his military and personal relationships. His life is ultimately destroyed by his obsession with reputation, honor, and the manipulations of his deceitful soldier friend, Iago.
The play Othello explores various extreme human relationships, including the strained military relationship between old friends Othello and Iago and the intense relationship between Othello and his wife Desdemona. Instead of love, Othello and Desdemona’s relationship is built on admiration and pity. However, their relationship is ultimately destroyed due to Iago seeking revenge for his own broken relationship, leading to Othello’s downfall and impacting the lives of other characters. The unstable nature of their relationship, based on racial difference and Othello’s status as an outsider in Venetian society, captures the attention of audiences and resonates beyond the play’s original context. The lack of growth in Othello and Desdemona throughout the play symbolizes the tragedy commonly found in Shakespeare’s controversial writing.
Desdemona and Othello’s marriage is fraught with challenges. Othello’s tragic flaw of idealized love for Desdemona and his gullibility ultimately lead to his downfall. In Act 1 Scene 3, Shakespeare delves into the intense and extreme nature of their relationship. Their secret elopement showcases Desdemona’s naive and deep affection for the worldly Othello. She demonstrates her willingness to betray her own father and disregard societal norms in order to be with him. As evident in this scene, Desdemona’s loyalty to Othello is unquestionable; however, her father Brabantio raises doubts by warning Othello to be cautious, “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee”.
The text suggests that both the imperative voice and rhyme imply the potential for Desdemona’s infidelity and foreshadow how Iago will manipulate their dependent relationship. Shakespeare emphasizes Othello’s intense passion through the secrecy of their marriage and exaggerated lines like ‘My life upon her faith!-Honest Iago,’ which introduces his fatal flaw and their intense connection. F.R. Leavis, writing in 1937 during the early feminist movement and an era of increased psychological understanding, defends Desdemona for the relationship’s failure, arguing instead that “the tragedy can be attributed to Othello’s character in action.” Leavis believes audiences are captivated by the tragedy because “Othello truly did not know Desdemona…his love is primarily motivated by self-ignorance and a lack of understanding of her…it stems from self-centered and self-serving satisfaction such as pride, possessiveness, appetite, and a love for love itself.” This is evident in the soliloquy where Othello states: “I am abused, and my only comfort is to despise her…I would rather be a disgusting creature, living in a dungeon, than keep a place in the heart I love for others’ purposes.”
Iago skillfully uses Othello’s passionate nature and his relationship with Desdemona to manipulate him, relying on his reputation as a weapon. Furthermore, Iago takes advantage of Othello’s gullibility to turn innocent actions by Desdemona into reasons for him to feel jealous. Ironically, Iago is known for being honest and their relationship is built on trust due to their shared experiences in the military. To create doubt, Iago plants the symbolic handkerchief in Cassio’s bedchamber, making it appear as though Desdemona is disloyal to Othello. This clever plot device allows Iago to twist the relationship between Desdemona and Othello, poisoning it with jealousy and rage.
The intense relationship between the two lovers quickly becomes a tool for evil and is exploited as Othello’s weakness. This is because Othello believes that his personal identity lies in his reputation. In Act 5 Scene 2, he claims, “I have done the state some service, and they know’t,” suggesting that he believes his reputation for serving should outweigh his crime. However, he later changes his mind and says, “No more of that.” He goes on to say that his reputation will remain as an honorable man. Through the use of alliteration, Iago describes Othello’s obsession with his reputation, stating that Othello loves his own pride and purpose. This reveals that Othello’s jealousy stems from his belief that his reputation as an honorable military general is what makes him proud and gives him purpose.
The play presents the evident incompatibility of military heroism and love. Desdemona, an innocent and flawless Venetian woman, represents the continuity of values. In contrast, Othello is portrayed as a cultural and racial outsider in Venice. Desdemona’s innocence and faithfulness are highlighted in Act 4 scene 3, where she expresses disbelief upon learning from Emilia that some women betray their husbands. Her innocence explains why she remains ignorant of Othello’s suspicion of her infidelity – it is simply unthinkable to her. Desdemona’s purity is often contrasted with the racist image of Othello as bestial, as when Brabantio comments that Othello will make Desdemona “covered with a Barbary horse.” Throughout the play, as Desdemona becomes more virtuous and pure, it becomes clear that she and Othello are not meant for each other. However, even after experiencing Othello’s hamartia of jealousy and being publicly struck by him, Desdemona is still drawn to him due to his exotic qualities. This further exemplifies Desdemona’s consistency in values and purity.The final act of Othello portrays the culmination of the intense yet flawed relationship between Othello and Desdemona, as it leads to Desdemona’s murder. This tragic event marks the end of their passionate bond and also signifies Othello’s downfall, which was orchestrated by Iago’s manipulation of their relationship. Othello grapples with his overwhelming love for Desdemona and the conflicting desire to kill her due to his belief in her infidelity.
Desdemona pleads for her life and innocence while Othello’s anger and jealousy only intensify. A poignant moment occurs when Desdemona, even after being killed, briefly awakens and defends her husband, claiming with her last breath that she herself is responsible for her death. Recognizing his grave mistake and consumed with guilt for murdering his innocent wife, Othello takes his own life. This tragic ending highlights Othello’s failure to fully comprehend and empathize with the complexities of others, showcasing his lack of personal growth throughout the play.
There are multiple intense and extreme relationships in Othello that emphasize the depth of tragedy for audiences. The relationship between Iago and Othello is initially built on honesty and trust, developed through their shared experiences in the military. However, ironically, it is destroyed by Iago’s manipulative actions towards Desdemona and Othello. As the play progresses, their once ordered relationship becomes chaotic, torn apart by Iago’s malicious schemes, such as the symbolic handkerchief. Othello’s inability to understand and appreciate others’ complexities plays a significant role in the downfall of their relationship. The end of their relationship signifies Othello’s final descent into madness as he murders his wife out of a belief in her infidelity and ultimately takes his own life, overwhelmed with guilt. The play explores the incompatibility between military heroism and love. The relationship between Desdemona and Othello is ill-suited and based on pity and admiration rather than true love, adding to the overall tragedy.
