How Does Othello Love Desdemona

Task two, Othello
This play presents several opposing views of love and marriage. What are these views and who expresses them?
Iago is really jealous of Othello because he has Desdemona. However, Iago does not want Desdemona, he just envies Othello for the sake of it. Iago is jealous of Cassio too because Cassio got the promotion that Iago wanted. Desdemona is faithful to Othello no matter what, even when Othello accuses her repeatedly of just the opposite, and even when Othello is suffocating her, she still stays faithful and stays true to her word. This shows her undying love and total faith for Othello, and their marriage. In this specific time period, that was exactly what marriage was. Othello feels that even in a marriage, it is okay to treat your wife that way, but as the play progresses, jealousy takes over Othello and turns him into a very angry and deceptive man. Although even going into a rage on Desdemona, Othello still loves her unconditionally, but believes that it was fates choice. Iago plays with Othello’s
mind and this is what causes Othello to act so rude to and around Desdemona. Other’s had a deep effect on his marriage.
At its heart, this is a play about the relationships between two couples, (Iago/Emilia and Othello/Desdemona). How would you characterize each relationship? Compare the relationship between Othello and Desdemona to that of Iago and Emilia.
Both of these two marriages are quite underdeveloped. In act I scene III, Othello says, “she loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them.” From this quote, we can clearly find the reason of their marriage. From Desdemona’s side, she is infatuated by Othello’s magnificent adventures because at least it is impossible for her to have such unbelievable experiences. Besides, she also pity Othello’s adventures. This is also why Othello loves her. As a soldier and a moor, there is seldom people who cares about Othello’s experiences. On the other hand, Othello lost his parents when he was quite young, so he must be very lonely. He is so desperate to find someone who truly cares about him, then he finds Desdemona. Both of them are attracted by each other’s advantages. However, neither of them wants to know other’s personalities, or what is he or she deep inside looks like. Similarly, even though Shakespeare did not spend any ink on describing how Iago and Emilia get married, but from the relationship, we can figure it out. Emilia is the servant of Desdemona while Iago is the flagger of Othello. As we all know Iago is a man who will do any deed, good or bad, to get a higher position. In order to get a closer relationship, Iago has to use Emilia as a tool. At the same time, Emilia is infatuated by some of Iago’s advantages, like appearances. In addition, Iago is an outstanding manipulator and liar. It must be very easy for him to trick a servant like Emilia, and let her to be his wife. With this being said, both of the marriages are immature.
Explain how the themes of jealousy, love, and appearance and reality are developed in Othello.
In Othello, love is eternal, yet derail-able. It provides Othello with intensity but not direction and gives Desdemona access to his heart but not his mind. Unfortunately, not having access to Othello’s mind restricts Desdemona from knowing the difference between truths, and lies. Types of love and what it means differ between different characters. Othello finds that love in marriage needs time to build trust, and Iago works too quickly for him to take that time. The immediate attraction between the couple works on appeal, and Desdemona builds on that passion a devotion whose speed and strength in which Othello cannot equal. Iago often falsely professes love in friendship for Roderigo and Cassio and betrays them both. For Iago, love just doesn’t exist, power however, does. Desdemona's love in friendship for Cassio is real but is misinterpreted by the jealous Othello as adultery. The true friendship was Emilia's for Desdemona, shown when she stood up as a witness for the honor of her dead mistress, against her deceitful husband, Iago, and was killed for it.
Jealousy is what destroys Othello. Iago thinks he knows jealousy, having rehearsed it with Emilia to the extent that Emilia believes jealousy is part of a man’s personality, but Iago’s jealousy is a weak thought compared to the storm of jealousy in which he makes Othello face. Iago has noticed Othello's tendency to insecurity and overreaction, but not even Iago imagined Othello would go as far into jealousy as he did. Jealousy forces Othello's mind so tightly on one idea, the idea that Desdemona has betrayed him with Cassio, that no other assurance or explanation can be truthful. Such an obsession limits Othello's reason, his common sense, and his respect for justice. Up till the moment that he kills Desdemona, Othello's growing jealousy maddens him past the recall of reason. Upon seeing that she was innocent and that he killed her unjustly, Othello begins recovering. He can again see his life in proportion and grieve at the terrible thing he has done. He speaks with calm rationality, judging and condemning and finally leading to executing himself.
Appearance and reality are important parts in Othello. For Othello, seeing is believing, and proof of the truth is visual. Unless it is a bad statement about his insecurities, then hearing is believing. To prove something means to investigate it to the point where its true nature is revealed. Othello demands of Iago "Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, be sure of it, give me the ocular proof" (Act 3, Scene 3). Instead in return, Iago gives him mental images of Cassio and Desdemona to feed his jealousy. As Othello loses control of his mind, these pictures dominate his thoughts. He looks at Desdemona's whiteness and is swept up in the traditional symbolism of white for purity and black for evil. Whenever he is in doubt, that symbolism returns to haunt him and despite his experience, he cannot help but believe it because of his insecurities.
Discuss how Othello is a play of deception and self-deception.
Othello shows moments of self-deception when he begins to doubt the faithfulness and loyalty of Desdemona.
When Iago tells Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, Othello of course does not immediately believe him. After being manipulated and harassed by Iago, Othello tells him that he must bring him proof of the affair. But while this is happening, Othello is beginning to consider whether it might be possible that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him. He thinks of his insecurities and starts to think that he is lucky that Desdemona even considered him as her husband in the first place. He feels that he is less than other men because of skin color. He has such negative thoughts about himself, Othello deceives himself and his self-deception lays a foundation for doubt upon which Iago's schemes manifest. Othello does this because he is insecure about himself, and he therefore lacks confidence in terms of his
relationship.
Discuss the irony of the following passage:
Iago: O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.
(III.iii.165)
Here Iago is talking about Othello. It is ironic since the green-eyed monster is exactly what Iago is trying to promote in Othello’s heart and mind. Othello on the other hand is a confident and honest man. Othello believes that “Must be found. Parts, title, and perfect soul/shall manifest rightly” (I.ii.30-32). Othello is truly confident in his worth and the righteousness of his actions. Othello was a kind, truthful, faithful, non-deceptive, and honest man. Until Mr. Manipulative Iago, decides to turn everything good in Othello’s life, bad. Iago is the one who turned Othello into a raging monster who feeds off jealousy, yes in the passage above, he isn’t directing this “green-eyed monster” anywhere that’s obvious in specific.