Loyalty and Friendship in Othello

Loyalty and Friendship in Othello

The play Othello, written by William Shakespeare is a play that takes place on the streets of Venice. Othello is a highly esteemed general in the service of Venice. Iago is Othello 's ambitious friend. Othello promotes the Michael Cassio to the position of personal lieutenant and Iago is deadly jealous. Iago begins an evil and malicious campaign against the hero. Othello elopes with Desdemona but Iago starts to plot against them. Othello becomes jealous and suspicious of Desdemona. He confides in Iago that he plans to poison Desdemona. Plots and murders ensue, Iago wants Roderigo to kill Cassio, of course he agrees to it because he thinks that he and Desdemona will have a chance. The theme of loyalty and friendship is seen throughout Othello when it is put to fault when Iago pretends to be someone 's best friend just to stab them in the back. Loyalty and friendship is put to risk when Iago pretends to be Roderigo’s friend and want to help him, When Brabantio felt as if Desdemona betrayed him, and when Othello doubts the loyalty and trust that Desdemona gives him.
In the beginning of the play, Iago and Roderigo seems to have an altercation but as it progresses Iago has made it his priority to help Roderigo get Desdemona but he uses him. In the text it states that “ It is merely a lust of blood and a permission of the will. Come, be a man! drown thyself? drown cats and blind puppies...I say, put money in thy purse. It cannot be that Desdemona should continue he love for the moor/ seek thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than to be drowned and go without her” ( I, III, 377-404). Iago is simply using this man for his own personal gain, to do his dirty work. Roderigo is giving this man some money to make sure that his future with Desdemona is guaranteed. Iago has been running this man around town and nothing has yet to come for what Roderigo wants and with that Roderigo says “with naught the truth. I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver Desdemona would half have corrupted a votaress. You have told me she hath received them, and returned me expectations and comforts of sudden respect and acquaintance, but I would find none” (IIII, II, 216-22). This shows that Iago intentions were never true and that he was just using Roderigo. This also shows that Iago was unloyal to him.
Desdemona was the daughter of Brabantio. Desdemona felt deeply attracted to othello. Brabantio felt hurt when he found out that Desdemona went to go elope with Othello and he had no notice of this. Brabantio doesn 't like the fact that she went off with the moor, in fact he thinks that its outrageous. Even though Othello and Brabantio were close at one point, their relationship seems to be rocky now. In the text it states that, “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. she has deceived her father, and may thee” ( I, III, 334-335). Brabantio is saying that if Desdemona has felt the need to deceived him and not conclude him in this conquest, she may as well do the same to the moor. Brabantio feels as though Desdemona was not loyal to him and that she left him on his own.
With all the commotion that has been going on with Desdemona, Othello, Iago, and Cassio, its the most absurd to say that Desdemona was messing around with Cassio. With the constant bugs being put into his ear, Othello had no choice but to take what was said to heart and believe everything. He doubted the loyalty and trust of his wife. In the text it states that “ Lie with her? Lie on her? We say ‘lie on her’ when they belie her/ Nature would invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction/ Pish! Noses, ears, and lips--is’t possible? Confess---handkerchief----O, devil]” (IIII, I, 42-52). Here in this Othello is saying Is it possible that she could be doing this stuff behind his back. Othello believed what others were saying when they said that she had an affair with Cassio, he’d rather believe them over her.
Throughout this whole book It was seen that loyalty and friendship can be strained. Mostly in every part of this book someones betrays the other just like with Iago and Roderigo, Brabantio and Desdemona, and Othello with his own wife, Desdemona. The theme loyalty and friendship is seen throughout Othello when it is put to fault and people starts to lose the things that they most value.

References:

Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. New York: Washington Square, 1993. Print.

References: Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. New York: Washington Square, 1993. Print.