Othello, a Story of Rejection, Prejudice, Envy, and Revenge
Othello, a Story of Rejection, Prejudice, Envy, and Revenge
The play “Othello” moves around the story of a Moor who has just run away with the beautiful Desdemona and leaves Venice to command the Venetian armies against the Turks on the island of Cyprus. Othello is accompanied by his new wife and his lieutenant, Cassio. When they arrive, they find that the weather has destroyed the Turkish fleet. Iago, the evil antagonist, repeatedly tries to destroy Othello because he is upset Othello gave the position he wanted to achieve to another soldier. Iago finally succeeds when he is able to leave Desdemona's handkerchief on Cassio’s room convincing Othello that his wife has been unfaithful and has cheated on him. Othello kills Desdemona out of jealousy. Before, Iago's wife eventually reveals that Desdemona's affair was just an invention of her husband. Iago immediately kills his wife also, and Othello then commits suicide in grief. At the end, Iago is captured to be tortured and executed. What can we see in the middle of this story? “Othello” is a clear representation of some common human characteristics that are always present in our lives: rejection, prejudice, envy, and revenge.
What is rejection? You feel rejected when you experience the sense of being unwanted. You want people to love you, but you believe they do not. You want to be considered part of the group but you feel excluded. You want to find a good husband or a beautiful wife, but your mind tells you, you do not deserve it. Sometimes rejection is so wounding and hurting that the mind refuses to focus on something else. You may experience loneliness, self-pity, misery, depression, hopelessness, and even the presence of death. All of these aspects are present in Shakespeare’s masterpiece “Othello”. They are perceived all over since the beginning of the play. Othello, the protagonist, shows and reflects the attitude society has towards those who are different in color, race, and language. At the time
The play “Othello” moves around the story of a Moor who has just run away with the beautiful Desdemona and leaves Venice to command the Venetian armies against the Turks on the island of Cyprus. Othello is accompanied by his new wife and his lieutenant, Cassio. When they arrive, they find that the weather has destroyed the Turkish fleet. Iago, the evil antagonist, repeatedly tries to destroy Othello because he is upset Othello gave the position he wanted to achieve to another soldier. Iago finally succeeds when he is able to leave Desdemona's handkerchief on Cassio’s room convincing Othello that his wife has been unfaithful and has cheated on him. Othello kills Desdemona out of jealousy. Before, Iago's wife eventually reveals that Desdemona's affair was just an invention of her husband. Iago immediately kills his wife also, and Othello then commits suicide in grief. At the end, Iago is captured to be tortured and executed. What can we see in the middle of this story? “Othello” is a clear representation of some common human characteristics that are always present in our lives: rejection, prejudice, envy, and revenge.
What is rejection? You feel rejected when you experience the sense of being unwanted. You want people to love you, but you believe they do not. You want to be considered part of the group but you feel excluded. You want to find a good husband or a beautiful wife, but your mind tells you, you do not deserve it. Sometimes rejection is so wounding and hurting that the mind refuses to focus on something else. You may experience loneliness, self-pity, misery, depression, hopelessness, and even the presence of death. All of these aspects are present in Shakespeare’s masterpiece “Othello”. They are perceived all over since the beginning of the play. Othello, the protagonist, shows and reflects the attitude society has towards those who are different in color, race, and language. At the time