Reflective Essay-Othello

“Everywhere you look you can write a book on the trouble of a woman and a man” (Hayes). The tradition of marriage has been around for thousands of years. Unfortunately, unfaithful spouses and affairs have been around equally as long. Throughout history, affairs have proven to be a source of distrust, ruined relationships, and death. It violates the sacredness of marriage and the promise of for better or for worse. Othello is full of allegations of affairs and unfaithfulness. Like many other pop culture and historical items, Othello shares the theme of marriage as a minor technicality in intimate relationships for some people. Two such items include the song “Who’s Cheatin’ Who” by Alan Jackson and the story of King Henry and his multiple wives. These examples show that this theme is timeless because it was applicable in the fifteen hundreds and is still applicable today.

The theme of marriage as a mere technicality is apparent throughout Othello. Allegations of infidelity are rampant in the entirety of the play. Iago suspects Othello of having an affair with Emilia (I, iii, 366-368). Othello accuses Desdemona of having an affair with Cassio (V, iii, 210-211). Bianca is Cassio’s mistress (IV, i, 165). All of these actions and accusations show that these men do not value the sacredness of marriage. The men accuse their women of cheating when they in fact are no better. None of them think about how their actions will affect their spouse. Also, none of them valued the promise of marriage like they should. Emilia was always faithful to Iago, but he never treated her properly. He failed to recognize his responsibility as a husband to show love and integrity towards his wife. Likewise, Othello did not trust Desdemona as he should as a husband. He instead listened to Iago and killed his wife over supposed adultery. Othello killed the woman with whom he was madly in love only weeks ago. Desdemona had shown nothing besides faithfulness and dedication to Othello, yet he was very quick to label her as a whore and get rid of her. Othello disrespects Desdemona many times throughout the play. One such instant is when he compares her to “a closet lock and key of villainous secrets” (IV, ii, 22). He does not honor her with the trust she deserves. These actions show that neither Iago nor Othello truly cherish the value of marriage or believe in working thing out.

The theme of not valuing marriage and viewing it as a minor technicality is also evident in King Henry VIII’s story. He had six wives in a period of thirty-eight years. Apparently, the commitment of marriage meant nothing to him. Henry attempted to remain devout to his first wife Catherine, but he had at least two mistresses throughout their marriage. However, he grew frustrated with the lack of a male heir and insisted that their marriage was never consummated and thus void (Eakins). Like the men in Othello, Henry did not show much concern for the commitment he made in marriage. Similar to Othello, he got rid of the things that did not please him. He had the wives who did not produce him a son killed. The cruelty and lack of concern for the women he was supposed to love is especially evident in the story of his second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn. “The Queen herself was arrested at Greenwich and was informed of the charges against her: adultery, incest and plotting to murder the King” (Eakins). Henry was not shy about ending the lives of those who did not please him. In the same way, Othello killed Desdemona because he believed that she was not being faithful and giving him the undivided attention he deserved. Both men were rash and selfish.

The theme of a disregard for the sacredness of marriage in the context of other intimate relationships is still widespread today. In media, this message is all too prevalent. One song that elaborates on the prevalence of infidelity today is “Who’s Cheatin’ Who” by Alan Jackson. “Who's cheatin' who, who's being true who don't even care anymore” (Hayes). This lyric shows that cheating is so common and expected that many people do not really care how their actions are affecting others. According to this song, it does not matter if one is faithful anymore because everyone is cheating someone. Not only does this song elaborate that cheating is rampant, but it also idolizes it. “It makes you wonder who’s doing right with someone tonight and who’s car is parked next door” (Hayes). The line “who’s doing right” makes it seem like it is a good thing to cheat on one’s spouse. It gives the impression that cheating is something deserving in praise.

The behavior of cheating and violating the commitment of marriage has been widespread for centuries. This theme found in Shakespeare’s Othello is timeless as evidence from the past and present. Othello, King Henry VIII, and “Who’s Cheatin’ Who” all promote the act of disregarding the promises of fidelity involved with marriage. Married couples promise each other and the state to stay together and work out problems for life. Othello violates this promise by killing Desdemona over mere allegations. King Henry made no attempt to make any of his marriages last. Alan Jackson’s song promotes the act of cheating and disregards that in order to be cheating, one must be breaking the bond of a marriage. These three instances that contain the theme of viewing marriage as a mere technicality when involving oneself in other intimate relations promote this behavior throughout the centuries. The fact that this theme is so universal is not a good thing because a behavior like this should not be approved or advocated.

Works Cited

Eakins, Lara E. "The Six Wives of Henry VIII." Tudor History. Lara E. Eakins, June 2007. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. http://tudorhistory.org/wives/.

Hayes, Jerry. "Who's Cheatin' Who." Rec. 07 Apr. 1997. Who's Cheatin' Who. Alan Jackson. Keith Stegall, 1997. CD.

Perrine, Lawrence. "Othello." Perrine's Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. Fort Worth. Harcourt College. 2002: 1361-462. Print.