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.

Reflective Essay Warm-Up

The song "Who's Cheatin' Who" by Alan Jackson provides a wonderful connection to all of the cheating in "Othello." It connects to the confusion of who is sleeping with who in Othello because there is a large number of accusations with no evidence to support them. Emilia cheated on Iago with Othello. Desdemona cheated on Othello with Cassio. Bianca is Cassio's whore. There are so many unfounded claims that make readers wander who is really cheating on whom. "I thought I knew her well I really couldn't tell that she had another lover on her mind." These lines from the song connect to Othello's thoughts. He thought he knew her well enough that he would be able to tell if something was amiss. However, Iago forces him to confront the possibility that she has another love on her mind. Othello doesn't know how he could have missed the fact that she was thinking about someone else. (He didn't miss it because those feelings were never really present.)

Get More: Who's Cheatin' Who, Alan Jackson, Alan Jackson Videos

Plays: Othello 5

"My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago." Page 1454, Act V, Scene ii, line 153

This line reveals what Iago's epithet has been the entire play. Iago is repeatedly referred to as honest. However, readers are aware of the fact that he is anything but honest. I think this epithet is ironic because Iago spends the entire time manipulating people for his own good. This epithet characterizes how Iago appears to the characters. This is important because it explains and justifies the actions that the characters take that the readers percieve as stupid. One of these actions is trusting Iago. The characters all seem to trust him to help them because he acts honest and genuinely concerned for them. I think this epithet also shows how manipulative Iago was because everyone called him honest. An epithet is a generally accepted adjective that describes the character, so it must have been a consensus that Iago was a good and honest man.

Plays: Othello 4

"Moor, she was chaste. She loved thee, cruel Moor, so come my soul to bliss as I speak true. So speaking as I think, I die, I die." Page 1457, Act V, scene II, lines 247-250

In the fifth act, readers are shown that Emilia is a dynamic character. She makes a drastic change from the beginning acts to now. In the beginning, Emilia was subservient and quiet. She didn't stand up to Iago and just let him insult her in front of her friends. Now, in act five, after dramatic deaths, Emilia is more active in asserting her views. She becomes direct, forceful, and nonintimidated. She finally stands up for herself and Desdemona. She is not afraid to stand up to Othello and let him know that he unjustly murdered his wife because Desdemona was nothing but faithful. This dramatic change in Emilia's character shows that everyone can change and most people have an inner tiger just waiting to let loose. For Emilia, her inner tiger was released when she watched multiple people die because of what she would later discover to be her husband's lies and manipulation. I think this helps show that truly only Iago knew what he was doing and nobody could have predicted this outcome (except Iago).

Plays: Othello 3

"I humbly thank you for't. I never knew
A Florentine more kind and honest."--Cassio (1403: III. i. 37-38)

This quote is an instance of dramatic irony. The audience has been informed from Iago's soliloquies that everything he is advising people to do is for his own gain. He could care less if Roderigo gets the girl. There is dramatic irony because the characters think that Iago is really trying to help them. Roderigo thinks that Iago is giving him advice on how to win Desdemona's heart. However, Iago is using Roderigo to make people mad, so that he can get the position he wants. Likewise, Cassio thinks that Iago is helping him get back in favor with Othello, but he is actually tricking him and setting him up to mess up even more. The purpose of the dramatic irony is to reveal to the audience another side of Iago's personality. It also creates suspense because readers are drawn into the action because they know Iago's true intentions. It is effective because the characters act as if they truly believe that Iago is being helpful. The characters and readers have different understandings of situations, so they are expecting different results.

Plays: Othello 2

"Come on, come on. You are pictures out of doors,
Bells in your parlors, wildcats in your kitchens,
Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,
Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds."--Iago (1386: II.i.109-112)

This quote from Othello contains metaphors. In this situation, Iago is talking about his wife. The things he is saying about her do not seem to be flattering. in fact, they are rather offensive. He is basically saying she is too loud, in the way, and the opposite of what one would want in a wife. I think this is rather rude. This quote and the way Iago treats his wife in general is a way for us to learn his character. He treats people as means to get what he wants. He is only concerned with his own goals and needs. I think that Iago not only treats his wife badly, but he also uses and takes advantage of all of his "friends." Iago seems to be a pretty selfish, grudge-holding, and mean person. I am a little puzzled; however, that Iago doesn't seemed satisfied with his wife, yet he is super angry at Othello for sleeping with her.

Plays: Othello 1

"Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse
As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this." --Roderigo (1362: I. i. 1-3)

This play begins in medias res. It begins in the middle of something and readers are uncertain as to what was going on prior to our introduction. I am not sure what the purpose of this is, but readers are able to infer what the conversation was about because some of it is given to the readers. However, we are never told what Iago was not supposed to tell Roderigo. The scene that begins the play is hardly introductory. Like I said before, we are thrown into the thick of things right off the bat. In the first few pages, we begin to know that Iago is upset because he was not picked to be the Lieutenant even though he had the seniority and skills. At this point, I do not think that readers are missing out on anything by the play starting in medias res because Shakespeare wouldn't have started the play without vital information. The information at the beginning and Iago's wrath over not being pick for lieutenant carries on throughout the act as something constantly gnawing at his conscience and driving him crazy.