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Betrayal And Betrayal In Othello

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Humans are social creatures and in the same way, loving relationships are crucial to one’s well being and happiness. In light of this fact it is easy to see how the betrayal of the same persons that provide your happiness create massive ripples. While the play “Othello” explores various theme topics and ideas, the main theme topic is betrayal, which is projected through the various relationships. Shakespeare uses imagery to show the corruption of relationships through the feeling or appearance of betrayal and is evident between three main relationships throughout the play, in the first place: Desdemona and Brabantio, her father, additionally, Iago and Emilia, and lastly Othello and Desdemona, both husband and wife. Brabantio, prior to the commencement of the play has tried to arrange Desdemona’s marriage but she not only rejects most of the eligible …show more content…

When Roderigo and an unknown man, Iago, transports the news of Desdemona’s affair with the Moor, Brabantio’s reaction suggests a feeling of betrayal, and the seemingly quaint relationship suddenly shows its flaws. Before even telling Brabantio of the news, Iago speaks with Roderigo that they will “poison [Brabantio’s] delight” (I.1.69), which in turn gives light to flaws of the relationship between Brabantio and his daughter, “yet throw such chances of vexation on’t as it may lose some colour” (I.1.73-74), for instance a lack of needed communication. To add insult to injury Iago phrases the betrayal in a rather detestable manner: “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (I.1.89-90) that radiates strong sexual imagery which enhances the disgust of not just the relationship but the betrayal. The feeling of betrayal is perfectly stated by Roderigo, “[Desdemona] hath made a gross revolt, tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes in an extravagant and

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In the play “Othello” by William Shakespeare showed how the lies and the jealousy of others can ruin a relationship . Throughout the history of this play people have understood it as a “triad of nobility,purity, and villainy.” A literary critic, Michael Andrews noted the significance of the handkerchief that was used in the play. “Othello tells Desdemona that the handkerchief is a love-controlling talisman his mother received from an Egyptian "charmer.” The gift that Desdemona receives is used to represent a symbol of Othello’s love.

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In the beginning of Othello, it’s the isolation of Roderigo and Brabantio that is the match which will start a wildfire. Roderigo uses his relationship between Desdemona and also Brabantio to get Brabantio to not only believe him but to act on it as soon as possible. Towards the end of act one, scene one, Brabantio agrees to look into the matter when Brabantio states “At every house I’ll call… On, good Roderigo. I will deserve your pains.”

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Shakespeare’s Othello chronicles the downfall of a noble Moor, Othello, who is deceived by a man he considers his friend, Iago. Throughout the course of the play, Iago toys with Othello and eventually leads him to murder and lose his love, his new wife Desdemona. Iago exploits the unquestioned trust Othello places in him to achieve evil ends. As such, trust is a central theme in the story.

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Roderigo, is a young and rich man. He becomes furious when he finds out that Othello marries Desdemona. Once again we see how emotions take over the characters and commit foolish decisions. Roderigo is so in love with Desdemona that he gives all of his money to Iago because Iago promised him that he would help him win Desdemona’s love. Iago once again betrays another one of his victim.

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Roderigo also feels that same very fear Othello does, as he is talking with Iago after the Duke and senators leave the room, he states, “It is silliness to live when to live is torment” (Othello I,iii, 303). Roderigo is heart broken at having witness to Brabantio- Desdemona’s father- giving his blessing to Othello and Desdemona’s marriage, for he was so in love with Desdemona, it simply makes him want to die to not have her, in fear that he has lost her forever to the Moor general. Roderigo is so in love with the Venetian woman, that he would do whatever he could- even die to have her, no cost whether money or his own life- could get in his way. These two- envy and fear- power jealous up

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In the opening act of the play, Iago and Roderigo wake Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, from his sleep, informing him of his daughter’s marriage to the Moor, Othello. Knowing of Brabantio’s prejudice towards Othello because of his race, Iago says, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.” (1.1.94-95). Iago feeds anger into Brabantio’s mind using

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Due to the fact that there is not a single relationship in Othello that demonstrates true friendship, the tragedy unfolds and results in all characters ' demise. This can be seen when Othello vilifies Desdemona for being a disastrous wife and says, "I will withdraw, To furnish me with some swift means of death, For the fair devil [Desdemona]. Now art thou my lieutenant" (3.3 543-545). As a result, this shows how arguably the most sacred friendship is not even true in between Othello and Desdemona. Othello is notably naive in this instance due to the fact that he puts his wife on death row based on the suspicion Iago planted.

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Also, each relationship in Othello provokes jealousy in one partner. In a typical Venetian society, a woman was considered to be a man’s property, so if a woman was disobedient, it negatively impacted the man, while also questioning his masculinity. The hyperbolic soliloquy as Othello expressed he would “rather be a toad” than “keep a corner of the thing I love” is Othello’s justification of killing his wife, as her untrustworthiness challenged his masculinity and reputation. Referring to Desdemona as a “thing” emphasises the idea of women being property. Iago’s jealousy of Desdemona and Othello’s relationship is emphasised through the degrading comment of Othello, “an old black ram” “tupping” Brabantio’s “white ewe”.

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As the tragedy begins, Othello and Desdemona had run off and gotten married without telling Desdemona’s father. When Iago finds out he did not get the job he wanted, he tells Roderigo to “Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen”(I. I. 76-80). Brabantio, who did not know about his own daughter’s marriage, is finding out from two strangers. This allows Iago to take advantage of Barbantio’s surprise and to come in between the newly weds with his disapproval.

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Othello’s This rage at Desdemona’s infidelity signals destmetion of his identity as a successful and loving man. It shows that he now completely loses control of himself, he no longer is that gentle man. He has become so poisoned by the manipulation of Iago, he no longer hears out for his “fair

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Even a father thinks women act one way and are not what they seem. Then Brabantio, still enraged about the new marriage, continues to say, “Keep an eye on her, Moor. She lied to me, and she may lie to you”(1.3.5-6). This shows that Brabantio believes that Desdemona will continue to be deceiving. He suggests that women have to earn their trust and that they do not deserve trust from their significant others.

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