Comparing Hate In Romeo And Juliet And Othello

Romeo and Juliet and Othello are some of Shakespeare's most famous works. Upon first glance, one would assume that one of the more prevalent themes in these plays is love. After all, what love story is more famous than Romeo and Juliet? Unfortunately, this is not the case. After further inspection, it's easy to see that hatred is a more prevalent theme. Because of how hate affects each character, whether it's their hate or someone else's, hate is a much clearer theme. Hate always seems to be at the root of the problem in each play.

One reason why hate is a more prominent theme is in Romeo and Juliet because of how Romeo and Juliet's tragic actions are indirectly a result of the hatred the two families share for each other. An example of this

The prince says, "Where be these enemies? - Capulet! Montague! / See what a scourge is laid upon your hate" (5. 3. 291-292). In the quote, the prince confronts both the Montagues and the Capulets about how their family feud has taken the lives of their children. He asks to see the families and promptly scolds them for allowing their hatred to take their children's lives. This exhibits how hate leads to Romeo and Juliet's death, to the point where even the prince himself calls the family out. Because Romeo and Juliet had to hide their love, they felt the pressure of the family weighing down on them, ultimately leading them to their demise. Similarly, another example of how hate leads to Romeo and Juliet's death is seen earlier in the play, when we stumble upon Juliet questioning why Romeo is a Montague. Juliet laments, "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? / Deny thy father and refuse thy name. / Or if thou wilt not, be sworn by my love, / And I'll no longer be a Capulet" (2. 2. 33-36). Juliet is asking herself why Romeo is a Montague, stating that he should refuse his father's name and be Capulet. She makes this comment because she knows that he comes from the family her family feuds with. She hides her love for Romeo

We see how hate affects the play's main villain Iago, driving him to emotionally manipulate Othello and harm many others. One example of this is when Iago is speaking to his co-conspirator, Rodrigo. Iago says, "Despise me / If I do not. Three great ones of the city / (In personal suit to make me his lieutenant) / Off-capped to him, and by the faith of the man / I know my price, I am worth no worse a place" (1. 1. 8-12). Iago is explaining why he hates Othello so much, to reassure Rodrigo that he'll help him take him down. We find out that Iago loathes Othello so much because, in his eyes, Othello stole Iago's job and rank from him. It's this hatred that leads Iago to emotionally manipulate Othello in an act of revenge, committing atrocious acts on the way. Similarly, it's revealed that there is another reason why Iago hates Othello so much. In act two, we see Iago lamenting to himself about his motivations. Iago says to himself, "For that I do suspect the lusty Moor / Hath leaped into my seat. The thought whereof / Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards, / And nothing can or shall content my soul / Till I am evened with him, wife for wife" (2. 1. 289-293). Iago is saying that he hates Othello, or the "Moor" as he is referred to here because he thinks that his wife cheated on him with Othello. This serves as his motivation to make Othello believe that his wife Desdemona