Greed In Othello

Miles Schubert

Mrs. Kalich

English 1302

6 August 2023

Values in Shakespeare’s Othello Why does jealousy drive people to madness? William Shakespeare’s Othello is a play about a general, Othello, who is misled by his trusted “friend” Iago. Iago is mad at Othello for not promoting him and hatches a plan for revenge that ruins the lives of Iago, Othello and his wife Desdemona, and many more innocent people. Othello reflects the political, religious, social, and cultural values of the time period in which it was performed—Renaissance. Othello includes many political values that reflect the Renaissance. Iago is upset at Othello because he did not promote him to his lieutenant, “In personal suite to make me his lieutenant… I know my price; I am

The Characters in Othello are an interesting mix of trusting and untrusting. Instead of saying what is on their mind, they dance around the idea until the person they are talking to brings it up. This is shown when Iago starts to convince Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. Iago starts asks Othello, “Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady, know of your love?”. Throughout the conversation he defends Cassio, even though he is framing him, before saying that he will keep an eye out. Jealousy is also a major theme in Othello and the Renaissance. All the events in the play happened because of Iago’s jealous mindset. He is jealous of Cassio for becoming Lieutenant and of Othello for having love and power. He tells Roderigo, his accomplice, “I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason”. Iago’s reason for hating Othello is that he just feels hatred for him, and that is the only reason he needs. The Renaissance was also a period of jealousy and mistrust, and these were both important social values to the

Interracial mingling was becoming more acceptable during the Renaissance period, but it wasn’t a perfect melting pot. Othello is often called “Moor” instead of Othello when people talk about him when he is not around and occasionally when he was around. Desdemona even calls him this and says, “but my noble Moor”. Moor was a term used to refer to people with dark skin or Muslims and was often used derogatorily. Iago says that Desdemona and Othello will lose feelings for each other because” Moors are changeable in their wills”. Iago is saying that Othello’s impulsive love for Desdemona will fade because moors often change their minds. Calling Othello “Moor” instead of his name shows that they viewed him differently and did not show him the same respect that they would have shown to a white or Catholic general. Although black and white people lived together during the Renaissance, they were not always equals and this is shown in