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Loyalty In Othello

1338 Words6 Pages

“The loyalty we give is equal to the love we have” (Melanie Davis Porter). Love and loyalty are essentially very different things but being that love is a deep feeling of affection, intimacy, and acceptance of a person and loyalty is an allegiance or commitment, one of the two is dependent on the other. In their differences, loyalty is needed in order for trust to exist and trust is in turn needed for love. In this sense, loyalty is a precursor to love as love is much greater. More than any other of Shakespeare’s tragedies, “Othello” prompts the theme of loyalty and betrayal. Throughout the play, each character is displayed as either loyal or disloyal in their relationships to Othello as well as others they may have relationships within the play. More …show more content…

I never gave him token” (Shakespeare 5.2.58-61). Desdemona has been nothing but truthful and honest with her husband and even though he does not believe her, she continues to give her honesty in stating that she has not cheated on Othello with Cassio, therefore proving her loyalty. By making such a statement, her goal is to verbally please her husband in hopes that he would be rational and realize she has not been disloyal to him as she loves him and does not believe in adultery. Othello is convinced that Desdemona is adulterous therefore Desdemona wants to change his mind about her untrue acts adultery by reassuring him that her loyalty still stands as it has from the beginning. Similarly to Desdemona and her loyalty to Othello, Emilia is just as loyal to her husband, Iago. In the middle of her husband’s plot to destroy characters lives, Emilia plays a big role in his deceit. She demonstrates her loyalty and pleasing of Iago by stating “I am glad I have found this napkin; [...] / My wayward

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