Othello Justice Quotes

Jealousy, whether originating from an existent or imagined threat to one’s ego, can lead to an irrational search for justice in the form of revenge. Throughout the play Othello, set in medieval Venice and written by William Shakespeare, the influence of villainous soldier and manipulator Iago is seen in the slow collapse of the relationship between Othello and Desdemona. These two newlyweds are an interracial couple who had deceived the bride’s father in order to marry. The title character is a general in the venetian army and Iago feels wronged when Cassio, a soldier with much less experience on the battlefield than himself, is promoted. The jealous soldier takes his revenge by bringing about the general’s downfall, tricking him into believing

This reveals to him that his search for justice had failed and was entirely misguided and pointless. After reflecting upon his actions, he feels that he does not recognize himself. When a man asks where Othello is, the general himself responds by saying, “That’s he that was Othello. Here I am” (5.2.334). He can no longer claim identity to the respected name “Othello '' when he has debased himself, and more importantly his reputation, by acting in such a violent and jealous manner. Shortly after this statement, he speaks to the corpse of Desdemona, explaining, “I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss” (5.2.420-421). When describing how there is no way for him to receive justice for his crimes other than to die, the extent to which he believes death brings righteousness is again revealed. His own death is the only way to atone for his crimes. Othello’s search for justice betrays itself to be void of reason and unnecessary in its entirety, with only Iago receiving justice from the general’s

He feels that her assumed disloyalty is an injustice, and the vengeance he chooses is completely out of proportion with the supposed acts committed against him. The general’s search for vengeance creates the arc of his downfall, both beginning and entirely ending his storyline as the revenge he starts out searching for is eventually what causes his death. Many acts of violence in the world are committed out of jealousy, as it easily creates obsessive behavior. When people are in this frenzied state, overreaction easily occurs and sometimes results in cruelty towards others. Control over one’s emotions is an essential skill, as letting irrational feelings of jealousy overtake reason can often have negative consequences. Domestic violence would decrease if there was an increase in widespread education fostering emotional management, so that situations do not become so out of control that the outcome is