LOVE
In Othello, the theme of love is portrayed as both powerful and destructive. The deep romantic love
between Othello and Desdemona initially seems pure and strong, but it quickly unravels under the weight
of jealousy and manipulation. Shakespeare explores how love, when tainted by insecurity and deceit, can
turn into obsession and lead to tragedy. Ultimately, the play reveals love’s vulnerability to external forces
and its potential to drive even noble individuals to ruin.
★ Othello is first introduced when we learn he has eloped with Desdemona
★ The first time we meet him, his portrayal is negative
★ Brabantio accused him of using magic to woo his daughter in
★ Desdemona and arguably Emilia provide the voices of female defiance
★ The handkerchief, also referred to as the ocular proof symbolises marital fidelity and is
manipulated to imply infidelity
Love:
- Othello and Desdemona’s relationship initially shows “true love” through shared imagery like
religious lexicon “My life upon her faith” (act 1, scene 3)
- Othello loves honestly, then turns violent
- Desdemona loves unconditionally, even during the final, dying breath
- Iago harbours obsessive hatred that is masked as love
- Emilia is loving despite the lack of reciprocity
- Iago tricks Roderigo into thinking that Desdemona loves Cassio, revealing Iago’s deceptive,
cunning nature
- Iago does not reciprocate love shown by Emilia and calls her an “office wife”
- Cassio puts his career first but Bianca is obsessively in love with him
- Desdemona doesn’t not care about race, she “loves his character”
- Othello kills desdemona at the end of the play because he is too consumed with jealousy and
doesn’t trust his wife no longer
- The handkerchief symbolism fidelity and romantic love between the pair
- When Iago steals it, it becomes the “ocular proof” of Desdemona’s supposed infidelity;
unravelling Othello psychologically
- The changing symbol reveals problems with public intervention in private relationships in the
Jacobean era
Friendship , deception and love:
- Iago manipulates Roderigo through secrets and imperatives to control him as a pawn
, - Iago uses vulgar imagery of imagined cuckold to destabilise Othello’s perception of Desdemona’s
purity
- Emilia empowers Desdemona and argues that women have equal faculties using proto- feminist
rhetoric
- The willow song demonstrates Desdemona seeking solace in music with her confidante
- Emilia ultimately sacrifices herself to expose the truth of her friend’s innocence
Wider discussion:
- The relationship between Othello and Desdemona is initially depicted as passionate and sincere
- They are deeply in love, and their bond is built on mutual respect and admiration
- Othello’s love for Desdemona is intense and based on the idea that she chose him for his character
and achievements rather than superficial qualities
- Desdemona, in turn, loves Othello for his strength, nobility, and the nobility of his soul
- Their love is the most genuine at the start of the play, as they are both committed to each other
- However, Othello’s insecurities (especially due to his outsider status and race) and Iago’s
manipulation gradually poison this love, making it tragic
- The love between them becomes distorted due to external forces- chiefly Iago’s deceit- and
Othello’s inability to trust Desdemona fully
- Iago and Emilia’s relationship represents a marriage devoid of love and trust
- Iago uses Emilia for his own purposes, exploiting her loyalty while holding her in contempt
- Emilia, while loyal to Iago at the beginning, eventually grows disillusioned with him, particularly
when she learns of his betrayal of Desdemona
- There is no genuine love in their relationship
- Iago’s love is manipulative and self-serving, while Emilia’s affection is ultimately based on
loyalty and naivety
- This relationship stands in stark contrast to Othello and Desdemona’s, showing how manipulation
and lack of respect can destroy the foundation of love
- The relationship between Cassio and Bianca is an example of love that is more superficial and
based on desire
- Cassio has a flirtatious, uncommitted relationship with Bianca, who is devoted to him, though she
is clearly the one who cares more
- Cassio shows affection for her but is more interested in her as a physical outlet and is often
dismissive of her emotions.
- This type of love is perhaps the least genuine, as it lacks emotional depth
- Cassio’s treatment of Bianca reveals a lack of respect, and the relationship is built on casual
desire rather than mutual emotional connection
Q: Why is Othello so easily manipulated by Iago regarding his marriage? What does this say about
attitudes towards race and gender at the time?
A:
- He was easily manipulated regarding his marriage because he is insecure within himself and is
aware that he is physically an outcast
In Othello, the theme of love is portrayed as both powerful and destructive. The deep romantic love
between Othello and Desdemona initially seems pure and strong, but it quickly unravels under the weight
of jealousy and manipulation. Shakespeare explores how love, when tainted by insecurity and deceit, can
turn into obsession and lead to tragedy. Ultimately, the play reveals love’s vulnerability to external forces
and its potential to drive even noble individuals to ruin.
★ Othello is first introduced when we learn he has eloped with Desdemona
★ The first time we meet him, his portrayal is negative
★ Brabantio accused him of using magic to woo his daughter in
★ Desdemona and arguably Emilia provide the voices of female defiance
★ The handkerchief, also referred to as the ocular proof symbolises marital fidelity and is
manipulated to imply infidelity
Love:
- Othello and Desdemona’s relationship initially shows “true love” through shared imagery like
religious lexicon “My life upon her faith” (act 1, scene 3)
- Othello loves honestly, then turns violent
- Desdemona loves unconditionally, even during the final, dying breath
- Iago harbours obsessive hatred that is masked as love
- Emilia is loving despite the lack of reciprocity
- Iago tricks Roderigo into thinking that Desdemona loves Cassio, revealing Iago’s deceptive,
cunning nature
- Iago does not reciprocate love shown by Emilia and calls her an “office wife”
- Cassio puts his career first but Bianca is obsessively in love with him
- Desdemona doesn’t not care about race, she “loves his character”
- Othello kills desdemona at the end of the play because he is too consumed with jealousy and
doesn’t trust his wife no longer
- The handkerchief symbolism fidelity and romantic love between the pair
- When Iago steals it, it becomes the “ocular proof” of Desdemona’s supposed infidelity;
unravelling Othello psychologically
- The changing symbol reveals problems with public intervention in private relationships in the
Jacobean era
Friendship , deception and love:
- Iago manipulates Roderigo through secrets and imperatives to control him as a pawn
, - Iago uses vulgar imagery of imagined cuckold to destabilise Othello’s perception of Desdemona’s
purity
- Emilia empowers Desdemona and argues that women have equal faculties using proto- feminist
rhetoric
- The willow song demonstrates Desdemona seeking solace in music with her confidante
- Emilia ultimately sacrifices herself to expose the truth of her friend’s innocence
Wider discussion:
- The relationship between Othello and Desdemona is initially depicted as passionate and sincere
- They are deeply in love, and their bond is built on mutual respect and admiration
- Othello’s love for Desdemona is intense and based on the idea that she chose him for his character
and achievements rather than superficial qualities
- Desdemona, in turn, loves Othello for his strength, nobility, and the nobility of his soul
- Their love is the most genuine at the start of the play, as they are both committed to each other
- However, Othello’s insecurities (especially due to his outsider status and race) and Iago’s
manipulation gradually poison this love, making it tragic
- The love between them becomes distorted due to external forces- chiefly Iago’s deceit- and
Othello’s inability to trust Desdemona fully
- Iago and Emilia’s relationship represents a marriage devoid of love and trust
- Iago uses Emilia for his own purposes, exploiting her loyalty while holding her in contempt
- Emilia, while loyal to Iago at the beginning, eventually grows disillusioned with him, particularly
when she learns of his betrayal of Desdemona
- There is no genuine love in their relationship
- Iago’s love is manipulative and self-serving, while Emilia’s affection is ultimately based on
loyalty and naivety
- This relationship stands in stark contrast to Othello and Desdemona’s, showing how manipulation
and lack of respect can destroy the foundation of love
- The relationship between Cassio and Bianca is an example of love that is more superficial and
based on desire
- Cassio has a flirtatious, uncommitted relationship with Bianca, who is devoted to him, though she
is clearly the one who cares more
- Cassio shows affection for her but is more interested in her as a physical outlet and is often
dismissive of her emotions.
- This type of love is perhaps the least genuine, as it lacks emotional depth
- Cassio’s treatment of Bianca reveals a lack of respect, and the relationship is built on casual
desire rather than mutual emotional connection
Q: Why is Othello so easily manipulated by Iago regarding his marriage? What does this say about
attitudes towards race and gender at the time?
A:
- He was easily manipulated regarding his marriage because he is insecure within himself and is
aware that he is physically an outcast
