William Shakespeare 's wielding of the themes fidelity and trust in his play "Othello" errupts and evolves as the main character Othello is ultimately manipulated to his and his wife Desdemona 's demise by Iago and the lives of those associated with them are shattered beyond repair. Othello 's trusting nature and Iago 's conivingness allow for Othello 's views of his marriage to be corrupted as he believes Desdemona to be unfaithful. In the play, however, fidelity is not just between husband-wife, but father-daughter, general-servant, and friend-friend. Defined as not just of the faithfulness of spouses, but faithfulness to a person, cause or belief, shown through continued loyalty and support. Fidelity cannot be proven strong without both
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Othello claims on his word that he won Desdemona 's heart, and when accused otherwise of magic, he says "I do beseech you, Send for the lady to the Sagittary, And let her speak of me before her father: If you do find me foul in her report, The trust, the office I do hold of you, Not only take away, but let your sentence Even fall upon my life." [Othello, Act 1, Scene III] This declaration of trust in Desdemona holding his life, position and reputation in her hands illustrates not only his love, but his devotion, that should she be truly unhappy, he would rather die. During Shakespeare 's time period women did not have opinions to be voiced, but were the homemakers, who should be seen and not heard. For Othello to give her this power over his fate, proves how deeply he trusts her. This loyalty then extended to Michael Cassio, who has appointed his lieutenant, and Iago, the Ancient. Othello trusts both men with his life, and is even declares of Iago, "A man he is of honesty and trust" [Othello, Act 1, Scene III]. Though only known to the audience, Iago has no true loyalty to the Moor but rather loathes and holds Othello in contempt. The Ancient even claims Othello has slept with his wife Emilia, and while has no proof will accept it as fact. Iago also says that he will lead Othello to …show more content…
The handkercheif symbolizes to Desdemona of Othello 's love to her and her to him. Iago manipulates the handkercheif to symbolize to Othello his wife 's faith and fidelity to him. By Iago taking the handkerchief and placing it into the possesion of Cassio, he is able to convert it into a blanant display of her infidelity, fullfiling Othello 's request. "Villian, be sure thou prove my love a whore; Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof;" [Othello, Act 3 Scene III]. Truely believing his wife a "lewd minx", Othello demands both his previous lieutenant 's life and the life of his wife to be ended by Iago and himself. By the fourth scene in Act 3, Iago confronts Desdemona himself, though not directly confronting her about an affair, he asks to be presented with the handkerchief and tells her of its orgins. He tells Desdemona that it was woven by a 200-year-old sibyl using silk from worms and dye extracted from the hearts of mummified virgins. Othello claims that his mother used it to keep his father faithful to her and keep his eyes from wondering to others, so to him, it represents true matrital fidelity as well as her virginity on their wedding night. Desdemona claims to not have it on her person, and while Othello demands to she it, she
Othello claims on his word that he won Desdemona 's heart, and when accused otherwise of magic, he says "I do beseech you, Send for the lady to the Sagittary, And let her speak of me before her father: If you do find me foul in her report, The trust, the office I do hold of you, Not only take away, but let your sentence Even fall upon my life." [Othello, Act 1, Scene III] This declaration of trust in Desdemona holding his life, position and reputation in her hands illustrates not only his love, but his devotion, that should she be truly unhappy, he would rather die. During Shakespeare 's time period women did not have opinions to be voiced, but were the homemakers, who should be seen and not heard. For Othello to give her this power over his fate, proves how deeply he trusts her. This loyalty then extended to Michael Cassio, who has appointed his lieutenant, and Iago, the Ancient. Othello trusts both men with his life, and is even declares of Iago, "A man he is of honesty and trust" [Othello, Act 1, Scene III]. Though only known to the audience, Iago has no true loyalty to the Moor but rather loathes and holds Othello in contempt. The Ancient even claims Othello has slept with his wife Emilia, and while has no proof will accept it as fact. Iago also says that he will lead Othello to …show more content…
The handkercheif symbolizes to Desdemona of Othello 's love to her and her to him. Iago manipulates the handkercheif to symbolize to Othello his wife 's faith and fidelity to him. By Iago taking the handkerchief and placing it into the possesion of Cassio, he is able to convert it into a blanant display of her infidelity, fullfiling Othello 's request. "Villian, be sure thou prove my love a whore; Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof;" [Othello, Act 3 Scene III]. Truely believing his wife a "lewd minx", Othello demands both his previous lieutenant 's life and the life of his wife to be ended by Iago and himself. By the fourth scene in Act 3, Iago confronts Desdemona himself, though not directly confronting her about an affair, he asks to be presented with the handkerchief and tells her of its orgins. He tells Desdemona that it was woven by a 200-year-old sibyl using silk from worms and dye extracted from the hearts of mummified virgins. Othello claims that his mother used it to keep his father faithful to her and keep his eyes from wondering to others, so to him, it represents true matrital fidelity as well as her virginity on their wedding night. Desdemona claims to not have it on her person, and while Othello demands to she it, she