Virtue In Othello's Jealousy

While passing through life, it’s difficult to comprehend and appreciate the value of what is currently happening. While looking back however, clarity and wishful regret develops as it is easier to assess the significance the former situation. Much like how experiences tend to be unknowingly taken for granted, sacrifices evoke the same sense of contrition, or of a tragedy, as what has now ended can no longer be given the respect or understanding that it deserves. In Othello by Shakespeare, Desdemona submits her life entirely to the will of her husband, reinforcing her loyalty to Othello despite his wrongful, malicious actions. This reveals how virtue is strong enough to withstand the corruption of vices, even though it’s adherence to it’s rectitude …show more content…
If Othello hadn’t realized how immensely misguided he was, then the tragedy would have lacked catharsis, a vital part to the emotional and literary aspect of the plot. Through Othello’s recognition of what misfortune has just occurred, the audience receives some release of tension and justice as the truth is sorted out. Right after Emelia communicates to Othello that Desdemona claimed to have taken her own life, he becomes enraged, fixated in that mindset, not being able to recognize the great sacrifice that Desdemona has tried to give him. Even after Othello physically kills Desdemona, he still goes on to ruin her virtuous intent and actions by damning everything she has done for him. He ruins her last sacrifice of trying to clear Othello of any dishonor that murdering her may have caused by figuratively spitting in her face when he finds out by accusing it of being a vulgar, deceitful attempt to ruin him. The audience realizes that Othello has become more of a beast than a man when he utterly disrespects Desdemona and her ultimate sacrifice. Jealousy and hatred takes complete control over Othello, and makes it impossible for him to see anything else but what he insists upon. Whereas Desdemona's extreme love overlooked and forgave the faults of Othello, Othello’s polarizing anger has put blinders on his interpretation of the world, manipulating anything that is in front of him to fit the unfalliable mold he created for the story in his mind. In act two of scene five, when Othello finally realizes the mistake he has made, his attitude and mindset makes a complete one-eighty. The rapidity and intensity with which Othello drops his aberration shows the frailty and powerlessness that evil qualities have when faced against the fortitude of