In the story Othello no character is able to adequately find balance between the spiritual and material worlds. Shakespeare uses Othello to show how easily balance can be lost. Othello begins with a perfect balance between these worlds. When he is sent to go fight the Turks in Cyprus Othello asks of his wife, “Come Desdemona, I have but an hour of love, of worldly matters, and direction to spend with thee. We must obey the time” (Othello I.III.340). Othello cares deeply about Desdemona however he recognizes that his job also requires his care and attention. Othello then loses his balance, by trusting Iago he unwittingly causes the deaths of many. Once he has been convinced Desdemona is not being faithful to him he is so angry with her he chooses to murder her, “Not yet quite dead? I that am cruel yet merciful. I
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Desdemona also reaches her downfall due to her imbalance but she was too far into the spiritual world. Desdemona loves Othello to the point that she is willing to defy her father to be with him, “That i love the moor to live with him my downright violence and storm of fortunes may trumpet to the world my heart's subdued even to the very quality of my lord” (Othello I.III.283). She makes this claim when Brabantio, her father, is attempting to convince the duke Othello has frauded Desdemona into marriage. Desdemona's priorities do not change. Even though she knows Othello is plotting to kill her she does not leave him, “And have you mercy too. I never did offend you in my life, never loved Cassio but with such general warranty of heaven as I might love. I never gave him token” (Othello V.II.73). She proves that she is obsessed with the idea of love more so than the actual love her and Othello shared when she chooses to stay and sacrifice her life in order to stay loyal to her love. In Shakespeare's tragedy no character is able to find balance and is therefore
Desdemona also reaches her downfall due to her imbalance but she was too far into the spiritual world. Desdemona loves Othello to the point that she is willing to defy her father to be with him, “That i love the moor to live with him my downright violence and storm of fortunes may trumpet to the world my heart's subdued even to the very quality of my lord” (Othello I.III.283). She makes this claim when Brabantio, her father, is attempting to convince the duke Othello has frauded Desdemona into marriage. Desdemona's priorities do not change. Even though she knows Othello is plotting to kill her she does not leave him, “And have you mercy too. I never did offend you in my life, never loved Cassio but with such general warranty of heaven as I might love. I never gave him token” (Othello V.II.73). She proves that she is obsessed with the idea of love more so than the actual love her and Othello shared when she chooses to stay and sacrifice her life in order to stay loyal to her love. In Shakespeare's tragedy no character is able to find balance and is therefore