Set in Venice and Cyprus in the early 1600s, the play focuses on Othello, the protagonist who is a Christian Moor and a general. Othello is characterized as a respected, powerful figure who falls prey to insecurities such as his status and race. Iago, the play’s villain, manipulates Othello’s insecurities and his love for his wife, Desdemona, to stimulate the green eyed monster out of Othello. The death of the protagonist and his wife can be traced back to the primary motives of Iago fueled by his jealousy of Cassio and Othello, or it can be blamed on Othello and Desdemona for falling into Iago’s playing hands. Critics question the source of jealousy that arises from within Othello, arguing of whether it’s formed from his deep love for Desdemona
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From a biological point a view, humans are sexual beings and tend to be selective of who they mate with. Othello’s ease of believing Iago’s words are motivated by the fear of seeing someone else with the person he loves. Cohen reckons Othello and Iago “transform sexual agony into an instrument of passionate balme in a narcissistic adventure” by imagining a fear of chaos. Iago achieves his goal of revealing Othello’s jealousy by getting Othello to imagine Cassio in his place, touching Desdemona and giving her the sexual needs she wants that Othello has been unable to do. Jealousy is wanting something one can’t have, and when Othello has been unable to provide Desdemona sexual attention in which he believes Cassio has provided, the sexual torture initiates the monster to escape from Othello. With his own sexuality to prompt his jealousy, Othello also resorts to sexualizing Desdemona and describing her as though she’s an object as he is referring to her when he explains “... I had rather be a toad / And live upon the vapor of a dungeon / Than keep a corner in the thing I love / For other uses” (Shakespeare 135-136). With his usage of the word “uses”, it is conveyed that Desdemona is a “thing” to be, not loved, by used. Othello loves Desdemona mainly only sexually in which his rage is located from a passionate anger at
From a biological point a view, humans are sexual beings and tend to be selective of who they mate with. Othello’s ease of believing Iago’s words are motivated by the fear of seeing someone else with the person he loves. Cohen reckons Othello and Iago “transform sexual agony into an instrument of passionate balme in a narcissistic adventure” by imagining a fear of chaos. Iago achieves his goal of revealing Othello’s jealousy by getting Othello to imagine Cassio in his place, touching Desdemona and giving her the sexual needs she wants that Othello has been unable to do. Jealousy is wanting something one can’t have, and when Othello has been unable to provide Desdemona sexual attention in which he believes Cassio has provided, the sexual torture initiates the monster to escape from Othello. With his own sexuality to prompt his jealousy, Othello also resorts to sexualizing Desdemona and describing her as though she’s an object as he is referring to her when he explains “... I had rather be a toad / And live upon the vapor of a dungeon / Than keep a corner in the thing I love / For other uses” (Shakespeare 135-136). With his usage of the word “uses”, it is conveyed that Desdemona is a “thing” to be, not loved, by used. Othello loves Desdemona mainly only sexually in which his rage is located from a passionate anger at