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Comparing Jealousy In Othello And Blake-Nelson's O

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Comparing Jealousy In Othello And Blake-Nelson's O
"Othello" written in (1603) by William Shakespeare and "O" a transformation of "Othello" which premiered in (2001) by Tim Blake-Nelson are both texts that explore the concept of jealousy. However, What is Jealousy? Jealousy is the desire for another's advantages which typically results in suspicion and violence - This definition rings true with the representation of jealousy in both texts Both texts represent the concept of jealousy in different ways. However, both Shakespeare and Blake-Nelson explore the idea that jealousy is a destructive force within the human condition that has the capability to consume and corrupt an individual. Shakespeare explores the concept of jealousy, closely linking to the highly religious Elizabethan context to heighten the corruptive force of jealousy. Blake-Nelson also uses the …show more content…
Now my fellow students, let us now look to how Shakespeare represents the corruption of the individual. Shakespeare does this through contrasting the dialogue of Othello. When we first meet Othello, he is presented as a eloquent and a beautiful speaker, in his first lines of dialogue he says "... I love that gentle Desdemona" "gentle Desdemona" denotes through description his tender and intense affection for her and he also says "Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them" this descriptive and flowing language is contrasted to Othello language; after Iago and Othello have made their pact to murder Cassio and Desdemona based off their jealousies'. At this point the dialogue changes to diabolical language "Let her rot and perish... for she shall not live" "rot and perish" denotes his hatred of Desdemona. And the expletive "Devil!" is repeatedly used. This contrast of language from the eloquent

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