Comparing Persuasion And Othello's Jealousy

The outcome of a marriage is intrinsically linked not only with the nature of a couple’s love but also with the expectations that they have of one another regarding their respective roles in the marriage. Love assumes many different forms but is also variable. Therefore, the manner in which it evolves is significant in determining the outcome of a marriage. Both Jane Austen’s Persuasion and Shakespeare’s Othello explore how the emotions that a couple originally shared can be modified as time passes. This could be due to a number of contributive causes such as: personal differences within a marriage and social pressures as well as interference from others or deterioration in communication. Conversely, in some instances, the nature of a couple’s …show more content…
He maintains a sense of ambiguity surrounding the subject, but it is sufficient to accentuate the jealousy inside Othello, which is the driving force of the rupture of their marriage. Iago’s plan to capitulate on Othello’s jealousy is made explicit when he says that the most insignificant thing presented to a jealous man, is as convincing as a holy sworn truth (“I will in Cassio’s lodging lose his napkin [a]nd let him find it. Trifles light as air [a]re to the jealous confirmations strong [a]s proofs of holy writ”). Furthermore, Othello expresses his distress at the fact that men can possess wives but yet they are unable to control their sexual desires. He subsequently articulates that he would rather be a toad than “keep a corner in the thing I love [f]or other’s uses.” This highlights the transformation from love to resentment and hatred that occurs within Othello regarding Desdemona. In addition, Othello contemplates what may have caused the betrayal of their love – whether it was as a result of: lack of conversation, his race or his …show more content…
On the one hand, Desdemona’s lack of knowledge as to what she has done to anger Othello is crucial to the destruction of their marriage. On the other hand, Othello describes how his knowledge of her affair (or the knowledge that he thinks is correct) is detrimental to his sanity and his marriage. Instead, he believes that he would have been much happier had he been oblivious to his wife’s betrayal (“He that is robb’d, not wanting what is stolen, [l]et him not know’t and he’s not robb’d at all.”). Moreover, Othello’s loss of reputation as a result of being made into a “cuckold” is another destructive force in their marriage. Othello states that “Her name, that was as fresh [a]s Dian’s visage, is now begrim’d and black [a]s mine own face”. Therefore, her betrayal of him has caused him a loss of reputation, something that is fundamental in the failure of their marriage as honour and reputation are two main themes in the