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Jealousy In Othello And Nelson's Film O

Decent Essays

William Shakespeare’s theatrical tragedy Othello and Tim-Blake Nelson’s film O both reflect the notions of jealousy, racism and appearance vs reality to signify how composers of different texts and eras present their ideas for their contemporary audience through the use of different techniques and their individual mediums. In Shakespeare’s context Othello was produced under significant influences of the Elizabethan era, where the British valued their homogenously white society in a time of social, political and religious conflict. Nelson’s film adaptation O on the other-hand transitions into a modern society by using film techniques where the values of equality and multiculturalism is valued, however is challenged through the manipulation of Odin. …show more content…

Jealousy is a result of Othello promoting Cassio over Iago as lieutenant and as a consequence, Iago conjures a plan for the downfall of Othello. Iago’s jealousy is shown in the quote “O, beware my lord of jealousy;/It is the green eyed monster which doth work”. The use of irony and the metaphor of the green eyed monster shows how Iago goads Othello to jealousy whilst he himself is also jealous. Subsequently displaying that Iago is an effective manipulator and will continue to manipulate through the text. As well as this, Iago uses Othello’s wife Desdemona to plant the seed of doubt into his mind, effectively making him doubt Desdemona’s loyalty towards her husband. As a result of Iago’s jealousy, his manipulation results in Othello distrusting his own wife despite no evidence of her committing adultery. This is shown in the soliloquy “O curse of marriage/ that we call these delicate creatures ours…Than keep a corner of the thing I love/ For others uses.”. Subsequently in the soliloquy, it is revealed and apparent to the audience that Othello has believed that Desdemona has been unfaithful towards him, evidence that jealousy has corrupted

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