Analysis of Othello by William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is legendary novelist celebrated worldwide for his works in literature. Born in Strafford, England, his date of birth is not clear although his baptism records reflect a period around 1564. He is largely identified with his tragedy book of love Romeo and Juliet though there are several books he authored like King Lear, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Hour among his over 1000 pieces. Shakespeare, renowned as the ‘Bird of Avon’ employed different stylistic devices in bringing out themes in his plays, comedy, and tragedies. His book Othello is a tragedy book first set in Cyprus but with opening act occurring in Venice, offering the readers the latitude to learn about the authoritarian government at the time. Also, it exposes the protagonist, Othello whom we get to learn about his roles in Venice. It is a play that revolves around obsession and rationale, attached to love, desire, greed, and resentment. It brings out young people battling passions like Othello and Roderigo. The book also evaluates the human behavior and relationships. Much still, this book is essential in enhancing ones’ sense of reason in handling daily issues in his environment. This essay, however, seeks to provide an insight into the appearance of the 7 Deadly sins captured in this book. These sins are vanity/pride, sloth (extreme laziness), gluttony (over indulgence), lust (extreme desire), avarice, envy/jealous and anger/wrath.

 Othello’s pride makes him ruin himself and his supposed wife, Desdemona. Iago pimps him with praises and calls him ‘my noble lord’ to win his trust. Unknown to him, Iago takes this advantage to lie to him that his wife Desdemona has an extramarital affair with Cassio. Desdemona is a woman of determination and fights for her love without fear as seen in her interactions with her father. Iago uses her sense of determination to make Othello believe that her meetings with Cassio have more than just talks. He tells Othello that “Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio. Wear your eye thus: not jealous, nor secure (Act 3, Scene 3: Lines 195-196)."Othello in his worst moments is swallowed by anger, and the desire to revenge makes him kill his cherished wife, Desdemona. He moans that "O curse of marriage. That we can call these creatures ours. But not their appetites! (Act 3, Scene 3: Lines 267-270)."As if that is not enough, he boils more when he tells Desdemona that "Thou hast set me on the rack. I swear tis better to be much abused.Than to know't but a litte. (Act 3, Scene 3: Lines 332-334)." On the other hand, Iago anger against Othello pushes him to this act. He is angry that Othello belittled him while appointing Cassio, a lieutenant; a position he believes he has the wherewithal and requisite to a suite. All through the play, Iago hides his desire to revenge and pretends to be a loyal service officer in the ranks.

At the same time, the sins of greed and gluttony are depicted from Iago’s interactions with Roderigo and Cassio. Iago takes pleasure in his dominance over Roderigo. He is entertained to confuse Roderigo who is greedy enough to want Desdemona by himself and solicits funds from him to offer such fraudulent services. As the Roderigo narrates “…Thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine” (Act one, Scene one) which only satisfies Iago greed. Similarly, he takes advantage of Cassio’s gluttony to embarrass him in public for his uncouth behavior. He motivates Cassio to drink more so that he may put him down. As Cassio later regrets that he has, “lost the immoral part of myself, and what remains is bestial,”

and then proceeds that “I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and indiscreet an officer.

Also, the sin of lust is seen in Roderigo’s attitude towards Desdemona. His thirst to have an affair with her makes him fragile in Iago’s hands so effortlessly. He gives the latter money so easily for a belief that he will act as intermediary to fulfilling his lustful dream of Desdemona. Equally, Iago’s observation of Othello and Desdemona relationship is not appealing. He confuses Desdemona’s zeal to make her relationship work for lust. He, therefore, feels believe that this relationship is founded on lust and not love. It is imperative to understand that Othello’s play revolves around love, something that makes it too difficult to draw the boundary between lust and love.

The sin of envy and jealousy are as well eminent in the play of Othello. When Othello promotes Cassio in the position of lieutenant, Iago gets envious. He believes the position is his entitlement and that he has all it takes to assume the position forfeiting this position is the main reason he brings Othello’s family down and ruining the latter’s relationship with Cassio who is later ordered to be killed for the allegation of an extramarital affair with Desdemona. Iago’s jealousy towards Othello makes him accuse Othello that he slept with his wife Emilia and the other reason for the subsequent hatred. He says“I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leap’d into my seat, the thought whereof doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards” (Act 2, Scene 2).

Cassio is a character that has a blend of several sinful traits; his behaviors show that he poses pride, lust, and sloth. Despite his relationship with Bianca, the town known bitch, Lago’s description of Desdemona makes him have a lust for her by narrating her sexual sensations “IAGO: Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o' the clock. Our general cast us thus early for the love of his Desdemona; who let us not therefore blame: he hath not yet made wanton the night with her; and she is sport for Jove. CASSIO: She's a most exquisite lady. IAGO: And, I'll warrant her, fun of game. CASSIO: Indeed, she's a most fresh and delicate creature. IAGO: What an eye she has! Me thinks it sounds a parley of provocation. CASSIO: An inviting eye; and yet me thinks right modest. IAGO: And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love? CASSIO: She is indeed perfection” (Act Two, Scene iii, 14-25).

Iago’s slothful nature is evident in how he relates with his colleagues. After the Turkish fleet had been demolished by the storm, Iago’s immoral nature shows up in how he deals with his colleagues. The storm destruction left everyone helpless and this, and it is where Othello takes the advantage. He means no good to any person and chooses to frustrate their lives in his well-calculated moves. As the play turns out, all the characters are affected by the apathetic Iago.

In conclusion, the seven deadly sins namely pride, avarice, gluttony, sloth, envy, lust, and anger equally form the major components of sin in the contemporary society. It becomes inevitable to evade some of them because arguably all human beings and even animals are prone to anger when provoked. It is also true of jealousy especially on marital matters, yet the basic morals and ethics dictate that the earth can only be hospitable and conducive if human beings evade the causes and effects of these sins.

Works Cited

Othello: Othello and the 7 deadly sins, (2017). Retrieved from

 https://freebooksummary.com/othello-and-the-7-deadly-sins-71064

In.slideshare: 7 deadly sins, (2018). Retrieved from

https://www.slideshare.net/Hope1224/7-deadly-sins-41109569

Potter, Lois. "Othello: Shakespeare in performance."Manchester: Manchester UP (2002).