Othello as a Credulous Husband Essay

The tragedy of the play derives from a credulous husband and foolish wife, by considering the actions and events of the play evaluate this view.

One critic argues with this view that Othello is not just a play about a credulous husband and a foolish wife he states if the story was just about of a credulous husband and a foolish wife then how could this play be called a Shakespearean tragedy as a tragedy only occurs when something disastrous occurs to noble characters that didnt deserve this. Credulous meaning to trust one too easily I believe fit well within Othellos characteristics.

One example of Othello being credulous is how he believes Iagos lies too easily without real proof Iago just twists peoples words to make them seem what they arent if she be false o! Then heaven mocks itself the dramatic tone of this quote shows how devastated about Desdemona. When Othello listens to Iago he believes him too quickly before talking to Cassio himself, Iago twists Cassios well mannered behaviour towards women to make it seem to Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are an item. This is Credulous of Othello as he should have trusted Desdemona my life upon her faith if Othello put this must trust in his wife he should not have fallen for honest Iago lies so easily, by Othello creating this epithet gives Iago a chance to abuse it Iago is most honest.

We can argue with this statement as we can discuss was Othello credulous or just naive? Othello is from an outsider culture and is unaware of women in Venice. Shakespeare Othello presents us with a male world, Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca are all rejected by their partners and all three love their men unselfishly and unreservedly yet according to Iago women in Venice cheat and lie to fulfil their passionate desires and it is likely Desdemona will do the same, Iago knows Othello is naive on the women in Venice so therefore uses this to his advantage.

Desdemona fits the role of the foolish wife perfectly as she is foolish in her acts when she asks Othello to take Cassio back have you thought of Cassio? this makes Othello fear more that she is unfaithful. When she persists in asking Othello about Cassio she should have picked up the signs that the conversation was making Othello angry it is the green eyed monster which doth mock and this would have possibly convinced that there was nothing between her and Cassio.

When Desdemona loses her handkerchief although it was an accident this was a foolish act on her behalf drops handkerchief as this was one of the final clues which convinced Othello of their secret affair and for to have lost something that significant to their relationship as it was a gift from Othello which she treasured was foolish on her behalf. However it could he argued that as she lost it unintentionally if was not her fault she was to know what impact this would have had.

In Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, Juliet betrays her family when she falls in love with Romeo, the son of their worst enemy, and gets married to him. This betrayal to her family is foolish as it was the key to her downfall and the tragedy of the play. This links to Othello when Desdemona betrays her father and gets married but heres my husband this betrayal at the beginning destines Desdemonas tragedy as her father warns Othello of her look to her moor. If thou hast eyes to see she has deceived her father and may thee.

Another example of a foolish wife from another couple in the plot could be Emilia; Emilia allows Iago to destroy Desdemona and Othello's relationship and helps him I am glad I have found this handkerchief by giving Iago Desdemona's handkerchief it is the ocular proof that Othello has asked for and therefore is the final piece to his plan in destroying their marriage. We could argue that Emilia is a foolish wife as although she lets Iago do this worst she stands up for herself in the end scene and tell everyone what her husband has done did she give it Cassio? No, alas, I found it and I did givt my husband it was rare for women at the time to speak for themselves and especially for her to betray her husband as the wife was meant to stick by her husband. Similarly when Iago trusts Emilia to keep what he has done a secret he was being credulous as he was hoping for too much when he thought that Emilia would keep it a secret that it was him that is the reason for Desdemonas and Othellos death.

From Othello actions throughout the play he is seen as being credulous however when Iago first hints that there is something between Desdemona and Cassio (...) however Othello asks for ocular proof villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, be sure of it, give me ocular proof this arguing against the quote as he doesnt easily believe what Iago says and showing that he does has faith in Desdemona.

To conclude Shakespeare presents Othello as a credulous husband in the novel Othello, Othello is credulous however in the wrong places. He is suspicious of Desdemona rather than Iago when he trusts Desdemona but so quickly changes him mind about her through Iagos words. Desdemona also portrays the role of the foolish wife as she should have been more aware of her actions and this could have saved her life.