A Foolish Man's Love (Othello)

             There are many reasons for Othello's downfall in the play Othello. There isn't one single factor that can be noted as the entire reason for Othello's downfall. It took an unusual set of circumstances, and a varied cast of characters to weave the intricate webs that created Othello's eventual downfall. Some of the foremost reasons for the Moor's demise were stress, insecurity, love, and trust.
             The Moor, being the governor of Cyprus, encountered an enormous amount of stress on a day-to-day basis. Being in a position of leadership would bring a great deal of stress on anyone, and there was even more on Othello due to his falling out with his Lieutenant, Cassio. According to the website www.aomc.org "If a stressful situation goes on for too long... you may feel...irritable, depressed..." Obviously, Othello was a very stressed out person.
             Othello, a black man, was reminded daily of the struggles that a minority must face in a white man's world. Although Othello was a respected war veteran he was not quite considered a full class citizen. Shakespeare played the race card extremely early in the play. In the first scene Iago says, "...you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse; you'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins and gennets for germans." Othello worries unduly that Desdemona will commit adultery solely because he is black. The race issue also fuels the Moor's jealousy of Cassio. He feels that Cassio is more attractive than him simply because he is white, which, to him, makes it acceptable for his wife to have an affair with such a handsome, white man. One of the underlying themes of the play is Othello's inability to grasp the concept that Desdemona's love for him is pure.
             Love made a serious contribution to Othello's downfall. The Moor loved Des
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A Foolish Man's Love (Othello). (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 17:21, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/38069.html