William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, first performed around 1604, illustrates the destructive power of jealousy. Othello, a Moorish general living in Venice, marries Desdemona, the beautiful daughter of a Venetian Senator amidst much controversy over her love for Othello. Othello and Desdemona prove that their love is genuine and they begin a happy life together.
Iago, Othello’s ensign, hates the Moor and designs a cruel plan to destroy him and his happiness. Iago begins by raising doubts in Othello’s mind about Desdemona’s faithfulness. Iago manipulates Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant, making it appear that he is having an affair with Desdemona. Iago arranges to have a conversation with Cassio while Othello is eavesdropping, eliciting from him the details of the affair Cassio is having with Biancha. However, the conversation is skewed so that Othello thinks Cassio is boasting of having an affair with Desdemona.
As Othello’s jealousy reaches its peak, Iago has his wife, Emilia, Desdemona’s maid, steal the handkerchief Othello gave Desdemona. Iago plants the “evidence” on Cassio and Othello is fully convinced when it is found on him.
That night Iago arranges to have Cassio murdered by Rodrigo, a former lover of Desdemona and Othello conspires to murder Desdemona for her infidelity. Unfortunately, Rodrigo only wounds Cassio and is killed in return. Othello, however, succeeds in suffocating Desdemona, only to be discovered by Emilia. When Cassio is brought before Othello and Emilia, the truth about Iago’s plot comes out. Iago, in a rage, kills his wife, Emilia, and flees. Othello realizing he has been deceived into murdering his wife, wails with regret, and commits suicide before he can be arrested.
Shakespeare vividly portrays the evil of the green monster, jealousy. Jealousy is a deadly disease that will destroy you and all that you love. The Bible frequently warns against jealousy because of its destructive power and its ability to twist and mangle the soul.
Showing posts with label Jealousy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jealousy. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Andromache
In Andromache, Euripides dramatizes how the bitter jealousy of Hermione spurs her to seek the death of her rival, Andromache. Hermione is the wife of Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, killed by Paris at Troy, and Andromache is the widow of Hector, brother of Paris, killed by Achilles at Troy. Andromache was given to Neoptolemus as the prize of war won by his father. The presence of Andromache infuriates Hermione, and becomes utterly unbearable when Andromache has a son by Neoptolemus while she remains barren. Her jealousy causes her to plot the death of Andromache and her son.
In order to carry out her plot, she summons her father, Menelaus, king of Sparta. He comes and is about to carry out the murders when he is confronted by Peleus, Achilles’ father, Neoptolemus’ grandfather. Peleus shames Menelaus for attempting to commit such a heinous crime, and he returns to Sparta, leaving Hermione alone. Hermione repents of her attempted murders and seeks to commit suicide before her husband returns and sends her away.
While Hermione is in a suicidal rage, Orestes, son of Agamemnon, brother of Menelaus, comes and stops her. He agrees to murder Neoptolemus and marry Hermione, so they run off together to Delphi to carry out the deed. Orestes lies, telling the residents of Delphi that Neoptolemus is going to rob the temple of Apollo. Arousing their anger, he gets them to kill Neoptolemus.
Peleus is distraught, having seen both the death of his son and his grandson. However, his wife, Thetis, the sea goddess who bore Achilles, predicts that Andromache’s son will move to Molosia, where his descendants will become an unbroken line of mighty kings.
Jealousy, untimely death, murder, and misfortune all tend to disrupt the plans of men, yet the gods also open up unexpected opportunities through these tragedies. The play ends with the chorus singing: “Many are the shapes of Heaven's denizens, and many a thing they bring to pass contrary to our expectation; that which we thought would be is not accomplished, while for the unexpected God finds out a way. E'en such hath been the issue of this matter.”
Here are several quotes from the play that I found interesting:
Adromache laments the cruelty of women when jealousy embitters them: “How strange it is, that though some god hath devised cures for mortals against the venom of reptiles, no man ever yet hath discovered aught to cure a woman's venom, which is far worse than viper's sting or scorching flame; so terrible a curse are we to mankind.”
The Chorus sings the bitterness that arises from jealousy when two women are married to the same man: “Never, oh! never will I commend rival wives or sons of different mothers, a cause of strife, of bitterness, and grief in every house. would have a husband content with one wife whose rights he shareth with no other. Not even in states is dual monarchy better to bear than undivided rule; it only doubles burdens and causes faction amongst the citizens. Often too will the Muse sow strife 'twixt rivals in the art of minstrelsy. Again, when strong winds are drifting mariners, the divided counsel of the wise does not best avail for steering, and their collective wisdom has less weight than the inferior mind of the single man who has sole authority; for this is the essence of power alike in house and state, whene'er men care to find the proper moment. This Spartan, the daughter of the great chief Menelaus, proves this; for she hath kindled hot fury against a rival, and is bent on slaying the hapless Trojan maid and her child to further her bitter quarrel. 'Tis a murder gods and laws and kindness all forbid. Ah! lady, retribution for this deed will yet visit thee.”
PELEUS: Surely after this every prudent man will seek to marry a wife of noble stock and give his daughter to a husband good and true, never setting his heart on a worthless woman, not even though she bring a sumptuous dowry to his house. So would men ne'er suffer ill at heaven's hand.
In order to carry out her plot, she summons her father, Menelaus, king of Sparta. He comes and is about to carry out the murders when he is confronted by Peleus, Achilles’ father, Neoptolemus’ grandfather. Peleus shames Menelaus for attempting to commit such a heinous crime, and he returns to Sparta, leaving Hermione alone. Hermione repents of her attempted murders and seeks to commit suicide before her husband returns and sends her away.
While Hermione is in a suicidal rage, Orestes, son of Agamemnon, brother of Menelaus, comes and stops her. He agrees to murder Neoptolemus and marry Hermione, so they run off together to Delphi to carry out the deed. Orestes lies, telling the residents of Delphi that Neoptolemus is going to rob the temple of Apollo. Arousing their anger, he gets them to kill Neoptolemus.
Peleus is distraught, having seen both the death of his son and his grandson. However, his wife, Thetis, the sea goddess who bore Achilles, predicts that Andromache’s son will move to Molosia, where his descendants will become an unbroken line of mighty kings.
Jealousy, untimely death, murder, and misfortune all tend to disrupt the plans of men, yet the gods also open up unexpected opportunities through these tragedies. The play ends with the chorus singing: “Many are the shapes of Heaven's denizens, and many a thing they bring to pass contrary to our expectation; that which we thought would be is not accomplished, while for the unexpected God finds out a way. E'en such hath been the issue of this matter.”
Here are several quotes from the play that I found interesting:
Adromache laments the cruelty of women when jealousy embitters them: “How strange it is, that though some god hath devised cures for mortals against the venom of reptiles, no man ever yet hath discovered aught to cure a woman's venom, which is far worse than viper's sting or scorching flame; so terrible a curse are we to mankind.”
The Chorus sings the bitterness that arises from jealousy when two women are married to the same man: “Never, oh! never will I commend rival wives or sons of different mothers, a cause of strife, of bitterness, and grief in every house. would have a husband content with one wife whose rights he shareth with no other. Not even in states is dual monarchy better to bear than undivided rule; it only doubles burdens and causes faction amongst the citizens. Often too will the Muse sow strife 'twixt rivals in the art of minstrelsy. Again, when strong winds are drifting mariners, the divided counsel of the wise does not best avail for steering, and their collective wisdom has less weight than the inferior mind of the single man who has sole authority; for this is the essence of power alike in house and state, whene'er men care to find the proper moment. This Spartan, the daughter of the great chief Menelaus, proves this; for she hath kindled hot fury against a rival, and is bent on slaying the hapless Trojan maid and her child to further her bitter quarrel. 'Tis a murder gods and laws and kindness all forbid. Ah! lady, retribution for this deed will yet visit thee.”
PELEUS: Surely after this every prudent man will seek to marry a wife of noble stock and give his daughter to a husband good and true, never setting his heart on a worthless woman, not even though she bring a sumptuous dowry to his house. So would men ne'er suffer ill at heaven's hand.
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