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Examples Of Obsession In Othello

Decent Essays

Love, jealousy and obsession is a relevant theme in most tragedies. In tragedy, the introductory love a protagonist feels for another character is often organically surpassed by stronger emotions of jealousy and obsession. This arises when the individual lacks a fundamental sense of identity and leads to the downfall of a hero or, modernly, a regular person. Othello introduces this idea in the first scenes of the text, when Othello weds Desdemona. This event creates a conflict between Brabantio and Othello, to which Brabantio warns Othello: “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:/She has deceiv’d her father and may thee.” (A1:S3) This rhyming couplet instills in Othello a mistrust towards Desdemona, though he disregards Brabantio’s words …show more content…

However, Othello’s perception of himself differs from his colleague’s perception of him, evident thus: “Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw/The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt.” (A3:S3) Othello concludes that he will not succumb to jealousy, in spite of his …show more content…

He becomes jealous to the point of delirium, and murders Desdemona. Othello’s thoughts are expressed through a monologue, where he says: “Perplex’d in the extreme; of one whose hand,/Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away/Richer than all his tribe…” (A5:S2) Othello’s jealousy manifested because of his hamartia: his negative perception of himself, ignorance of his ‘hero’ or well-respected status and his placement Desdemona on a pedestal. The responder is provoked, and feelings of pity, sadness and grief are summoned, and then released in catharsis. These combined fulfilled the convention of tragedy’s ‘quota’ and led to Othello’s downfall.

Vertigo, like Othello, portrays the protagonist as having an unstable sense of identity, bringing forth within the protagonist a fixation with the romantic interest. In Vertigo, Scottie forms a romantic connection with ‘Madeleine’ (in reality, Judy portraying Madeleine) but soon he becomes obsessed with her, then reaches hysteria and ultimately loses both Madeleine and Judy in the end. At the start of the film, during an exchange between Midge and Scottie, Scottie demonstrates how

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