Even a small seed of suspicion placed in someone’s head can lead to horrible, destructive things. Sexual desires cause jealousy and mistrust. “Sexual images trigger chemical reactions in your brain, which in turn compel us to act in specific ways or be drawn to certain things, or motivated to engage in particular behaviors” (Kuszewski). In William Shakespeare's play Othello, sexual imagery is shown through the characters and we see that a person can be driven by their sexual desires.
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Emilia is often mentally abused by her husband Iago who treats her like property. Back then, women were only expected to be housewives, take care of their children and obey their husbands. Iago says, “You rise to play and go to bed to work” which is inferring that she only “works” when she is making love at night. Iago only sees her as a sexual object and has no respect for her. When Desdemona asked her if wives would cheat on their husbands she replied, “But I do think it is their husbands' faults If wives do fall. Say that they slack their duties, And pour our treasures into foreign laps; Or else break out in peevish jealousies, Throwing restraint upon us. Or say they strike us.../” (IV.iii.90-107). Emilia understands men and their desires. Wives learn from their husbands who treat them horribly, abuse them physically and emotionally, and don’t see them as human beings who have feelings. Emilia once again shows her knowledge of men when she tells Desdemona that Othello is jealous when she lost the handkerchief. “This, not a year or two shows us a man.They are all but stomachs, and we all but food.../”(III.4.112-114). Men only want women to make love with and when we satisfy them they reject us and find someone else to satisfy their needs.
Although Cassio may only see Bianca as a sexual object, Iago sees her as an important role in his schemes. Iago uses her to make Othello think that Cassio and Desdemona are making love when in reality it’s Bianca. Cassio describes that she “so hangs, and lolls and weeps upon me, so shakes and pulls me.../” (IV:i:154-155). As described earlier both Cassio and Iago only see women as sexual objects with no other worth. Throughout the play she is described as a prostitute, however, she does not agree with her reputation and says she lives honestly (V:i:134-136). When the handkerchief was found in her possession it symbolized that Othello’s love was thrown around and Desdemona was not faithful (IV:i:160-170).
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Imagery in ‘Othello’: Critical Essay.
(2023, September 25). Edubirdie. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/imagery-in-othello-critical-essay/
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