Freudian Reading on “Othello” Essay

Freudian Reading on OthelloIs it possible for other people to prove up as our superegos? What argon the personal effects of never end your oedipal involved? And when a situation becomes to oer whelming, do we project our thought and feelings on to our peers? I am exploitation through with(p) the Literary Looking Glass precise Theory in Practice by Sian Evans and Othello by William Shakespe are to analyse the theatrical roles Othello and Iago as salubrious as the major theme green-eyed monster through with(predicate) a Freudian lens. The project of this psychoanalysis is to try and give a better understanding of the characters motivations and unconscious, narcissistic desires. The theme green-eyedy is revealed by both these characters through permit on the play shows us how we need to be well travel people, and the effects this has if we are non. The opening act of Othello begins with the marriage of Desdemona and Othello in Venice, Italy. Here we t on the whole toldy a black, middle recovered reality, bind a fair, younker, Venetian woman in front of an upper class blank society. (This was laid-backly frowned upon at that point in history). As the play proceeds Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona is dormancy with Cassio, and tries to corrupt their marriage.This behaviour insurems somewhat immature coming from a grown man and shows us how Iago doesnt use his superego to fake his id, as well as displaying his considerable green-eyed monster of Othello. However Othello call ups what Iago is saying, as he has a reputation of being an straightforward man. Iago continues to insinuate Desdemonas dis in effect(p)y to Othello and provides fake evidence. Othello gets increasingly green-eyed by the poison that Iago is telling him and becomes so overwhelmed by this green-eyed monster that he goes back to his rude(a) instincts, resolving issues through murder. This is a gist of him joining the army at 7 and since and so all he has cognize is war. The play ends with Othello performing on thirst and under the influence of his fiery superego, murdering Desdemona, and accordingly(prenominal) Iago after he realises Desdemona was innocent. He then proceeds to commit suicide as he weighd this act would be considered noble, restore his reputation, and relieve his conscious mind of his violent actions. Othello is a mentally and emotionally infirm character in the play. He coupled the army at a young age and gradually became recognised in society as something other than a then a middle aged, black moor, due to his high rank in the army and then marrying Desdemona.Howeverwhen a supposedly ethical Iago starts suggesting Othellos wife is unfaithful, he is slow able to mentally ready Othello through him never having unconquerable his oedipal complex. Othello had never resolved his oedipal complex because we see him give his takes handkerchief to Desdemona. Freud describes this as a method of transference an d Othello is transferring his repressed esteem for his mother on to Desdemona. Iago then acting as Othellos id then reveals Othellos murderous superego which was caused by decades of war. We visually see this in the play when he says How shall I murder him Iago when Iago implies Cassio is soporing with Desdemona. Here, Othello is also present that his oedipal complex is still non resolved by transferring his repressed emotions on to smart objects through his desire to murder Cassio (being the father) in order to be closer to Desdemona (being the mother). later(prenominal) in the play we see his superego again when Desdemona (the woman he loves) becomes his enemy and he bolt downs her. This act of murder was purely kayoed of jealousy and the fear of him losing his reputation he has worked so hard for. Yet she must die, else shell betray more men, Shows us how Othello is subconsciously protecting his soldiers.Though a Freudian perspective it appears that Shakespeare has use d Othello as a character to show us that if you are brought up with murder or warfare when you are young, you might never be able to overcome your violent superego as you get older and the detrimental effects this has. Shakespeare has also shown us how sublimation is applied through Othello, as he is someone that has the nerve pulsing to hurt and kill and thus fall in the army, so that the act of killing is chastely justified by protecting their surface area or soldiers. He may not kill the person he wants to kill necessarily, but they will release their feelings by killing the enemy, if unless these feelings are put offd by an foreign factor (Iago). Although many years book passed since Othello was written, people can still tie to it because human personality does not change. We all question those who are close to us, and whether or not they are honest and loyal. Shakespeare is using Othello to warn us of disastrous consequences that may arise when you are manipulated by a person (Iago) that capitalises on the jealous nature of another human. Iago is an extremely jealous character in the play. He is envious of Othellos reputation, higher rank in the army, wife, and that he is more respected in a white society than him even though he is middle aged andblack. This shown through the quote But for my sport and profit. I hate the MoorHe has done my office. Reputation means to a lot to Iago, and overall thats all he cares about most, which shows narcissism and racial discrimination in his character. He believed that Othello robbed him of his reputation. We see this through the quote But he that filches from me my adept name, Robs me of that which not enriches him, and makes me poor indeed.Iago doesnt use his superego to control his id so his urges and desires are unrestrained. This is shown throughout the play in his happy attempt to corrupt Othellos marriage. about one hundred per cent of the quantify when Iago is with Othello he is using reverse p sychology to act as Othellos superego and make him more jealous of Cassio O beware, my lord, of jealousy It is the green-eyed monster. This is displaying two perspectives on Iagos physiological state. Either Iago has zilch control over his id, and just lets his jealous mind run wild. Or, he chooses not to control his psychopathic mind with his superego. This results in him tricking Othello into consciously thinking hes jealous when he unconsciously isnt. For example, when Othello asks for livelihood reason (proof) that Desdemonas been disloyal, Iago tells him about an tickling dream that Cassio supposedly had one shadow while he was lying in bed next to Iago. In sleep I heard him say tonic Desdemona, let us be wary, let us hide our loves. After Iago tells these rumours he then covers his tracks by deceiving Othello. An example of this is when he says Men should be what they seem which is wry coming from him, as he is not what he seems. He is deceptive and believable, and for O thello that is unfavourable invigorateds for someone who is so slow jealous and mentally frail. He hath a person and a smooth dispose, to be suspected, framed to make women false. The Moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest but that seem to be so This quote is reinforcing how Iago believes Othello will be unaffixed to manipulate and deceive.Through this psychoanalysis we score a greater understanding of Iagos motivations and unconscious desires. We see how he project an overwhelming amount of jealousy he had for Othello on to him, and even though he thought he was in control of the situation and that he would come out on top, it led to both of their demise. For Iago jealousy played on the trust he developed in his relationship with Othello and whether Othello would believe him. However even though Othello did believe and trust Iago, Shakespeare still shows usthat jealousy destroys relationships and consumes the mind.My psychoanalysis of Othello has given me a new understanding of the play for a variant perspective from what I would normally arrest it from. Iago and Othello both had major flaws in their characters which lastly lead to their demise. Iago couldnt control his id, which meant he was always acting on impulse without control of the superego and there was only a matter of time before he slipped up. Then Othello never resolving his oedipal complex meant someone like Iago could slowly manipulate and mentally corrupt him. Both these characters have shown us as readers how we need to be well rounded people so we are not as easily susceptible to jealousy, and the effects this has if we are not.