The Dangers of Isolation, Shakespeare's Othello, Fear, anger, hatred and confrontation
Fear, anger, hatred and confrontation are the reasons that people give for alienation. After reading Othello by Shakespeare, it dawned on me that isolation greatly affects how people relate with others. Shakespeare is an iconic writer and as Ben Jonson asserts his work is timeless. I love the works of Shakespeare because he focuses on the aspects of the human conditions including love, hate, lust, greed and tragedy. By touching on the issues that shape the human nature, Shakespeare elicits human emotions. Othello is a tragic play that shows the need to maintain healthy relationships with others by avoiding isolation. Which raises the question whether written about four hundred years ago, can modern readers relate to the issue of isolation that Shakespeare wanted to reveal in Othello? What are the dangers of isolation? Before reading Othello, I did not realize the effects of isolation. Moreover, when a person becomes a victim of seclusion their defense weakens. Hence, this paper will focus on the consequences of isolation, whether knowingly or otherwise.
People with bad intentions always try to alienate others since it is easier to manipulate individuals who are disharmonious not only with their consciousness, but also with the rest of the society. Individuals should recognize their true friends and those with their best interests at heart. As Iago in Othello demonstrates, some people are pretenders. Regarding Othello he says, “In following him I follow but myself…not I for love and duty, But…for my peculiar end (Suzanne Conklin Akbari, Martin Puchner& Wiebke Denecke 786).” The statement suggests Iago's intention to separate Othello from the other characters and especially from his wife Desdemona. Thus, it is hard to differentiate true friends from fake ones. It does not mean that individuals should isolate themselves from others rather people should employ rationality while making friends. Cliché as it may sound no man can survive alone bearing in mind that it is easier to overpower a single individual since two people can always defend themselves.
[...] The Island symbolizes the isolation in the entire play. Othello's isolation because of his physique and color is evident. In act 3 scene Othello calls negative attention to his race by claiming, “Haply for I am black (Suzanne Conklin Akbari, Martin Puchner& Wiebke Denecke after Iago insinuates that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. By trying to alienate Othello from Desdemona, Iago makes Othello believe that he is inarticulate and barbaric. From this point, the belief in Othello's happy relationship turns into a feeling of rejection since he imagines himself as a in a “dungeon (Suzanne Conklin Akbari, Martin Puchner& Wiebke Denecke Such feelings of loneliness make Othello feel that despite being a great soldier, he is a failure at keeping his woman, and this dents his self-esteem. [...]
[...] In Act 2 Scene 1 Iago swears that he would “ensnare as great a fly as Cassio (Suzanne Conklin Akbari, Martin Puchner& Wiebke Denecke Iago knows very well that it is hard to destroy united people and hence his plan to alienate the characters through a web of lies. He represents the people in society who isolate others for selfish gains as the desire for vengeance and power. It is evident that Othello's isolation to Iago's word makes him a target for his callousness and craftiness. Shakespeare intended to warn the readers about the dangers of trusting others excessively. [...]
[...] W. W. Norton & Company,( 2012) :783-849.Print. Swain, J. A. (January 01, 2004). Rethinking entity isolation today: The dangers of entity pioneering and of the nature leading case method. State Tax Notes 197-201. Thrasher, T. (2008). Isolation: A novel. New York: Faith Words. [...]
[...] After reading Othello, I realized that Shakespeare intended to educate the readers on the need to maintain healthy relationships with others since self-isolation in the name of self- preservation only results to the destruction as illustrated by the tragic deaths of Desdemona, Othello and other characters and the torture of Iago in Act 5. Isolation has no place among humanity. For me, the greatest joy is in good terms with others since isolation does not add any value to my well-being. Bibliography Suzanne Conklin Akbari, Martin Puchner& Wiebke Denecke. The Norton Anthology series of World Literature, great valley, package vol. and Ends and Beginnings to 1650. 3rd. [...]
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