Another stab [in the back] at Othello - A Reflective Essay

Love is often betrayed by a higher power.  Press "Read More" to learn how this was so in Othello.

William Shakespeare wrote Othello.

          While William Shakespeare wrote Othello in 1603, the themes contained by it remain true still today.  The betrayal taking place in the play continues to be a common occurrence in modern dog-eat-dog society.  Whether back stabbing a friend or cheating on a lover, being deceitful to others for personal gain has never ceased to exist since Shakespearian time.  In fact, many other famous writers produce work with betrayal as their themes.  For example, Tobias Wolff’s short story, “Hunters in the Snow,” portrays two men who ditch their longtime friend on his deathbed.  On a similar note, Rihanna sings of a cheating ex in her song, “Take a Bow.”  While betrayal comes about in many forms, the existence of the deed always brings pain.  The evil of betrayal was a theme not only explored by Shakespeare in Othello, but also in more modern times by Rihanna and Wolff.

Iago continues deceiving Othello in this scene.

            Othello explores betrayal in both forms – love and friendship.  Betrayal through love and cheating is the more prominent form in Othello.  As a result of Desdemona’s supposed affair, the deep feelings of betrayal within Othello “stone [his] heart” (V.ii.63) to the point where he feels that “she must die, else she’ll betray more men” (V.ii.6).  The consequences associated with betraying one’s lover not only develop a physical separation due to one being away on affairs, but also an emotional destruction on the one being betrayed.  While Desdemona never truly betrayed Othello, the belief in the betrayal broke his sanity and released his inner savage as he returned the betrayal tenfold.  In addition to betrayals of love, betrayals of friendship also fashioned between Roderigo and Iago.  Though the two men were business partners, Iago felt it would be fine if Roderigo was murdered since then he would retain all of the riches that Roderigo had paid to him (V.i.14-16).  Money and greed were both reasons of Iago’s betrayal of Roderigo’s trust.  Like many modern works, Othello was able to expound upon a basic theme of betrayal’s evil powers and fashion it into a warning for life.

 

Rihanna often sings of betrayal.

            Singer Rihanna warns her listeners of the destructive powers of betrayal of love in her song, “Take a Bow.”  Unlike Othello, Rihanna does not choose to kill her betrayer, but rather turn him into a public fool.  Asking for a “round of applause,” Rihanna tells the man that the act was well rehearsed, but she was not going to take any parts in the play (Rihanna, 1).  This calm reaction to betrayal contrasts that of Othello, but still shows its destructive powers.  While Rihanna had love for her cheater initially, this betrayal crushed any relationship between the two.  Following the mockery, Rihanna boldly proclaims that she will not forgive her betrayer (Rihanna, 11) and that he needs to “get gone” (Rihanna, 21).  By remaining strong against her traitor, Rihanna handles betrayal in a more mature fashion than Othello.  Rihanna proves that while betrayal hurts a person’s spirit, one can get through it without destroying the other.

The cast of this version of Othello play take their own bow after the play.

            Like Othello, “Hunters in the Snow” brings about deadly consequences from betrayal when Frank and Tub leave Kenny to die.  However, unlike “Take a Bow,” “Hunters in the Snow” focuses on betrayal of friendships.  Betraying Kenny was not the primary goal for Frank and Tub, but it grew in importance as the story progressed.  On the way to get Kenny medical attention, Frank and Tub “[took] a different turn” (Perrine, 201).  This desire to betray Kenny, though different from other examples, still existed within Frank and Tub.  Kenny never realizes that Frank and Tub betray his friendship.  Despite the lack of understanding in Kenny’s dying body, the betrayal is evident in Tub and Frank’s clear lack of will to help their ailing friend.  Betrayal of omission is as cruel as Iago’s well thought out and executed betrayal in Othello.  “Hunters in the Snow” explores similar consequences to a betrayal as Shakespeare did in Othello.

Works Cited

Perrine, Laurence.  “Hunters in the Snow.”  Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense.  Fort Worth.  Harcourt College.  2002.  187-201.  Print.

Perrine, Laurence.  “Othello.”  Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense.  Fort Worth.  Harcourt College.  2002.  1361-462.  Print.

Rihanna. "Take a Bow." By Tor E. Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen, and Shaffer Smith. Rihann. SONY/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 2008. MP3.