William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest playwright off the English-speaking world. He is one of the literary masters of his age. His body of work has stood the test of time and distance with his play still being produced all over the world on a regular basis. He is one of the most produced playwrights in history. He told every kind of story and always with attention toward the human condition as it was altered by the events of the story. This is one reason why his stories are important even today. His eloquence and instinct for capturing with words what it means to be human is the strongest reason for his enduring popularity. One such play is the story of Othello and Desdemona. A forbidden love draws in the audiences and then when everything turns dark and sinister he captures the essence of being human. William Shakespeare’s Othello takes place in 16th-century Venice and also Cyprus. Othello who is a noble black warrior in the Venetian army that secretly marries a beautiful white woman called Desdemona who is the daughter of a prominent senator named Brabantio. When he eventually finds out he is completely furious, and he decides to disown his daughter Desdemona. Lago another character has a secret jealousy and resentment towards Othello because a soldier named Lieutenant Cassio has been put in front of him by Othello. Also, Lago suspects that Othello has been cheating with his wife even though he has no proof he already believes it. Waiting on revenge, Lago plans a devious comeback to plant suspicions in Othello’s mind that Desdemona has been having an affair with Cassio. He decides to start a street fight which Cassio is blamed for, and is then dismissed from his post by Othello. Desdemona takes up Cassio’s case with her husband, which only increases his suspicions that the pair are lovers. While all of this is happening Lago manages to find a treasured handkerchief from Desdemona that was given to her by Othello. He somehow gets the handkerchief on Cassio so that Othello sees it and so he finally concludes that the possession is proof of the affair. Shakespeare has devised a plot and a counter plot to keep the intrigue and suspense moving. As a result, Othello due to his jealousy and misguided trust in Lago orders Lago to murder Cassio. While Othello decides to strangle his faithful wife Desdemona, not giving her any time to answer any of his accusations or defend herself. Immediately afterwards her innocence is revealed, and Lago’s treachery exposed, in a fit of grief and remorse Othello kills himself and Lago is taken into custody by the authorities. What a tragedy!
However, this type of human experience is still happening today. Jealousy is such a strong and gripping feeling, that it can completely change a person’s personality if it is not controlled. Jealousy is a sin, those who practice it break the law of God. Being jealous indicates that we are not satisfied with what God has given us. The Bible tells us to be content with what we have, for God will never fail or forsake us, Hebrews 13 verse 5. In order to combat jealousy, we need to become more like Jesus and less like ourselves. We can get to know who God is, through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with mature believers. As we learn how to serve others instead of ourselves, our hearts will begin to change. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” In the book of Romans 12:2. Jealousy and impatience cost Othello his faithful wife and eventually his own life. Shakespeare shows what happens when emotions rule the heart and common sense is forgotten. Turning to Christ is the only way to control these unruly emotions and stop sinning against God.
