What one assumes
or imagines may not always turn out to be real;
people often to do things with their lives, and
often, there not all goes according to plan. However,
there are also some individuals who manage to
think up particular concepts, and before one knows
it, those ideas turn out to be real. Whether this
notion can be scientifically backed up is one
question worth asking. However, in this paper,
Shakespearean literature will be given preference.
Considering that there are several unique characters
in Shakespearean plays, makes this investigation
through his literature an interesting one. The
two characters that are particular worth examining
and comparing are Othello and Leontes. These two
are worth comparing and examining because of the
fact that their imaginations are ones that share
similarity.
Both Othello and Leontes have the unusual capability of imagining their wives as adulteresses. They each have their own reasons for why they imagine such things, and this is why they are unique even though they share strong similarities.
Othello’s views of his wife are basically ones that have been manipulated in such a way that he believed her to be an adulteress. Lago, Othello’s sword-bearer, manages to twist facts in order to make Othello jealous of Cassio; Lago is the cause of Othello believing that Desdemona (Othello’s wife) was having an affair with him. As a result of his imagination and jealousy, Othello loses his wife. However, she does not blame him even for this act.
In similarity and contrast to Othello’s
actions against his wife are Leontes’ actions.
He is also convinced that his wife is having an
affair with someone; his best friend Polixenes.
However, it is not true, as the oracle too find
that Hermione is not guilty of adultery. However,
Leontes is not satisfied with this truth and decides
to imprison his wife and child as well. His vicious
nature in this regard is similar to Othello. However,
he did not kill anyone with his own hands. Instead,
he would rather leave fate to do its work on his
wife and child. In contrast to this, Othello had
decided to do things for himself, and killed Desdemona
himself. This was indeed gruesome, but represented
how possessive he was of her.
The manner in which each character under examination (Othello and Leontes) speak, accurately describes the way they feel towards their wives, and it also defines the way they thought of them in their adulterous affairs.
Othello is apparently disheartened by the fact that his wife seems to have betrayed him and his love. He asserts, “For she had eyes, and chose me” (Othello 3.3). he did not want her to do whatever he thought she was doing. However, his thoughts about her were not really his own. “Farewell! Othello’s occupation’s gone!” he asserts declaring that he has lost the position he had once she deceived him and fell in love with someone else (Othello 3.3). At a latter part of this play, it is demonstrated that Othello is more infuriated by his wife’s apparent betrayal and adultery. He asserts, “An honorable murderer, if you will; For naught I did in hate, but all in honor” (Othello 5.2). He further asserts, “Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely, but too well; / Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought, Perplexed in the extreme” (Othello 5.2).
According to Othello’s words whenever he had spoken of his wife’s apparent wrong-doings, there is an air of dignity detected. This means that he did not use language that was disgraceful to his position as state leader. In contrast to this, Leontes words are much harsher than Othello’s and it also may be asserted that his words are not dignified for the position that he enjoyed as state leader.
Initially, Leontes used a more dignified approach
to describing his wife’s actions. He asserts
that she is “Paddling palms, and pinching
fingers” (A Winter’s Tale, 1,
2). It must be asserted here that this sort of
language used here demonstrates the extent of
Leontes imagination even though his wife was not
doing any such thing. The language used here isn’t
even half as harsh as it is later on in the play.
The following sentences spoken by Leontes demonstrate
the increased intensity of his words against Hermione.
Leontes says, “Your actions are my dreams”.
Here, these words first enlighten the reader about
the roots of his suspicion. For a statesman to
have based his assumptions on his dream, it isn’t
worth terming his judgment as a dignified one.
Following his introduction to his suspicions, Leontes tells Hermione that she “had a bastard by Polixenes”, and he “but dream'd it”. He asserts, “ you were past all shame,--Those of your fact are so,--so past all truth…No father owning it,--which is, indeed, More criminal in thee than it,--so thou Shalt feel our justice; in whose easiest passage. Look for no less than death” (The Winter's Tale, 2, 2). It was clear from these words that he wanted death for his wife.
It can be seen quite clearly from the statements of Leontes and Othello that there is similarity and difference in the way that they both behave. However, there is quite a difference seen in the way that they each behave according to their prestigious positions. As statesmen, both Othello and Leontes, would be expected to act and speak with dignity. However, in view of imagining their wives’ deception and adulterous behavior, it is understandable that the characters could have reacted in any way. However, in this regard, it can be observed that Leontes is not as dignified in his speech as Othello is. Aside from this difference between the two, the fact that they both were highly imaginative about their wives’ affairs makes them two similar characters that demonstrate how self-destructive one’s imagination can be. Particularly, it must be asserted in the case of Othello, he fickle. This may be said because of the fact that he had relied way too much on Lago’s ill-advice. However, Leontes was weaker in this sense because even though he did not have any one playing on his psychology, he still managed to destroy his family. |