“Othello” composed in (1603) by William Shakespeare and “O” an improvement of “Othello” which premiered in (2001) by Tim Blake-Nelson are both texts that explore the idea of jealousy. However, What is Jealousy? Jealousy is the desire for another’s benefits which typically results in suspicion and violence– This definition proves out with the representation of jealousy in both texts Both texts represent the concept of jealousy in various ways. Nevertheless, both Shakespeare and Blake-Nelson check out the idea that jealousy is a destructive force within the human condition that has the ability to take in and corrupt an individual.
Shakespeare explores the principle of jealousy, closely linking to the extremely spiritual Elizabethan context to increase the corruptive force of jealousy. Blake-Nelson likewise uses the context of “O” which is the context of the modern American Culture to provide his review of the American culture and how it stimulates jealousy. Now my fellow students, let us now seek to how Shakespeare represents the corruption of the person. Shakespeare does this through contrasting the discussion of Othello. When we first meet Othello, he exists as a significant and a stunning speaker, in his first lines of dialogue he states “…
I love that gentle Desdemona” “mild Desdemona” represents through description his tender and intense love for her and he likewise says “Keep up your brilliant swords, for the dew will rust them” this detailed and flowing language is contrasted to Othello language; after Iago and Othello have actually made their pact to murder Cassio and Desdemona based off their jealousies’. At this moment the dialogue changes to diabolical language “Let her rot and perish … for she shall not live” “rot and die” represents his hatred of Desdemona. And the curse “Devil! is repeatedly used. This contrast of language from the significant lines of discussion admitting his love for Desdemona to diabolic images and the yearning of Desdemona’s death. Represents how jealousy has actually taken in and corrupted Othello to the extent that his language is unrecognisable as his own and he dislikes his enthusiast. This awful fall of the hero Othello represents the corruptive power of jealousy on an individual. Describing the Elizabethan context this has particular poignancy as due to the strong Christian values of the time any referral to iabolical images would immediately place the audience that the corruption of the devil is present. Shakespeare positions the audience to associate jealousy with the devil’s corruption. As a result of this, the corruptive effect of jealousy is heightened as it is now related to the devil which has connotations of evil and corruption. By Shakespeare contrasting Othello’s language as it degrades and connecting to the Elizabethan context, Shakespeare’s review of jealousy exists. Transferring to “O” now, like Shakespeare, Blake-Nelson represents the corruptive ability of jealously through the awful fall of a hero.
In the scene “Let’s Do This” at the start of the film, after Odin has actually scored the winning objective, the crowd rushes onto the court. Blake-Nelson uses a bird’s eye view shot that encapsulates the entire arena as the crowd raises Odin into the air. This paired with the diegetic noises of the crowd chanting “O. O. O” reveals the adulation of the crowd towards Odin. Blake-Nelson starkly contrasts this scene of the crowd worshipping Odin to the scene “All I am stating”. In this scene the corruptive power of jealousy is exposed.
Odin succumbs his insecurities developed by jealousy and takes the drug cocaine. By Blake-Nelson contrasting Odin prior to his corruption by jealousy to after he has actually turned to taking drugs due to his insecurities, plainly exposes the ability of jealousy to consume and corrupt a person. Low key lighting is likewise used by Blake-Nelson in this scene which casts dark shadows over Odin face to represent the dark emotional location that he remains in as an outcome of the corruptive nature of jealousy, this is coupled with the setting of the basement which signifies his fall.
Describing the sport worshipping American context, the corruptive impact of jealousy leading to drug taking is required to a greater tier. Blake-Nelson critiques the American context as the taking of drugs as a sportsperson is thought about the supreme low. This highlights the tragic fall of Odin as he has reach the supreme “low” from where in the past he was adulated by hundreds. This exposes the corruptive and consuming capability by jealous.