Psychology in Othello

     Psychology can be found frequently throughout Othello. One way psychology can be seen in Othello is through the psychopathological condition called morbid jealousy. Morbid jealousy is when a person believes their significant other is cheating on them, without any real proof to back it up. Delusions and obsessions are also often associated with morbid jealousy. It is clear that Othello suffers from morbid jealousy. This is so obvious because Othello fits all the conditions: he believes Desdemona is cheating with no real proof just because Iago tells him it is the case, Othello is delusional about his belief that Desdemona is cheating on him because there is nothing actually showing him that she did, and he obsesses over the fact that his wife is unfaithful. Morbid jealousy is one way in which psychology is seen throughout Othello.

     A second way psychology can be found in Othello is through the form of reverse psychology. Reverse psychology is the method of getting someone to do what you want by pretending to want the opposite, or something else. Iago often uses this method on Othello. Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him by saying the opposite, which in turn, leads Othello to belief that his wife is unfaithful. The more Iago uses this technique, the more Othello believes the opposite of what Iago is telling him. Reverse psychology is a second way psychology can be found throughout Othello.

Gender Roles in Othello

     Gender roles are seen in multiple different ways throughout Othello. One way gender roles can be seen is that men see women as their property, specifically, women who are unmarried are seen as their father's property. For example, Brabantio sees Desdemona as his property when he does not want to allow her to be with Othello and believes he should choose who Desdemona is with. Another way gender roles can be seen is through the promiscuity of women. Men of this time often thought women were promiscuous and often, husbands could not trust their wives. This is why both Othello and Iago are so easily led to believe that their wives have cheated on them. One final way gender roles can be seen is the terrible view some of the men have on women. For example, when Iago is talking badly about Emilia in front of Desdemona and Emilia herself.
     More examples include that Desdemona believes that she must always remain faithful to her husband and never cheat on him, regardless of if he is cheating on her or not. Another example is that since Othello is a man that has been cheated on by his wife, he believes that he has the right to kill his wife. Finally, there is one character in Othello who often breaks gender roles. This character is Emilia. One example of Emilia breaking gender roles is when she tells Desdemona that she would cheat on her husband. A second example is at the end of Act 5 when Emilia throws Iago under the bus and does not leave or stop talking when he tells her to. These are examples of gender roles in Othello.