Alcohol In Othello

In today’s world, about fifteen percent of people abuse alcohol. This means that nearly 5.3 million people in the world turn to alcohol as their solution to the many of the problems they face. However, even those who come clean from alcohol abuse will never be the same again. Ejlert Lovborg in the play Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen and Michael Cassio in the play Othello by William Shakespeare are characters in which suffered from alcohol abuse. Alcohol has led these two down the wrong path in life and this is shown quite precisely in both plays. “Yes, that’s just what I can’t understand, looking back. But tell me now, Hedda, wasn’t it love that was at the bottom of that relationship? Wasn’t it, on your side, as though you wanted to purify

O, I have lost my/reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what/remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!" (2.3.241-243). Cassio ends up becoming intoxicated and getting into a fight with Roderigo; another soldier. Due to his actions, he loses his trust and reputation and gets fired as a lieutenant serving under General Othello. This highlights one of the themes in Othello as well, which is the theme of reputation and how fragile it is, just like Cassio. Being under the influence, Cassio executes preposterous actions in which leads to the demolition of him and his career. Cassio and Lovborg look for redemption even after hitting rock bottom. However, both these characters are left with a permanent scar on their characters, which leads to irrational

Lago ensures Othello and asks to speak with him later. This is where Lago and Cassio discuss and joke around about Bianca. With Othello overhearing everything, he assumes that Lago and Cassio are talking about Desdemona. At this very moment, Bianca comes in and throws the Handkerchief in Cassio’s face. While General Othello is watching, he is left to assume that Cassio and Desdemona were having an affair behind his back. This infuriates Othello and leads him to murder his own wife.

However, Cassio astonishingly fights off Roderigo and survives after even being wounded by Lago, and comes back to ensure Othello that everything was all Lago’s plot against him. This highlights the trait in Cassio, which is he always gets back up when gets knocked down. The Reputations of Michael Cassio and Ejlert Lovborg were directly affected and ruined by their past relationships with drinking. Their past experiences have instilled traits that help prevent their lives from derailment again. Similar strengths and weakness are shared due to the fact of their past being linked together with alcohol. They have learned that being intoxicated got them nowhere in life. Matter of fact, it dug the hole they were in deeper and deeper. This lesson both characters learned from their past helped shaped their character traits throughout the