Theme Of Justice In Othello

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Although justice is often defined as the fundamental ideology that the laws of a government are based on, justice is not bound to the laws of a government. In fact, justice is defined by our perspective of what we view as right. Moreover, the definition of justice may vary from person to person. However, justice may also blind us, causing us to act solely based on our perspective leading to unintended consequences. In William Shakespeare's Othello, the main driving force of the play is justice. Each of the characters have their own unique perspective of justice and their actions are defined through this perspective. Specifically, Othello, Iago, and Desdemona who all illustrate their sense of justice through their actions. But, Othello and Desdemona
Annoyed by the fact that Othello overlooked him and promoted Cassio, he states:”I know my price, I am worth no worse a place.../ Horribly stuff’d with epithets of war.../ ’I have already chose my officer/ And what was he?/ Forsooth, a great arithmetician” (1.1.11-19). Iago says this to Roderigo in order to show his ridicule and hate towards Othello’s decision of promoting Cassio implying that he felt Cassio did not deserve the promotion but he did. Based on his sense of justice, Iago felt that because of Othello’s unwise and ridiculous decision for promoting Cassio, Othello deserves to be ruined and punished. Iago also hatefully states “But partly led to diet my revenge,/ For that I do suspect the lusty Moor/ Hath leap’d into my seat; the thought whereof/ Doth gnaw my inwards;/ And nothing can or shall content my soul/ Till I am even with him, wife for wife” (2.1.295-299). Iago is simply stating that he is enraged in the suspicion that Othello may have slept with his wife, Emilia and that he seeks revenge which is Iago’s sense of justice since he believes given this reason, Othello should be punished and deserves revenge that will bring him and his wife to ruin. Thus the driving force that drove Iago is revenge because Iago chose to plot the evil scheme and revenge against Othello believing he deserved and that is was justified. But, others may still claim that the driving force that drove Iago is mainly power, revenge, and

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