I'm one of the few people left that you will meet that still writes essays in their traditional form, that isn't obligated by scholastics. This particular one came to me today after finishing the reading of Othello. Many people refer to this play by Shakespeare in many different ways, and usually sum it up as a tragedy of love. I couldn't help but notice some similarities between Othello, and the movie "Get Out." I know that is a funny statement, as "Get Out" is a funny movie, but I wanted to break down the common thread of jealousy that ties them together. I write this because I love literature and art, and these two works are reasons why. They have deep nuances, and lessons within them. Ultimately, they really showcase how important indiscriminant love is. They show you the dangers of the divides that humans cling to so desperately.
First, I must discuss their differences. While "Othello" is a tragedy of completely unbegotten jealousy, "Get Out," is a tale of retaliation in the midst of jealousy, that is warranted. They both house the racially tense tale of "black" men, who gain the love of white woman. Sadly, even today, that is still an uneasy concept generally, when there has always been only one human race. Both lead characters are driven to extremes to what they feel is their defense, but only the main character in "Get Out"- Chris, is without blame in his assumptions. However, with that said, they are both victimized.
In Othello, the title character is a general in the Venetian army. He appoints a young Cassio into a high position over a jealous and more experienced Iago. That motive, I've noticed, is constantly pushed as the fulcrum of the plot that Iago hatches to pay back Othello, but I resent that. Throughout the majority of the play, Othello's "blackness," is denoted as the reason for his not deserving his beautiful wife, Desdemona, or his position of leadership. In the opening acts, he is even accused of using witchcraft for wooing Desdemona, who would otherwise in her right mind, never consider his black ugliness. People seem to try to cover that over in their synopsis.
The movie "Get Out," stars Daniel Kaluuya, as Chris. He is a talented black photographer, who is madly in love with a caucasian girl. They are well into their relationship, and seemingly overdue for him to be introduced to her family. She assures him, despite his fears, that her family is inviting. His friend jokingly warns him early in the film about odd things that he notices. When he meets her family, they get along well, however, with a tense congeniality, as the father pokes tasteless jokes and compliments at Chris to break the ice. Chris notices that all of the workers on her parents' property are black, and he is assured that it isn't what it seems. In the end, he finds out that the workers are all, not only entranced, but actually vessels for the conversion of ill caucasian test subjects, who have their consciousnesses transferred to the host's body using a highly scientific hypnosis method, that receeds the host's consciousness.
While the reason is said to be innocent, it is odd. They concede what they call superior traits that they find in blacks, that they seek to utilize in order to better their quality of life. During his stay at the house, however, there is always an atmosphere of fear from the community that gathers there.
Othello and "Get Out" both have underlying themes of fear of the unknown. What that means is that, you see the exasperation of racial divides. It shows extremes that happen in exaggerated form, from what are accepted as minor issues and disdain. The maid of Othello's wife was humorous and witty, but she had some of the deep lines of the play. She defined jealousy like a black hole that produces and consumes itself from nothing, and needing nothing. Those are my words, but that is the general idea. Even though there were clear prejudices against Othello which he failed to take note of, he actually took note of suspicions that were unfounded, due to, not self-doubt, but an overly naive nature. When the maid cursed him out, he deserved it. You felt sorry for him however, because you saw him slowly consumed, and go from intelligent to idiotic, killing his love. And your heart went out to Desdemona, because she was surrounded in seedy characters that Othello thought defined her, and justified his suspicions, yet she couldn't have been more of the opposite. She was refreshingly, and entrancingly pure. She had the kind of rare purity that makes you want to cage someone from the world. And while reading the play, the reader will no doubt believe for some time, that she houses some of the bigotry and feelings of the others, but she doesn't. It truly felt like a tragedy, even when Othello, in regret, took his own life.
Chris also took a similar course in the movie "Get Out." Where things turned, were the fact that his girlfriend truly looked to play the part of Desdemona, with a completely isolated innocence, that made you feel for her as Chris' doubts mounted. However, in an odd twist, she was just as corrupt as those she was surrounded by. In fact, she was a predator all along. Even he doubts it, to the very end, and while watching, I doubted it as well. The jealousy there wasn't as shared as in Othello, but rather was directed at the main character and the like. He and others of his race were truly a feared experiment to the jaded scientists. While Othello served a lesson, "Get Out" served more as a slightly cynical warning. While those jealousies exist, it makes the viewer overly cautious of them.
This isn't a review necessarily. I just really enjoyed both works. I'm always drawn to things I can take something away from. And the moral of it all is to avoid jealousy, even in its most minute form. Failing to do that, can render you no more than a puppet to those who actually do mean you harm.
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