First off, for your viewing pleasure, you can watch a high school project that I randomly found on "Othello". I wouldn't bother posting this if it weren't for the song that they sing at the end. So if you would enjoy a little chuckle, watch this. :)
Throughout all of history, adultery has been a prevalent, constant offense in societies all around the world. No matter what culture, time period, or region of the world, adultery finds a way to crop up in daily life. Traces of adultery can even be linked back to Shakespeare’s time, as demonstrated through Othello. This sin is still being committed four hundred years later. Men and women alike are still being accused of and grieving from the effects of adultery. This is established by songs such as “It Wasn’t Me” by Shaggy and even cause for impeachment of a United States President.
The first example of how adultery is a timeless theme in humanity is illustrated when the character Desdemona is wrongfully accused of committing adultery. Even today, similar allegations are being made. Desdemona is contrasted with the song "It Wasn't Me" by artist Shaggy. In the song, Shaggy is cheating on his girlfriend with his neighbor. His girlfriend then catches him -multiple times - yet he denies he ever committed the act. Under guidance of his hard-to-understand friend, Shaggy is led down a path of lies and deceit. However, in Othello, Desdemona is not anything like Shaggy. While both Shaggy and Desdemona shut down any ideas that they were cheating on their significant other, Desdemona is the only one who is innocent. Desdemona loved Othello above all others and said in the story how she would never treat her husband as husbands often treat their wives. She described to Emilia that she would not even dream of cheating on Othello, saying “No, by this heavenly light!” (Act IV.iii.51) when asked if should would consider committing adultery. Shaggy did not have this conviction. He had little regard for his significant other because, on top of cheating on her, he also lied about it. In the song, the singer says, “I had tried to keep her from what she was about to see. Why should she believe me when I told her it wasn’t me?” (Shaggy) Shaggy lacked the honor and obedience that Desdemona clearly conveyed. There are many reasons people commit adultery; however, curiosity and boredom are among the most common. Some people get a thrill out of breaking the rules and seeing if they can get away with it. The adulterers often admit they love their significant other or spouse but still lie and cheat. Shaggy definitely abused his freedom in this case and ended up hurting his relationship with his girlfriend, something extremely common in the human existence.
Adultery is not only demonstrated by famous, 90’s R&B celebrities. Even society’s esteemed seem to be unable to escape the tempestuousness that infidelity can bring. In 1992, former president Bill Clinton was accused of committing adultery while he was in office. The country was in a state of outrage once they heard the news. However, his own wife had forgiven him. When Hilary Clinton was interviewed after the incident, she said, “You know, I'm not sitting here – some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette. I'm sitting here because I love him, and I respect him, and I honor what he's been through and what we've been through together. And you know, if that's not enough for people, then heck, don't vote for him” ("In 1992, Clinton Conceded Marital 'Wrongdoing'"). Even though Bill Clinton was publically unfaithful to his wife, she still remained faithful to him. This is similar to how Desdemona was faithful to Othello. He had murdered her because of jealousy, yet she was not angry with him. This blind love and devotion is also shown throughout the world and history.
Link to article with Bill and Hilary Clinton
Infidelity can be traced back to the beginning of time. Because of this, adultery is proven to be a timeless quality of human life that is likely to never be altered. As long as a lust for others is a part of the biology of people, then the sin will be committed. However, if there are people such as Desdemona in the world, then that number could decrease. If Othello were to see the pure love that his wife harbored for him, then he might not have murdered her. The same goes for the rest of the world. If people were to love each other more freely and openly, then accusations would not be made as quickly as they are. The Iago’s of the world would not convince naïve beings of false assumptions. All in all, the human condition would greatly increase.
Works Cited
"In 1992, Clinton Conceded Marital 'Wrongdoing'" Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis. 26 Jan. 1992. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.
Perrine, Laurence. “Othello”. Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense. Fort Worth.
Harcourt College. 2012. 1 361-462. Print.
Shaggy. It Wasn't Me. Shaggy. MCA Records, 2001. CD.
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