Shakespeare’s Othello and Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair Essay Example

like Iago, his thoughts reveal a decent and righteous individual, troubled by love like Othello. As such, his character is less overtly defined as good or evil than those in Othello. The novel was written during a time of post-war rationalism, causing Greene to analyze religion and morality with sophistication, leaving readers to ponder his characters' moral dilemmas. The era during which he wrote heavily influenced his treatment of jealousy and religion, often juxtaposing and confusing them throughout the novel.

Bendrix experiences a more abstract sense of jealousy than Othello, as he is uncertain about its intended target. Upon reading Sarah's diary, he realizes that God is his rival, thereby elevating his jealousy to a philosophical matter rather than a simple competition. Othello's jealousy, unlike Bendrix's emotional turmoil, is aimed at Cassio and is thus less complicated and more corporeal. The two authors employ characterisation to illustrate the psychological aspect of jealousy, but Greene, using Bendrix's character, is able to discuss the theme more explicitly.

The writer explains that jealousy is only present when there is desire, a belief that Greene shares. He highlights the use of the phrase "a jealous God" in the Old Testament, linking Bendrix's emotions to his religious beliefs and seeking to rationalize his bitterness. This theme of justifying jealousy appears later in the novel when Mr Savage states that jealousy is a sign of true love. Although this statement may seem insincere, Greene uses it to create empathy with Bendrix's emotions and cause readers to question their own character.

Unlike Shakespeare's plays, the novel 'The End of the Affair' provides a window into Sarah's thoughts. This presents a new approach to jealousy,

as we are able to comprehend it from the viewpoint of the innocent party. Sarah explains Bendrix's jealousy in the following manner: "He is jealous of the past and the present and the future. His love is like a medieval chastity belt: only when he is there, with me, in me, does he feel safe." This perspective presents a unique understanding of jealousy that we never see in the case of Desdemona.

Due to the tangible effect of characters' emotions on others in Greene's novel, jealousy in 'The End of the Affair' appears to be less one-sided compared to 'Othello'. The authors' varying treatments of jealousy stem from the different societies, forms, and ideologies present during their writing.