Every Man Kills the Things He Loves

The statement: Every man kills the things he loves can be used in different contexts to imply the sacrifices or hard decisions that people make regarding the things/objects they have a significant emotional attachment. Under such circumstances, those who are cowards and are not strong-willed will simply dilly-dally with the hopes that the situation will fade away or resolve itself. However, the individuals who are brave have the tendencies of acting decisively regardless of the difficulties involved in a given situation. Apparently, such scenarios are common in different narratives which play a vital role when it comes to creating a suspense and a thriller in a particular plot. It can, therefore, be contended that Nathaniel Hawthornes story The Birthmark and William Shakespeares drama Othello are typical pieces of literature where the assertion: Every man kills the things he loves has been widely explored.

The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a short story whose main focus is examining the obsessive nature of human beings as far as achieving perfection is concerned. As a brilliant and renowned scientist as well as a philosopher, Aylmer opts to shift attention from his career and experimental studies to seek a hand in marriage with Georgiana. It is alleged that Georgiana has a perfect physical body, making her be a beautiful lady who is adored by my suitors. Apparently, Aylmer had devoted all of his efforts towards his career. He had devoted himself, however, too unreservedly to scientific studies ever to be weaned from them by any second passion (Hawthorne 2). This indicates that Aylmer was passionate about his work life. Aylmer is compelled to act bravely and decisively to abandon his job as a scientist and a philosopher to focus on his love to Georgiana. This implies that Aylmer had to kill his career (a thing he liked most) for the sake of his romantic adventures with Georgiana.

Aylmers obsession with perfection results in a tragedy, as his wife succumbs to his delusions. After marrying Georgiana, Aylmer becomes unnaturally concerned with his wifes birthmark on the cheek. He evens dreams that he has successfully erased this birthmark through the scrapping of her wifes skin from an apple, an act which extends to her heart. As a way of ending Aylmers horrific obsession and distress, Georgiana is forced to risk her life to ensure the removal of the birthmark on her chick is completely removed. It is revealed that Aylmers somber imagination was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object, causing him more trouble and horror than ever Georgianas beauty (Hawthorne 4). This portrays Aylmers excessive concerns over the flaws of his wife as the primary cause of dissatisfaction on Georgianas physical appearance.

Using his experience in the experimental and scientific field, Aylmer is determined to remove the birthmark from his wifes cheek. Apparently, Georgiana is worried that the concoctions that her husband is preparing might be harmful to her health. "Think not so little of me that you cannot be honest about the risks we are taking I will drink whatever you make for me, even if it is a poison." (Hawthorne 9). After administering her with the medicinal substances he had prepared, Aylmer realizes that the birthmark was disappearing. However, this coincided with the death of Georgiana. Finally, it dawns on Aylmer had killed his beautiful wife due to his relentless pursuit of trying to make her body perfect. This instance in the Hawthornes short story The Birthmark implies that Every man kills the things he loves.

Othello by William Shakespeare

The roles played by different characters in the play Othello have been utilized to present various sacrifices people make regarding the objects they love. In this play, Iago is portrayed to be a jealous and inhuman person whose actions turn out to be tragic. As the game begins, it is revealed that Iago is angry with Othello for failing to promote him as Lieutenant (Shakespeare 1). This prompts Iago to team up with in Roderigo to take Desdemona from Othello. Earlier on, Roderigo was paying Iago to assist him in wooing Desdemona in becoming his wife. Once they hear that Desdemona has married Othello, they become furious thus embarking on devising evil plans to destroy Othellos marriage with Desdemona.

The romantic love between Othello and Desdemona ends tragic after Othello kills her. This indicates that regardless of Othellos passion and love towards Desdemona, he does not overcome the urge of killing her when it is alleged that she is having an affair with Cassio. As part of the strategy to ruin Othellos marriage with Desdemona, Iago and Roderigo embark on blackmailing Desdemona to be perceived as a whore and infidel in their wedding. Ill drop this in Cassios bedroom, and hell find it. Little things like this feed jealousy (Shakespeare, Act 3, scene one, p25). In the long run, Iago succeeds in corrupting Othellos mind, making him believe that Desdemona was cheating on him. His jealous grows, and he finally kills Desdemona. Desdemonas death can be used as evidence of the statement: Every man kills the things he loves. After realizing that he has wrongly murdered his wife, Othello commits suicide, thus killing another thing (life) which he treasured the most. Conclusion.

From the Nathaniel Hawthornes story The Birthmark and William Shakespeares drama Othello, various scenarios have been highlighted on individuals end up terminating things they love. This serves to imply the sacrifices or hard decisions that people make regarding the things/objects they have a significant emotional attachment.

Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Birth-Mark. Booklassic, 2015. Print.

Shakespeare, William. Othello. Penguin Readers, 2014. Print. <http://brooklyncollegegeology.com/ged/books/othello.pdf>.

. Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. Harper & brothers,, 1893. print.

Westchesterlibraries. ""The Birthmark, by Nathaniel Hawthorne." Westchesterlibraries (2016): 1-4. print. <http://wikis.westchesterlibraries.org/occfiles/The_Birthmark.pdf>.