Paranoia is a disease that feeds on the insecurities of people, within their lives, which can lead to their destruction as well; such as the lives of the characters in the play Othello, written by playwright William Shakespeare. During the play Othello, paranoia eats away at the lives of many characters throughout the scenes, resulting in destruction.
Paranoia leads to the destruction of many elements throughout the play Othello, primarily love, secondly family, and finally lives; as Othello, a Venetian General ruins his love with Desdemona, his wife, by believing Iago’s unsupported lies; Iago Othello’s ancient, controlled by paranoia as well, destroys many character’s relationships, and families, by the insecurities of rumours that have been spread about; and finally, Othello takes the life of his beloved Desdemona, as well as his own, because of the paranoia that drove him mad.
            Primarily, Othello consumed and controlled by lies and the devious mind of Iago, ruined the love that he and Desdemona shared. Othello is deceived by Iago; Iago tricked him into a trance of paranoia over a lie of the infidelity of Othello’s wife, Desdemona. Iago moulds the idea of Desdemona cheating on Othello with Michael Casio, into Othello’s mind. This was for Iago to get whatever he wanted, which is the position of Lieutenant from Casio, mainly a title of power. Iago used whatever lies he could think of, until they had actually occurred, so he could get anything he wanted out of Othello. Othello, paranoid by his wife’s infidelity lost everything he cared about, which was mainly the love of Desdemona. Consumed in anger, Othello slapped Desdemona losing her trust, as well as his reputation and credibility, as Lodovico was watching this turn of events. Paranoia will indulge the lives and love of people, in a lust of revenge and anger. In act 4, scene 3, lines 229-232, the quotation reads “Othello: I am glad to see you mad. Desdemona: Why, sweet Othello- Othello: Devil! (Striking her). Lodovico: My lord, this would not be believed in Venice, though I should swear I saw’t.” Othello enjoys his wife’s anger, then, as he angers in paranoia, because of his thought of her infidelity, causes Othello to strike her. Not only losing his well earned image of a Venetian general, Lodovico has second thoughts about his general. In slapping Desdemona, Othello takes a step further into the separation and destruction of the love they shared. Othello getting tricked into paranoia, a life ruining disease, if sever enough, leads to the swift ending of his love.
            Secondly, Iago, is indulged into the seduction of paranoia, leading him into the lust of revenge, which then turns into the destruction of families, one of which is his own, and the other, Othello’s. Iago gets trapped into paranoia, by believing rumours and lies that have been spread through Venice, and Cyprus, about his unfaithful wife, Emilia, the same way Othello got trapped into paranoia. Iago was set to believe he has been cuckolded by his wife and Othello. Iago angered, in combination of hate towards the moor, Othello, devised a scheme to his advantage, concluding with him receiving what he wanted, which was Cassio’s position as lieutenant, as well as the destruction of Othello’s family, which includes Othello and Desdemona. Iago had soon destroyed his family as well through paranoia and hate, as he killed his wife Emilia for telling Othello some truth to Iago’s lies. In act 1, scene 3, lines 375-387, Iago has a monologue securing his insecurities.  “But for my sport and profit. I hate the moor; and it is though abroad that ‘twixt my sheets He has done my office. I know not if’t be true; yet I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety. He holds me well; the better shall my purpose work on him. Cassio’s a proper man. Let me see now: To get his place and to plume up my will in double knavery-How, how?-Let’s see: – After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear that he is too familiar with his wife.” This quotation is the sudden truth out of Iago, for his raging paranoia, as well as his plan of revenge, in the destruction of Othello’s family. In summarizing, Iago a not so seemingly paranoia influenced victim is duped into the deep trance of paranoia, inflicting severe, unrepairable damage on his family, as well as Othello’s.
            Finally, through paranoia, Othello take the lives of the ones he loves most, which include his Desdemona’s, as well as his own. Paranoia drives Othello to insanity, to the point in which he does not know what to do, but follow the guidance of Iago. Iago tricked him into this thoughtless trance. In this trance, Othello decides upon taking the life of his beloved Desdemona, through revenge and anger, for he thinks he has been cuckolded.  Othello then takes his own life because of a new formed paranoia which was a consequence of killing Desdemona. In act 5, scene 2 lines 76-83. “ Desdemona: Alas, e is betray’d, and I undone! Othello; Out, strumpet! Weep’st thou for him to my face? Desdemona: Kille me tomorrow; let me live tonight! Othello: Nay, an you strive. Desdemona: But while I say one prayer! Othello: It is too late. (he smothers her)” Othello kills Desdemona, after she tell’s him the truth, Othello completely blinded by vengeance and paranoia takes the life of his one true love. In retrospect, Othello, conceded by paranoia gets driven mad to a point in which he is blinded and controlled by Iago. He then proceeds under the influence of paranoia and hate, to take lives, of both Desdemona’s and his.
            In conclusion, paranoia can lead to the destruction of love, family, and finally, lives, in occurrence of Othello, a Venetian General ruining his love, through the trickery of Iago; Iago who is controlled by a paranoia, resulting in the destruction of families; and finally Othello taking the life of his daring Desdemona as well as his own, because of a blinded paranoia control. Paranoia is a worldwide disease of destruction and deceit. Paranoia is the main theme and contributor leading to the climax of the play, and the conclusion of it, resulting in destruction for those consumed by it.