Week 1 Response- The Joy In Question

My first quote is taken from Wordsworth's poem "Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent's Narrow Room" on page 727.

"Have forfeited their ancient English dower
 Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;
 Oh! raise us up, return to us again;
 And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power."

And my second quote shall be taken from William Shakespeare's "Othello", towards the beginning on pages 8 and 9, spoken through the character Iago.

"...Though that his joy be joy,
Yet throw such changes of vexation on't
As it may lose some color."

I've looked over both these passages and it makes me wonder: Is joy a necessary thing for all people in life, or do some give it up for what they must do?

Taking a look at the first quote, Wordsworth appears to be using this passage to describe how the nuns he is describing relinquish their less than holy ideals and wants in order to carry out their duty as women of god's work, then decrees men as selfish creatures of want, then asks for redemption on our part. Though I agree not everyone is the purest cuts of the cloth, I don't think it's wrong to demonize everyone; I believe that yes, I'm better than some people, but at the same time, I know I'm worse than others. I'll admit that freely, but I wonder how others think of themselves. The other quote takes place in a conversation between Iago and Roderigo, where Iago tells the venetian gentleman about his own goals and reasons for following Othello, then tells him of a plan which appears to be demonizing the father of Othello's wife, to cause confusion and trouble in the royal house so that even the man's joy seems rather dull. I've always had trouble understanding Shakespearian events, but I do know back-stabbing selfishness when I see it, and Iago's spewing it out here. An interesting take on happiness in both forms with these two quotes that is truly curious.

Whether or not someone has compared the two before, I can say this about them; one does a good job for the other. Wordsworth's quote about men being selfish creatures of the want is a good description for Iago in this part, who has his own plans and desires that we will certainly see later in the acts to follow. Iago may have his reasons, but he certainly isn't proving to be a better person than Othello within these first few pages, so giving him freedom and power like in Wordsworth's passage might be a bit of a bad idea. Either way, I find that joy is lopsided in these two passages; whereas one would give it up in the name of duty and grace, and the other would try to ruin the happiness of another to one's own means. The different ways different people think can be fascinatingly reflected when you put them close together.

Well, that's my post for this week. More to follow and I hope you like this one on my opinion. See you all next time.