ignorance is bliss

William Shakespeare's Othello has countless emotions, thoughts, and messages that anyone could relate to.  These timeless messages make it clear how Shakespeare's works have survived the ages.  In this blog, I will touch on a cliched but timeless mindset that Othello exhibits in Act 3: ignorance is bliss.  Othello rants for some time to Iago about his despair and mourning in having been told about Desdemona's alleged affair with Cassio.  "He that is robbed, not wanting what is stol'n, let him not know 't and he's not robbed at all" (III. iii. 343-344).  He insists that it is better not to know of wrongs done to you at all.  He was happy in his ignorance of her supposed unfaithfulness.  He clearly longs to return to that state of blissful joy and trust.  We, as the audience, know that there is nothing for him to be mourning.  He thinks he is cruelly no longer ignorant, when in reality, he still is.  He is now ignorant to the fact that Iago is totally playing him and turning Othello against everyone he loves!