I really admire the choice to end the semester with this Shakespeare, as the drama that unfolds in the first few acts draws upon several dramatic features from other plays we’ve read this semester. The plot that we see unfold before us in the beginning of the play causes a rather sudden change in tone, as very quickly we see the friendship between the two kings diminish to the jealousy one king has for another. Jealousy drives the stakes of this play, and it isn’t hard to look through the plays we’ve covered in class this semester to find a plot that is similar.
Othello is a play who’s chief conflict arises out of Iago’s persuasion of Desdemona’s infidelity to Othello. Granted, it takes a bit longer for Othello to jump to the conclusion to actually kill his wife, but it’s still fair to compare Leonte and Othello on the basis of their rather quick turn on their significant others. Othello famously whispers before he murders his lover the phrase “Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men.” (5.1.6). Othello is seen here mad with jealousy, having to convince himself to commit to his actions by speaking aloud to himself. Leontes has a similar conversation with himself, as he convinces himself aloud that his wife is not faithful to him. He talks himself into such hysteria in that moment that he ends his personal aside by asking his son, “art thou my boy?” (2.1.151). Both of these men of power are convinced for one reason or another to distrust their family, and their blindness to the reality of their situation is what ultimately causes the tragedies in both cases.
I think the parallels between Othello and Leontes are clear in this respect. You say that Othello took a longer time being convinced that his wife was cheating on him, but it is not only that. Othello also has Iago to put doubt in his mind. Iago introduces the idea, and later the evidence, that Othello is a cuckold. Leontes, on the other hand, has no one to manipulate him or fabricate evidence. We can reasonably conclude that neither Desdamona nor Hermione are having affairs because of the absence of real evidence. While Othello has fabricated evidence of what he fears, Leontes has nothing at all. Leontes has no external force working to convince himself, he is the only one doing the convincing. In that way, while the consequences of both men’s fears are similar, we should have more trouble believing that Leontes would have any logical reason to do what he does. Not as much of a reason, at least, as Othello.