Role Of Jealousy In Othello

382 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: The conflicts in Othello

In William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello jealousy is paramount theme. The protagonist Othello’s powerful feelings of jealousy about an alleged relationship between his wife, Desdemona and, lieutenant Cassio drives much of the play’s action. Through an analysis of significant quotes that portrays jealousy, this essay seeks to show how overwhelming jealousy exhibited by characters such as Iago and Emilia reflects their motivations and values.
Throughout the play, it is evident about how Ingo manipulates other characters by filling jealousy in their minds. In Act one, Ingo manipulates Roderigo as a disguise for his animosity towards Othello. He alludes that,
“I hate the Moor: And it is thought abroad, that ’twixt my sheets He has done my office: I know not if’s be true; But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety. He holds me well” (1.3.390-395).
In the beginning of play, Iago asserts that he hate Othello because he gave promotion to Cassio but, now him. Another reason Ingo wants to take revenge on Othello because he doubts Othello might have slept with his wife, Emilia. Even Though Ingo is not sure about the Othello and Emilia affair he plans to implant jealousy in …show more content…

Emilia reflects on Desdemona’s dilemma about how she never gave Othello reason to be jealous: “But jealous souls will not be answered so; they are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they are jealous: ’tis a monster Begot upon itself, born on itself” (3.4.160-165). Emilia points out that husbands such as Ingo and Othello do not need any real ‘cause’ to be jealous, they are just jealous. Emilia also states that jealousy is a ‘monster’ which is “begot on itself, born on itself’ meaning it nurtures and grows inside of us out of nothing. Emilia statements clearly indicates her views on jealousy as a part of human weakness which can be destructive for

Show More
Related

  • Othello

    645 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Othello”, by William Shakespeare, is a story of jealousy’s potential to manipulate thoughts and eventually lead to ultimate demise. The key to extremely detrimental jealousy lies within one’s ability to recognize it or deny it. It seems that the important theme of “Othello” is that if jealousy is not recognized and immediately dealt with, it receives a head start to commence the process of rotting away all normal human reason. Othello’s speech in Act III scene iii beginning with line 178 is the first and most important indicator of the trouble ominously looming on Othello’s horizon. His immediate response to Iago’s accusations is that of total denial. By depriving himself of that initial venting process, Othello gives his jealousy the perfect culture on which his jealousy can turn cancerous and grow out of control. Othello does not spit out the seed that Iago has planted within himself soon enough and thus lets Iago water it with smooth speech until its roots spread and cannot be uprooted. The only way to appropriately illustrate this point is through an in depth analysis of specific text from the play.

    Read More

  • Green Eyed Monster In William Shakespeare's Othello

    1364 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nearly every character in this tragic play suffers from one of the most corrupting and destructive emotions: jealousy. Only Desdemona and Cassio, the true innocents of the story, do not feel jealous while other characters demonstrate how jealousy can trigger disaster. Throughout the play, with Iago’s utterance, jealousy arises within the characters; however, Iago himself acts the way he does in the play because of his own jealousy. Still, apparently he manages to release the xenophobia of others to manipulate their jealousy in order to get revenge on Othello. In this play, it is clear that jealousy is an important theme.

    Read More

  • Othello’s Dramatic Flaw in Shakespeare's Othello

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    The play “Othello” by William Shakespeare was written in 1604 during the Elizabeth era. Othello is one of the most extraordinary characters in all of Shakespeare’s dramas. He enjoyed unheralded success in the combat zone, which gave him the reputation as one of Venice’s most competent generals. Even though he has great success in the battlefield, he has a dramatic flaw that causes a downfall in his life. The dramatic flaw that causes his downfall is jealousy. This was brought on by a simple persuasion of Iago, the evil character in the play. Even though Iago used extreme manipulation to get Othello to be jealous, Iago did not really have to try very hard to get Othello in a jealous state of mind. Othello was blinded by his jealousy which led him down a path of constant questioning of his wife and his friend Cassio. Throughout the play we see his dramatic flaw sink him deeper and deeper into a cloud of doubt which eventually leads him to kill not only his love of his life but also himself.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare’s Play Othello and Tim Blake Nelsons Movie

    946 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy is a common theme throughout the play. Shakespeare uses characterization and imagery to show this. By characterizing people such as Othello with jealousy the reader is able to understand the destruction of jealousy and what it does to even the greatest of people. Othello is introduced as a high class Venetian, who is at the top of the military. He is presented as a very high social status and when he talks about his newly wedded wife, he is only able to speak about the pure love between them two. As the mystical power of jealousy takes over Othello, he turns into a completely different man; he is enraged with jealousy and treats Desdemona as if she is nothing to him. The wife that he could only speak lovely words to contrasts to the end of the story when he calls her terrible comments such as an “Ipendunt strumpet!” Despite Desdemona’s pleas and her innocence, jealousy is able to take over the mind of any individual and take away the values of honor and trust. Othello’s mind becomes so corrupt by Iago that the once calm and honorable figure ends up going so crazy ...

    Read More

  • The Relationship Between Love And Hate In Othello

    1651 Words  | 4 Pages

    A.C. Bradley describes Othello as "by far the most romantic figure among Shakespeare's heroes"(Shakespearean Tragedy, 1). This is an unusual description of a man who murders his own wife. However, Othello's feelings of hate for Desdemona started as an overwhelming love for her when their relationship began. This transformation from love to hate also inflicted the characters Iago and Roderigo and like Othello their hatred resulted in the murder of innocent people. Roderigo's love for Desdemona was transformed into hate towards any man that he thought was loved by her. Iago's love for his job and his wife, Emilia changed into a destructive hatred of Cassio and Othello. As a result of their hatred Cassio, Emilia, and at the end themselves were killed. The connection between love and hate in William Shakespeare's "Othello" is the ugly feeling of jealousy that caused such transformations. Jealousy can be described as a fear of losing something or someone that is valuable (Godfrey 2). As minor as this feeling appears to be by that definition, it can take on varying degrees of damaging behavior. Othello, Roderigo, and Iago became paralyzed by jealousy. Their thoughts, actions, and behaviors were ruled by it. Jealousy caused their inability to the act rationally. They became paranoid and unable to love. This paper will examine the jealousy that caused love to turn into hate for Roderigo, Othello, and Iago.

    Read More

  • Jealousy Wrecks Havoc in Othello

    1803 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Love sees sharply, hatred sees even more sharp, but jealousy sees the sharpest for it is love and hate at the same time”(anonymous). Love and hate interlinked together builds jealousy. Jealous people are that way because they envy or wish they could have what someone else has to fulfill the attention or satisfaction need. There is a void in their lives that they believe can be filled if only the status or the treasures that another has belonged to them. The characters in Othello fall under the same category. There are several reasons for jealousy but all the reasons are interlinked and can destroy their fate if they are not careful. In Othello William Shakespeare exemplifies the fine line between a diverse range of jealousy types and how it can affect relationships.

    Read More

  • Themes in Shakespeare's Othello

    1165 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ng about their jealousy. Iago is jealous of Cassio, his position and authority. He says: `I know my price, I am worth no worse place'. Iago believes he was the better man, the more experienced soldier. He thinks Cassio is a feeble man with no practical experience he says: ‘bookish theory’. This long dialogue introduces jealousy because Iago is using prose, meaning he is uncontrolled and frustrated. Iago also seems to be jealous of Othello because of a rumour that Emilia slept with Othello. He remarks in his soliloquy:

    Read More

  • Differences Between Othello The Play And Play

    1181 Words  | 3 Pages

    Othello is well known for the hazard of Jealousy. The play showed how jealousy can desolate people’s lives. Iago’s jealousy and hatred against Othello caused him to scheme and ruin Othello’s life. Iago’s jealousy and hatred increased when Othello overlooked Iago and picked Cassio as his lieutenant. Iago became jealous of Cassio and planned to dismiss Cassio from his rank as a lieutenant by organizing a fight between him and Roderigo at the celebration event of Cyprus safety from the Turkish army. Iago was also a bit jealous of Roderigo’s wealth. Iago’s jealousy was part of the reason why he took advantage of Roderigo’s love for Desdemona by tricking Roderigo to give him money in order him to buy gifts for Desdemona. Jealousy also occurred between Roderigo and Othello. Roderigo was envious of Othello’s marriage to Desdemona because he loved Desdemona before she married Othello. Jealousy in Othello occurred in different forms and it led to the demolition of most of the characters in the

    Read More

  • The Pathways to Othello's Demise

    1150 Words  | 3 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, the protagonist, Othello, a respected Moorish general in the army of Venice, descends into murderous jealousy against his wife. Othello is initially depicted as a heroic and successful military leader whose thoughts are governed by logic and reason. Unfortunately, Othello has a few tragic flaws - he is gullible, suffers from low self-esteem because of his race and age, and like many men of that time, contemptuous of women. All these factors play a role in Othello's ultimate fall, however, Iago's exploitation of Othello's defect is the main reason that causes Othello to be driven by jealousy to the point that it consumes his entire existence that leads to the tragic outcome of the play. Iago's incessant deception and lies cause Othello's judgment to be eclipsed by insecurity, jealousy and lack of trust towards his wife leading to his tragic demise.

    Read More

  • Jealously Equals Death In Shakespeare's Othello

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jealously Equals Death A major piece of Othello that William Shakespeare is writing about is the underlying jealousy that each character possess. That jealousy drives characters to make choices that lead to the death of Desdemona, Othello, Iago, Emilia and Roderigo. Shakespeare’s uses the story of Othello to tell a tale of how one person’s jealousy can cause the spread of jealousy through an entire group, no matter their social status. Othello and the other characters are very important members of their society and to see the death of those five members caused by a single person’s jealousy is frightening. From the start of the story, Iago plays on Roderigo’s anger about losing Desdemona to Othello for his own personal gain.

    Read More

  • The Nature of Jealousy in Othello

    525 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s illustrious play Othello illustrates that the destructive nature of jealousy inevitably leads to desolation as it obscures reality, consumes the mind, and damages relationships. Jealousy is a prominent theme in this tragedy as it motivates many of the characters’ actions, and suggests a lot about the impacts and essence of jealousy itself. The play’s antagonist, Iago, is the first character to exhibit jealousy, which in turn spawns thoughts of retribution that prompt him to generate a plan to seek revenge on all those that he feels have wronged him. Throughout the play, Iago articulates his jealousy of both Othello and Cassio. He reveals that he is jealous of Cassio for securing the position of lieutenant, which Iago feels he was more deserving of, and jealous of Othello not only for his powerful position, but also because of his suspicion that Othello has slept with his wife, Emilia, “And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets/ He’s done my office. I know not if’t be true/ Yet I, for mere suspicion in that kind, / Will do as if for surety” (I. iii, 379, 3...

    Read More

  • Othello's Jealousy in William Shakespeare's Othello

    743 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare's Othello we are introduced into a web of a world entangled with lies, jealousy, and ultimately tragedy. We observe as Iago single handedly destroys the matrimony shared between Othello and the beautiful Desdemona. He does so with a flurry of deceit and trickery, playing upon one of the strongest human emotions, that of jealousy. Iago offers a story of betrayal to his master Othello, which ensnares his soul in a jealous rage of infidelity and honesty. Iago convinces his master that his beloved wife, Desdemona, is false in her virtue and with his right hand man Cassio nonetheless. Iago offers many ‘proofs’ to his lord, most of which are deceitful, but alas some that only work to spark the flame of jealousy in Othello. We shall examine each one and unravel Iago’s plan to dethrone his lord Othello, the Moor whom he despises so much.

    Read More

  • Jealousy in Shakespeare's Othello

    899 Words  | 2 Pages

    To conclude, in Othello there are different kinds of jealousy. Bianca is jealous of her supposed rival in her relationship with Cassio, Roderigo begins as a lover and under the influence of jealousy ends as a potential murderer; and both the evil villain and the hero are more or less jealous.

    Read More

  • Jealousy, Love and Betrayal in Othello by William Shakespeare

    1748 Words  | 4 Pages

    The role of jealousy, love and betrayal play a major role in The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. The entire play is based on the human interactions of the characters as related to Othello and Desdemona. The characters’ personalities, their social status, and their relationships to each other control the story line and their fate in the play. Othello is portrayed early in the play as an outsider with animalistic characteristics by Iago and Roderigo because of jealousy. “Your heart is burst; and have lost half of your soul/Even now, now, very now, an old black ram/Is tupping your white ewe”.(531) Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, accuses Othello of using witch craft on his daughter. “If she in chains of magic were not bound/ Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy/ So opposite to marriage that she shunned…” (535) This point is important because Othello must defend himself not only to Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, but to the entire Venetian Senate. “And till she come, as truly as to heaven,/ I do confess the vices of my blood./ So justly to your grave ears I’ll present/ How I did thrive in this fair lady’s love, / And she in mine.” (539) Othello proves himself to be an intellectual hero early in the play. He has worked hard to gain respectability and power, but because he has a different background, is from another country, is dark-skinned and is older than Desdemona, he becomes jealous very quickly of Cassio. Cassio is from the same social class, is compatible with Desdemona and is a young handsome man. Iago has also convinced Cassio to seek favor with Desdemo...

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Jealousy In Othello

    951 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare has repeatedly used the themes of love, death and revenge in his plays. Othello is a play that played a host to all these themes. Jealousy, however, was the theme that stood out the most and stirred the plot toward one of the most astonishing tragedies in Shakespearian history. Shakespeare’s use of Jealousy was necessary to send a message about how jealousy is a ticking bomb when triggered it can inflict the relationships between human beings and lead to the tragic downfall of a human being.

    Read More

More about Role Of Jealousy In Othello

Open Document