Throughout Othello the Moor of Venice we experience a rather uplifting story that seems to somehow come crashing down on not only the characters in the story but the reader also. Author William Shakespeare does a tremendous job at connecting us with the characters in the play. Othello, the protagonist in the play, falls slowly into the pit of destruction where jealousy takes control. He along with many other characters in the play are manipulated by Iago and slowly taken down from a peaceful, love filled, and triumphant place in their lives to one that is dark and revengeful. Many are led to their deaths because of the terrible deeds done by Iago, some of which include Othello himself who commits suicide only after murdering his new wife over nothing but the mindset of jealousy and hate. Shakespeare explores a vast amount of literary content here some of which delve into Jealousy. Jealousy alongside intense deceitful manipulation can introduce a person to another sinister side of themselves they never knew to existed. Iago 's ultimate goal in the play is not yet clearly laid out; there is much to …show more content…
He creates a mask from reality by lying and deceiving almost everyone he comes into contact with. At the same time he makes it look as though they are getting a better end of the deal by using the positive side of what he says to make them want to achieve the task. In turn, they are met with an outcome that they least expected because of how Iago turns the situation on them for the worst. He is very clever with words no matter the gullibility or intellect of the person or people he speaks with. What does he make of all this mayhem? How does he justify his reasoning of torturing these people in their heads? These questions sprout interesting answers as they may be answered in a few different
In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, Iago, the villain, deceives the main character, Othello into thinking his wife is unfaithful. Although Iago’s claims are not true, Othello believes him, and by the end of the play, jealousy overtakes Othello. Othello’s jealousy is so intense that he kills his beautiful, faithful wife Desdemona due to his unfortunate trust in Iago. Because jealousy is not common to Othello’s nature, it seems odd that his jealousy drives him to murder. Also questionable, are Iago’s reasons for wanting to destroy Othello. Analysis will discover the characters unique motivations for their actions.
Othello is a play about jealousy’s causes and effects. Each character in the play had different reasons to be jealous and each of them chose to deal with it a certain way. All three characters Iago, Othello, and Roderigo had such cases and in the end dealt with different conflicts and outcomes. It’s important to understand that their actions in dealing with their jealousies were a reflection of their characters, and persona.
In The Tragedy of Othello, William Shakespeare tells the tale of the “noble Moor” whose honor and innocence bring about his downfall. Shakespeare writes of the power of jealousy, and the art of masterful deception and trickery. The story primarily takes place in Cyprus, during a war between the people of Venice and the invading Turks. In this play Shakespeare shows the feelings of Othello’s embittered right-hand man of, Iago, who feels he is passed over for a promotion and swears his revenge. He proceeds to manipulate his friends, enemies, and family into doing his bidding without any of them ever realizing his ultimate goal. He makes Othello believe that his new wife, the innocent Desdemona, is committing adultery with his newly promoted officer Michael Cassio. After this seed of jealousy has been planted, Othello’s mind takes its course in determining the true outcome, with a little more nudging from Iago. The course of action he proceeds to follow is one that not only ends his own life, but also the life of his wife and others. In Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Othello, Othello is a man who is still truly honorable, despite the course of action he takes to resolve his perceived problem.
Iago says, “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on” (3.3.167-169). This quotation fits the tragic theme of jealousy by describing jealousy as a monster that that plays with its prey. This perfect comparison to jealousy is very accurate, the reason for this is jealousy came into Othello’s head slowly throughout the play. Every time you notice this horrific trait of Othello it got worse and grew inside him like the green-eyed monster mentioned by Iago. The moment that drew Othello to the breaking point was when he saw Cassio with the Handkerchief. This visual conformation takes Othello’s Jealousy to a whole new level. His anger overcomes all and looses his composer when he says, “How shall I murder him, Iago” (4.1.165). At this point Othello realizes the false truths created by Iago. His emotions start running wild and he changes into a new person of hate and anger, this is because he saw some type of proof to reassure his already questionable thoughts. These new profane thoughts of murder are seen when Othello says, “Ay, let her rot and parish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live! No, my heart is turned to stone” (4.1.176-177). This is the point when we see the soon to come fate of Desdemona. The Jealousy boils over in the mind of the Moore as Iago
Kashayla Snipes Dr. Nancy Blair English Composition 1102 February 25, 2014. Othello: A Tragedy of Jealosuy. “Jealousy is troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.”
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock.The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss. Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er. Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves” (3.3.163-168). In Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy is the common theme that becomes Othello’s undoing. Through text in the play, the audience can notice Othello slowly begin to become crazed through his speech.
that he is the wrong man for the job. Iago thinks that he deserved it
Jealousy is described as someone who is feeling or showing envy of someone because of their achievements and advantages. Jealousy plays a major role in Shakespeare’s play Othello. There are many instances throughout the play that show jealousy between the characters. Throughout the play, jealousy is used for destructive purposes only. I believe that Iago longed to get revenge on Othello for previous issues. This only results in a long line of accusations and disputes between the characters in Othello.
In Act V of William Shakespeare’s Othello, Shakespeare utilizes metaphor and contradiction within Othello’s soliloquy to emphasize and illustrate the immense pain Othello feels because of the real antagonist of the work- jealousy. Othello is a naive character who is very protective of his wife. He becomes suspicious when Iago hints that Cassio and Desdemona have been sneaking around behind Othello’s back; subsequently, Othello is made a fool by Iago’s plot because he is overwhelmed by his jealous nature and cannot contain the contempt he feels after thinking he is betrayed. Once he is tricked, Othello feels the only way to accomplish justice is through murdering his wife and prevent “[Desdemona from betraying] more men” (V.ii.6). By murdering his wife, Othello feels he will end the injustice; however, while debating whether or not to commit the act, he quickly contradicts himself through the use of metaphor by referring to Desdemona’s life to a rose.
If a monster with green eyes were coming at an individual, what would one do? The answer of course, depends on the circumstances of that particular person. Would one permit the green-eyed monster to conquer his or her own mind, and control his or her every move? In this case the green-eyed monster would indeed be jealousy. Now lets use Iago for example. He was prejudice towards the African American, Othello, to whom he held a lower military position; a less qualified man, Cassio, was promoted as Othello's lieutenant, and he wasn't high in social classes. Iago's life was excruciatingly unsatisfactory and Iago welcomed the green-eyed monster with is arms wide open. First of all, why does one feel a need for control over others? Besides jealousy, could ones own life not be going the way they would like? Iago didn't have power over anything. The only thing he had power over was his emotions, and he couldn't even control them. He says, and I quote, "Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to which our wills are gardeners (1.3.361-63)." In translation, it means only we have control over out internal selves. We are also the only one's who can take control over our feelings. As soon as Iago put his scheme into action, he saw results: "Now art thou my lieutenant (3.4.545)." Iago had Othello under his control, just as he anticipated. Iago told lies to Othello and to try and convince him to bring his own wants to life; one being lieutenant for Othello. Additionally, how could a person be so cruel? Iago was ruthless and surmounted by jealousy, selfishness, prejudice, and he was also spiteful. Iago had said, "I have it. It is engendered. Hell and night must bring this world's light (1.3.446-47)." Iago was referring to his cruel scheme designed to destroy Othello's life. How selfish of Iago to want to impose his cruel lies and actions on these somewhat good, unsuspecting people. He wanted to cause destruction for the sole purpose of satisfying his desires. Next, what happens when an individual has fulfilled his or her goals?
“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.
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.
William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Othello, mesmerizes the audience with the presence of jealousy, confusion, and sacrifice. Throughout this work, there is a perpetual battle between good and evil, which ultimately results in great destruction and despair. Many characters display strong roles as this horrific play unravels. However, the most prevalent characters who display the true depiction of a villain a victim and a venerable are Iago, Desdemona, and Emilia. For the duration of the work viewers see; Iago’s destructive lying and the deceitful ways he uses to try to make it to the top, Desdemona's fruitless battle to destroy false accusations put on her , and Emilia's ability to eventually lay down her life for the truth.
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...
Human eyes are often deceived by appearance and conversation. People get seduced to what they want to hear rather than knowing the truth. Jealousy can affect people in many different ways, sometimes in a good way, and also sometimes in a bad way. Jealousy is a misunderstanding with negative thoughts and feelings over loss of something of a great personal value. Jealousy tends to bring out the worst in society. Tension forced with gullibility the truth was not revealed; it was assumed. Gullibility may put a relationship into unnecessary jeopardy. Gullible people fail at social intelligence, in which a person is easily tricked or manipulated into doing something outrageous. Othello was tricked and convinced into doing unnecessary actions.