Exploring Jealousy and Proverbs in Othello

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Some traits of a jealous person are insecure, overly attached, spying, and low-self esteem. Othello’s jealousy started when he believed Iago’s lies about his wife infidelity. Iago’s claim became stronger when Othello found out his wife doesn’t have the handkerchief that symbolized their love. Iago exhibits jealousy in the play. Iago was jealous of Cassio’s rank as lieutenant. Roderigo was jealous of Othello’s union with Desdemona. Othello’s jealousy was based on false information. Iago’s jealousy was based on the desired job position and Roderigo’s jealousy was based upon his love for Desdemona. As human beings, I think it is almost impossible to avoid jealousy, but a person can overcome it. It is part of the human nature feel jealous, but It is uncommon for a person to be maliciously evil without cause or motive. A cause or motive is what drive many people to do malicious things. One characteristic that I might share with Iago is self-centered. I understand what Iago went through, but it still does not give him the right to ruin someone’s life. I would go as far as I possibly can to achieve my goals. I would not go as far as Iago did to achieve his goals. I would not kill or ruin someone else’s life just to achieve my personal goals. Even though I can be self-centered, I do care about other people’s life, especially if my decisions would impact their lives in a negative It said, “Okonkwo was as slippery as a fish in water”(Achebe, 1). This proverb described Okonkwo as a very fast and quick person. Another proverb in this book occurred at the end of chapter one. Unoka said, "Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them." (Achebe, 4). This proverb, Unoka said to his debtors that he will pay back his biggest debtor/s first before he pay back the people he owed less. “Mosquito, she had said, had asked Ear to marry him, whereupon Ear fell on the floor in uncontrollable laughter. “How much longer do you think you will live?” she asked. “You are already a skeleton.” Mosquito went away humiliated, and any time he passed her way he told Ear that he was still alive” (Achebe, 46). This folktale conveyed the natural occurrence of a mosquito bite on the human body. This folktale used the mosquito as your conscience. The mosquito is like an alarm clock that will remind someone that it is in fact still present. It also showed that you will always have a reminder of common

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