Othello, Examining the Theme of Jealousy

Within almost every piece of literature contains some substantial amount of human conflict. Without human conflict stories can easily lack of a readers interest. One of the most amazing types of human conflict in literature is jealousy, mainly because jealousy is a well effected method of twisting human emotions, and is known to spice up almost any situation in a story. In Othello we see cases of jealousy in every scene that defiantly keeps readers interested in the story, but is it the most important part of the story.

The story Othello has a large portion of jealousy in it; the story even begins with a discussion of jealousy in where Lago is completely outraged by Othello who had selected Cassio as his lieutenant. This event of Lago not given the military position of lieutenant pushes him and makes him want to get even with Othello. The only reason to why Lago shows jealousy is to allow the plays true plot come into action. You would never be able to tell that Lago is a person of pure evil because he always looks and acts so innocent. Lago without a doubt a very important factor of this story, mainly because the human emotion of jealousy would probably never exist if it weren't for him.

Although there is a great overall of jealousy in the story another important part of the story is revenge. Lago's whole intentions are based on revenge and on trying to get back at Othello for not choosing him as lieutenant. But unlike jealousy, revenge never changes; it's basically surrounding the evil intentions of Lago. Jealousy however always changes and every character will have they're own form of jealousy toward another created by Lago.

Throughout the story we are introduced to Brabantio who is the father of the very beautiful Desdemona. Desdemona was the one and only thing Brabantio loved and once Desdemona marries Othello jealousy emerges from Brabantio. The loved that Desdemona gave to her father now belongs to Othello. Roderigo who is another in love with Desdemona can not stand the fact that the woman he loves is married to another. This jealousy put another character against Othello and a helping pawn in Lago's evil plan. Without these emotions of jealousy toward Othello, Lago's plan wouldn't stand a chance.

Later in the story Lago reveilles his master plan to get back at Othello and of course this master plan involves jealousy or as Lago likes to call it, "the green-eyed monster.