Othello Jealousy Essay

628 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Iago's jealousy in Othello Essay

Mireku Michael
May 7, 2014
English
Optional Essay

Perfect revenge
In the play, "Othello", William Shakespeare uses the theme of jealousy to represent the insecurity of the characters and how jealousy can be the down fall of a man. Jealousy is a feeling that refers to a negative thought and ,fear and vague over an expected loss of something that the person values. Jealousy often consists a combining of present emotions such as anger, bitterness, inadequacy, weakness and disgust.
Othello begins in the city of Venice , where Rodrigo is having a discussion with Iago who is angry at being passed up as Othello's lieutenant. Although Iago has experience in battle and military matters and Casio, a man of strategy but little experience became Othello's lieutenant; due to this event Iago built hatred for Othello. Iago was aware that Desdemona was with Othello but yet he decided to encourage Rodrigo, who is in love with Desdemona to awaken Brabantio (Desdemona father) with a scream your daughter is gone. Brabantio disregards Rodrigo's screams and then he realized his daughter was not there, he panics and calls for his guards to find his daughter .
Brabantio accused Othello for using magic to seduce his daughter, he also wanted to arrest and prosecute Othello specially for the crime of witchcraft , not for running off with his daughter without his permission. He simply couldn't believe that a beautiful girl like Desdemona will be attracted to the Moor Othello unless she was blind; but in this case Desdemona wasn't planed , she knew what she was doing . since Othe...

... middle of paper ...

... Othello cries out for blood, he kneels and vows to the heavens that he will take his revenge by killing Desdemona and Casio. Othello did not know his right hand man Iago was his greater enemy. Othello agreed to kill Desdemona and Iago to kill Casio. Othello's jealousy over powers him to kill his wife, in the end only one man was standing which is Michael Casio.
In conclusion jealousy is an evil thing. Othello was convinced that his faithful wife (Desdemona) was cheat on him with Michael Casio. Iago was able to plant this convincing evidence to Othello. The moral of the play is to not " judge a book by its cover" and do not depend on what people say. If Othello was able to overcome the lies Iago to him, he and his wife would have still be alive.

Show More
Related

  • Jealousy in Villains of Different Works

    1841 Words  | 4 Pages

    Another reason Iago has massive jealously is he has a suspicion that Othello slept with his wife. Iago says, "I hate the moor: and it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets, he has done my office: I know not if't be true; but I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety." (1.3.12). Even though he is uncertain that Othello and Igao's wif...

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Othello

    568 Words  | 2 Pages

    Iago’s persistence and villainous intentions made Othello become jealous of Cassio and break down his emotions towards Desdemona and want to kill her with fierce rage. Othello would not do such a crime if he knew it was a lie because Othello loves Desdemona and would die for her. Othello was madly in love with Desdemona and they were compassionate for each other, but he was misguided and confused with jealousy and hatred which steered him off course to his sinister fate. Othello cannot be justified as a bad person because of one incident, especially after all the great things he’s done and achieved for the city. Iago is the real antagonist and has become the bad man of the play as his roles are to protect the crown in which was Othello and stay loyal to fellow soldiers but throughout the play he was the complete opposite with characteristics such as being a liar, un loyal to every character in the play.

    Read More

  • The Manipulation Of Jealousy In Shakespeare's Othello

    963 Words  | 2 Pages

    “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.

    Read More

  • Essay on Jealousy in Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, and Winter's Tale

    875 Words  | 2 Pages

    The common thread of jealousy ties together the main plots in Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, and The Winter's Tale. In each of these plays, the main conflict is centered around some form of jealousy. While jealousy is the mutual, most prominent cause for turmoil in these plays, its effects on the characters, and ultimately the plots, is different in each case. This difference has much to do with the way in which the concept of jealousy is woven into each play, and what it is intended to accomplish.

    Read More

  • Iago To Blame For Desdemona's Death

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    That’s Othello’s weakness that Iago deems as useful. Othello’s love turns to jealousy. The question is how sympatric is Othello to the reader. Othello feels betrayed. But Othello loses his look of a gullible, good guy when he decides he wants Cassio and Desdemona dead. The rage of his jealousy turns the character of Othello the readers know on its head and creates a different look. Only during and after the death of Desdemona can the reader see the good that was once in him. Othello shows regret and kind of a sense of torment. Clearly parts of him doesn’t want this to happen. And after the death of Desdemona he sees the misplaced change and rage he had. When Othello hears of Iago’s disseat he changes back to the good Othello that was present in the start of the play. He might be filled with regret and a new rage for Iago, but is morals seem solid

    Read More

  • The Jealous and Selfish Characters of Shakespeare's Othello

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the play Othello, there are many jealous and selfish characters. Each of the characters at one point or another let their jealousy take over. It seems like they all have these plots and plans on how to hurt another character in the play either physically or emotionally, as an act of selfishness, so that they can feel better about themselves. One main character who seems extremely jealous in this play is Iago. Infact, probably the most jealous. Many bad things happen because of Iago. The first bad thing that Iago did, was tell Barbantio (Desdamona's father) that Desdemona has married Othello, the Moore. Iago was mad at Othello, because Cassio had made Othello a higher position and not Iago. Iago thought that he was the one who qualified for the position as general, not Othello. Iago was jealous because of this, so he decided to tell Barbantio about Desdemona and Othello. This was bad, because Barbantio did not know yet, and something like that should have been said by his own daughter, not someone who was not part of the family. The way Iago went about telling him was also bad. He called to his house in the middle of the night. He yelled it to Barbantio from downstairs into his window in a rude manner. " quote from Othello here." He wanted Barbantio to be upset about what had happened, and most of all, he wanted Barbantio to be mad at Othello and do something bad to him.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Othello

    1330 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the end Othello kills Desdemona, and then realises that she was telling the truth all along, unable to deal with this he kills himself. Iago ends up murdering Emilia and tries to flee, but he is stopped by Lodovico and Montano. After that he is sentenced to death.

    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

  • Important Decisions In William Shakespeare's The Tragedy Of Othello

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Within the drama, “The Tragedy of Othello”, Othello maintains a vital role in the plot within Shakespeare’s writing. Othello held a prominent role in society as a general for Venice and was both physically and psychologically respected in his community. However, during the drama Othello makes an important decision by choosing to murder Desdemona even with no clear proof; this action would affect Othello greatly as the drama transpired. Throughout Shakespeare’s script, Othello is continuously manipulated by Iago which ultimately results in not only the death of Desdemona but also the death of Othello himself. All of his actions would play a part in the overall analyzation of Othello; a tragic hero.

    Read More

  • Iago’s Jealousy

    917 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jealousy’s true destructive wrath and the pure evil it brings out in people can be revealed through Iago’s actions throughout the tragedy Othello. Throughout the play, jealousy is a ruler over Iago’s thoughts and actions, influencing the way he feels about himself. Iago’s jealousy is exhibited while speaking with Roderigo “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine/ (A fellow almost damned in a fair wife)/ That never set a squadron in the field, / Nor the division of a battle knows/ More than a spinster—unless the bookish theoric, / Wherein the toged consuls can propose/ As masterly as he.

    Read More

  • The Trials of Othello

    929 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...o confronts Desdemona while she is alone in her room. He asks Desdemona if there is anything she wants to tell him to try and get rid of her sins. He also says that this would be best for her because his mind is made up and she is going to die anyway.  At this point Othello has convinced himself that what he is dong is fully justified because Desdemona will betray other men if he does not go through with it. Desdemona pleads for just one more day but he says that he just cannot grant this and that she must die now. Othello proceeds to suffocate Desdemona in her own pillow and though Othello hated to have to do it he at least feels that she can do no more harm but this all changes when everyone enters the room. After a few short dialogues Othello is informed that Iago had been lying the entire time and Othello proceeds to kill himself.

    Read More

  • Free College Essays - The Noble Othello in Shakespeare's Othello

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    This character is so noble, Othello's feelings and actions follow so inevitably from it and from the forces brought to bear on it, and his sufferings are so heart-rending, that he stirs a passion of mingled love and pity which readers feel for no other hero in Shakespeare, and to which not even Mr Swinburne can do more than justice. Yet there are some critics and not a few readers who cherish a grudge against him. They do not merely think that in the later stages of his temptation he showed a certain obtuseness, and that, to speak pedantically, he acted with unjustifiable precipitance and violence; no one, I suppose, denies that. But, even when they admit that he was not of a jealous temper, they consider that he was "easily jealous"; they seem to think that it was inexcusable in him to feel any suspicion of his wife at all; and they blame him for never suspecting Iago or asking him for evidence. I refer to this attitude of mind chiefly in order to draw attention to certain points in the story. It comes partly from inattention (for Othello did suspect Iago and did ask him for evidence); partly from a misconstruction of the text which makes Othello appear jealous long before he really is so; [Endnote 2] and partly from failure to realise certain essential facts. I will begin with these.

    Read More

  • Iago Manipulation In Othello

    1386 Words  | 3 Pages

    It causes people to do terrible things because once it is on a person’s conscience, it stays for quite some time. Because of these effects, jealousy can impact some of the strongest people, such as Othello. The love between Desdemona and Othello was portrayed so elevated and pure and was filled with religious words and phrases that just added to the strength and sanctity of their love. Othello has such a strong mind, but jealousy caused by the manipulation of Iago, negatively impacts him. Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him with his friend Cassio.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Jealousy And Manipulation In Othello

    1211 Words  | 3 Pages

    The play, Othello is one of the most famous tragedies composed by William Shakespeare during the Renaissance period. It powerfully portrays a world where the acts of evil ultimately vanquishes fidelity, nobility and integrity. The central themes jealousy and manipulation embodies the foretold tragedies and the downfall tragedies of the characters due to one’s insecurities. Through the use of literary techniques and figurative language, Shakespeare has effectively explored the themes of jealousy and manipulation.

    Read More

  • Tragic Hero's Downfall In Othello '

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello being very easily manipulated led him to make choices that would later on kill his wife and even kill himself. Othello having poor judgment lead him to trust the wrong people and this tied to him making the wrong decisions. His jealousy and obsession with Desdemona was what lead him to kill her. If Othello did not possess these traits the drama would have ended completely different. Othello let himself believe everything Iago told him, if he chose to trust his wife the whole conflict would have been averted. His obsession with his wife was so strong that he could not help think about what she did with Cassio and the only way out was to kill her.

    Read More

More about Othello Jealousy Essay

Open Document