Othello's Jealousy

Othello by Shakespeare focuses on the tragedy of Othello and the other characters that are dragged along in it, as a result from jealousy. Throughout the play, a lot of drama unfolds because of the villain of the play, Iago who is the initiator of the chain of events that happens in the play. There are a few themes that are present in the play but the main one is jealousy. Jealously takes many forms in the play, from suspicions of being cheated on, to professional competition. Jealously is seen a lot throughout the play between numerous characters, which shows how it can be fueled and the damage it can cause.

Jealousy is seen from numerous characters in this play. Iago is jealous of Cassio for being Othello's lieutenant. Iago suggests that

To add to the suspicion, Iago tells Othello that Cassio was bragging about Desdemona saying he was, "with her, on her, what you will" (DiYanni, 4.34). Othello starts to tremble with rage with the hankerchief being lost, and the confessions he is hearing about his wife. Iago knows that Othello is full of doubt and suspicion at this point, making him vulnerable, so Iago tries to act shocked and make the situation worse, by making Othello jealous. Iago asks Cassio about Bianca, and heard that he was suppose to marry her. Cassio laughs and denies, saying he would never marry that prostitute, and he hugs Iago showing him how Bianca is always all over him. Othello, watching from the distance, thinks that Cassio is showing Iago how he was all over Desdemona, and how he is laughing about sleeping with her, because his jealousy has him so paranoid. Bianca enters and hears Cassio belittling her, and she gives him Desdemona's hankerchief back telling him it was a token from some other slut. When Othello sees Desdemona's hankerchief with Bianca, that is the proof he wanted, and he is convinced that his wife indeed cheat and he wants both Cassio and Desdemona killed. Othello becomes pissed and wants to kill both Cassio and Desdemona, he says, "I will chop her into messes! Cuckold me!" (DiYanni, 4.181) Iago jumps in stating, "And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker" (DiYanni,

Iago tells Roderigo to get Cassio out of the picture, and that he promises if Desdemona does not sleep with him by then, then he could kill him too. The Iago tells himself whether Roderigo kills Cassio, Cassio kills Roderigo, or they both kill themselves, it all works out in his favor regardless. Iago stabs Cassio, and Othello states, "Thou teachest me. Minion, your dear lies dead, and your unblest fate hies. Strumpet, I come" (Diyanni, 5.33). Othello is saying that Iago is brave to kill his friend, and he taught him how he should act, and that he is now after Desdemona because her lover is dead. Cassio screams for help, and tells Iago someone stabbed him, and he points to Roderigo saying he did it, so Iago stabs Roderigo, and called him a