The Monster Jealousy Shakespeare’s use of the word monster in Othello the word “monster”may be a key to understanding the play. The etymology of ‘monster’ can be traced to mid 12th century France where connotations of the word included, “ to be skilled,” “genius,” and “mastermind”. By mid 13th century the connotation of the word in France changed to be a disfigured person.In contrast in classical Latin, the meaning of monster was very close to it 21st century meaning in English, i.e., grotesque and hideous. The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as ‘atrocity’, accompanied by acts of wicked things. According to the Oxford English Dictionary a monster is a mythical creature which is part human, or combines element of two or more animal forms. It is usually of a giant size and ferocious appearance. Today a monster is an imaginary creature that is large, ugly and frightening. This definition has been in use since the 1400s. In Othello, the word monster is related to the latin definition. The word “monster” or “monstrous” is used to describe or to be related to the tenets of jealousy because throughout the play jealousy is a recurring factor to the theme of love and hate in Othello. The first time the word “monster” or “monstrous” appears in Othello is in Act 1 scene three where Iago is giving a soliloquy on why he hates Othello and why he should stick with his plan to destroy everyone in the play. Iago says “Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.”
Shakespeare uses a combination of recurring themes and motifs such as betrayal, love, conflict, and jealousy throughout his plays and sonnets. In Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy is the prominent theme, which causes the destruction and tragic downfall of the play’s main characters. Jealousy is masked through lies, misleading situations and manipulation and interpreted in varied ways by the main characters. From beginning to end, jealousy is rooted in every scene, eventually leading to the death and demise of the main character, Othello.
In your view how does Shakespeare’s portrayal of the complex nature of jealousy contribute to the enduring value of Othello?
Othello is a classic Shakespearean tragedy that consists of many underlying themes depicted in the story. One of the most significant themes portrayed in this play revolve around the aspect of jealousy. Jealousy is a strong feeling of resentment that can overpower a person’s good will and compel them to take involuntary action against one. During the course of this play, we see three main characters that possess this idea of a jealous nature. The theme of jealousy is recognized in the villainous Iago which exposes his true self, the pathetic Roderigo, who in turn faces severe consequences, and the great Othello himself whom jealousy devours, leading him to make rash decisions.
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-ey’d monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on.” (Iago, act III, scene iii) William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright and actor. He wrote and directed many plays. Shakespeare uses repeated themes throughout his works, particularly those of love, death, and betrayal. Shakespeare repeats these themes to set the mood through his works. It is important for Shakespeare to be consistent with his themes, or the plays would lose their meaning and mood. All of these themes are present in Othello, but the most dominant is the theme of jealousy, which presents itself multiple times throughout the play. Jealousy leads to the destruction of friendships, relationships, and betrays the human nature.
Nature seems to reflect upon humans and often times it can be through animals. In literature, animal comparisons are not only used to symbolize different characteristics, but to also make the plot more dramatic and interesting. It is often used by many authors because it gives the reader a vivid image as well as an understanding of the character. The use of this literary device is a clever way to expose underlying motifs and traits. In William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, animal imagery is used to portray the themes of good versus evil, jealousy, and racism which is influenced through the characters of Iago and Othello.
Shakespeare explores themes that are still as relevant today as they were during the Elizabethan era. As humanity's flaws haven’t changed, there are still attitudes that conform to racist stereotypes and the greed for power and control .These concepts that are portrayed throughout Othello are of a timeless nature.
In the play, Othello, jealousy and envy are prominent themes from the beginning to the end. As the play starts to unwind, you can see jealousy is the major cause of all the drama in the play. Jealousy or envy is a feeling of discontented or resentful longing by someone else’s possessions , qualities or luck. Iago becomes engulfed by jealousy and it causes him to corrupt Othello. They are two men that cause similar crimes but we sympathize for Othello and hate Iago because they have different attitudes towards their crime.
Shakespeare’s novel Othello shows the downfall of the great General Othello, due to a flaw that is exploited by a man named Iago. But what is that flaw? The flaw in question is Othello’s raw emotions. Iago uses the emotion of jealousy against Othello all throughout Act 3 and most likely into Act 4.The jealousy comes into play when Iago convinces Othello that his wife, Desdemona, is cheating on him with Cassio. At first, Othello refuses to believe this, but soon doubt and jealousy set in.
Jealousy "The Green ey'd Monster": Othello by Shakespeare Othello, a play written by William Shakespeare, displays Othello as a fool who got tricked into being jealousy. This envy was brought on by Iago as he uses his envy for Othello's rank and bring disaster to everyone's lives. " The Honest" Iago betrays his own friends to get the rank of general. Before anyone realizes that Iago might not be as "just" as once thought, he already had implanted the seed of jealousy deep into people's hearts.
Jealousy can be determine by wanting what someone else have or fear/anger of losing someone. Wanting what someone has is like when your family member buys your little cousin a game , but not you so, you get jealous. Fear/anger of losing someone is like when they take one of your family members away and your friend have someone to talk too. Physical is hurting people that causes suicide and killing others, and mental is trick-minding getting into others head. In Othello, Iago signifies different types of jealousy that harms others physically, and mentally.
Shakespeare’s Othello is a play consistently based on jealously and the way it can destroy lives. One is quick to think this jealously is based on Othello’s lack of belief in Desdemona’s faithfulness to him or his suspensions over Desdemona’s affair with Cassio, Othello’s honorable lieutenant. Upon closer inspection of the jealously that exists throughout the play it becomes clear that his jealously is not the sole start and reason for all of the destruction that occurs. Iago, a good friend of Othello, is not who he appears to be. Iago’s own jealously of those around him pushes him over the edge. He begins to deceive all those who believe he is a true, honorable, and faithful man. Throughout Othello, Iago incites his own jealously in
In the story of Othello, all of the conflict, violence, and harm that occured was a result of jealousy. Iago, one of the victims of jealousy, made a hypocritical statement to Othello where he called jealousy a green-eyed monster. This monster known as jealousy not only consumes the people that it hates, but also consumes the person itself. Jealousy is the culprit for any character that had died in the story. Jealousy fueled each scene to the next in Othello and the more that is added, the more damage it does as seen with its effects on Roderigo, Iago, and Othello.
Jealousy is a powerful drug. When someone is jealous, one can only imagine how far someone would go because of it. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, there were several characters that went through different ways of processing their jealousy. Iago’s jealousy provokes his idea to get back at the people he felt was not deserving enough of the things they had or their happiness. His plans succeeds but by the end, no one wins. Iago’s jealousy forms at the beginning of the play which causes Othello’s jealousy towards the end and because of it, it results in people hurt mentally and physically.
Jealousy is the sensation to envy someone and have the desire to avenge someone. The infamous play Othello portrays the consequences of jealousy. Throughout the play, Othello tragic flaw is his own jealousy. Othello jealousy causes a transition of character. Othello was once the charming noble gentleman and it is now turned into a vicious callous monster. Othello’s jealousy was his downfall that cost the deaths of multiple lives.
The play Othello by William Shakespeare was published during the 16th century, it is one of Shakespeare’s popular and controversial plays. Shakespeare depicts Othello’s race as placing him apart in some respects from the predominantly white European society in which he lives. Jealousy is another of the main themes in Othello. Iago is the first character to start the sparks of jealousy in Othello, and in the end, causes the downfall of Othello and Desdemona. In the end, racism and jealousy are the causes of the tragedy in Othello.