Othello's Jealousy

Jealousy of power is first displayed through Iago, a solider under Othello’s command. ”One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, a fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife, that never set a squadron in the field”(Act 1, Scene 1). Iago is consumed by jealousy of Cassio, which he masks with hatred of Othello, because Othello took up Cassio as lieutenant and not Iago. In this same scene, we are also introduced to Roderigo, a wealthy Venetian, who is desperately in love with Desdemona, Othello’s wife. This scene is significant because it crafts Iago as the perfect villain. He plans on exploiting Othello’s insecurities in exchange for his own vengeful agenda.

Othello was jealous that he was told his wife was cheating on him because he was older and not as attractive as some of the men interested in her. O.J. was jealous because Nicole, someone he was married to for seventeen years, was partying with different guys. Both of the men’s jealous were caused by insecurities. Othello was insecure because Desdemona had the option to find a younger, handsomer man if she wanted to. Othello’s jealousy turned abnormal after Iago brought him “proof” that his wife was cheating on him and he then planned to kill her.

Othello's Jealousy is mostly a figure of his imagination made from all of iago's lies and being mislead. The ironic part about that is that iago said to othello”beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock, The meat it feeds on”(III,iii,195-198). Iago is warning Othell that nothing good can come from jealousy.Then Iago starts to question desdemona's loyalty but othello gets mad and says”No, Iago; I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And on the proof, there is no more”(III,iii,220-223). Othello wants evidence of his claims before he finally decides if she was cheating on him with Cassio.

Jealousy plays a major role in Othello as it is the driving force which leads to the plays events being carried out. The theme of jealousy is prevalent through characterization and the dishonoring of the values of trust and loyalty. The character if Iago is the main who endures jealousy and dishonours trust and loyalty which in the end he uses as a method to lead Othello to his downfall. Iago dishonours Othello’s trust by stating “My lord, you know I love you” but this contrasts with Iago line “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”.

William Shakespeare’s play Othello is based on the theme of jealousy. Jealousy is an emotion that consists of feelings of anger, resentment, and insecurities due to the fear of losing something or someone that is considered of great value (). In Othello he introduces three couples which all play a major role in the theme of jealousy and how it develops throughout the play. The three couples are Othello and Desdemona, Iago and Emilia, and Cassio and Bianca. Each couple allows jealousy to ruin their relationship but some only to a certain extent.

“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on:”(46). Iago warns Othello of jealous intuitions and tries to guard him against them explaining jealousy as a monster that preys upon the souls it attaches to. Othello is truly in love with Desdemona but Iago is trying to tear them apart because he is jealous of Othello for being married to Desdemona. Iago tries to plant these false stories in Othello’s mind to try to get him fired up against Desdemona and thus disowning her. “Why, why is this? Think’st thou I ‘ld make a life of jealousy, … I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; and on the proof, there is no more but this, away at once with love or jealousy” (46). Iago tries to plant false rumors in Othello’s mind so as to provoke a jealous fit in Othello and make him go mad but Othello will not buy Iago’s claims without justified proof. Othello is not giving into Iago’s provocations so easily. Iago has not given up either because he has one more trick in his pocket to prove to Othello what he thinks is true. “And let him find it. Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ:” (50). Iago will not give up his scheming until Othello has his proof enough to believe Iago’s thoughts and claims. Iago is so jealous of the other characters especially Cassio that he is trying to turn his jealous tendencies into a plot to provoke a jealous wrath in Othello against Cassio. “As he

Jealousy is a powerful emotion that can blind oneself from identifying the truth. Shakespeare heavily emphasizes this theme throughout the drama Othello, especially through the actions of characters. In the play the heinous antagonist, Iago, uses each character’s jealousy to deceive that person and manipulate the truth. His false promises and deceitfulness bring to the demise of many of the main characters in the play, including the protagonist, Othello. Othello could not have been deceived if it were not for his powerful jealousy. Therefore, Shakespeare is telling us that jealousy is an ugly trait that can hide the truth, which in turn causes many problems between characters in the play.

Shakespeare is consistent in his use of 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. We see the kind of jealousy which is envy of what others have, and as the kind of which is fear of losing what we have. According to The New Lexicon Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language, “jealousy is a state of fear, suspicion,

In the tragedy Othello, the emotion of jealousy is portrayed through most of the characters and their actions. Throughout the play you can notice that some of the characters use and manipulate the feeling of jealousy towards the other characters, and you begin to see the consequences and effects this has on them. Even though this emotion influences some of the characters’ emotions and overall situations more than others, it affects them all one way or another. Jealousy is encountered in many parts of the play especially the main scenes where you really see it alter the characters state of minds. For instance when Iago says "O, beware, my lord of jealousy/ It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock/ The meat it feeds on."(III.iii.170-171) to Othello, he was trying to force jealousy into Othello's mind without Othello realizing it himself, and once Iago weaved nothing but jealousy and suspicion into Othello’s head it begins to have an almost domino effect on everyone else. However throughout the tragedy, you see jealousy grab hold

Shakespeare first presents Othello as a loyal, reasonable man very much in love with his wife. It is this view of his character that makes his jealousy all the more stronger. Othello is new to the monster that is jealousy and it blinds him to every other aspect of life. Othello’s jealousy causes him to be unable to experience normal things from others. He reads into small acts that he would otherwise consider insignificant or harmless. This new jealousy instills in him an anxiousness

In the play Othello, Iago describes jealousy as a “green-eyed monster. The “Green” representing the color of envy, and “monster” shows how destructive and vicious it can be. Iago has a manipulative mind causing people to believe him and listen what he has to say about a certain situation. When Iago is telling Othello to be aware of jealousy it causes Othello to become weary of his wife Desdemona. Although, Othello believes his wife is loyal to him. He starts to listen to Iago and becomes jealous of Roderigo who he believes is all for Desdemona.

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.

Iago’s jealousy ends up ruining multiple people’s lives. “Jealousy, once awakened, becomes self-perpetuating, self-intensifying, and where no justifying evidence for it exist... “ (Godfrey, !972, pg. 418). As long as he is gaining from what people have to lose then he is happy. He does not care what he has to put people through in order to get what he wants. His jealousy forms from two reasons: thinking Othello was sleeping with Emilia and Othello giving the position to Cassio instead of giving to him. “Off-Capp’d to him: and, by the faith of man, I know my price, I am worth no worse a place: But he, as loving his own pride and purposes, Evades them, with a bombast circumstance Horribly stuff’d with epithets of war; And, in conclusion, Nonsuits my mediators; for, “Certes,” says he, “I have already chosen my officer.” And what was he? One Michael

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.

Jealousy is described as someone who is feeling or showing envy of someone because of their achievements and advantages. Jealousy plays a major role in Shakespeare’s play Othello. There are many instances throughout the play that show jealousy between the characters. Throughout the play, jealousy is used for destructive purposes only. I believe that Iago longed to get revenge on Othello for previous issues. This only results in a long line of accusations and disputes between the characters in Othello.