The Role of Jealousy in Othello.
The drama “Othello”, is well known, for the way Shakespeare was able to make the audience focus on the destructive and corrupting power of jealousy.
The theme “jealousy” in the drama “Othello” causes the major problems for the characters in the story. Jealousy in the story can be seen in two different views, which are:
a) The destructive power of sexual jealousy.
b) The jealousy of power and position.
Sexual jealousy was exhibited as one of the destructive factors of jealousy that leads to tragic occasions for characters in the play. Othello was made to be sexually jealous by Iago about the way Desdemona was cheating on him with Cassio. For instance, when Iago told Othello “Well, there you have it! Here’s a
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Roderigo was lustful for Desdemona, and was jealous of Othello for marrying her.
For instance, when Roderigo was discussing how much he hated Othello for marrying Desdemona with Iago “ Here is her father’s house ; I’ll call aloud “ (Shakespeare 1.1.70). This quote helps to shows how jealous Roderigo was for Othello marrying Desdemona, that he planned trouble with Iago to causes trouble for with Brabantio and the Senates because if he can’t have Desdemona, someone like Othello does not disserve to her. It goes without saying that Iago is also another victim of sexual jealousy, due to the fact that he got an anonymous tip that Othello had sex with his wife. For example, during Iago Soliloquy, he says “…He has done my office” (Shakespeare 1.3.408). This helps to explain Iago’s sexual jealousy for Othello, and also shows the reason for his revenge on Othello, as a for in that time a man who has being cuckold by his wife is not fit to be a man, and he is a disgrace to the community. In conclusion to what was stated earlier, Sexual jealousy can be seen to be one of the causes of jealousy. Another Destruction that jealousy has caused in the play is the jealousy of position and
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In the first seen, Iago shows of his jealously was right at the beginning of the play, he said “Mere prattle without practice is all his soldier ship. But he sir, had th’ election” (Shakespeare.1.1.26-27). This helps to show Iago’s jealousy towards Cassio as he wanted to be the Lutenant to Othello, for all his service he has done for Othello.
Also, Iago was jealous of Othello’s relationship with Desdemona. For instance when Iago says “It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor/She must change for youth” (Shakespeare 1.3.378-382). This quote furthers shows how Iago was jealous for Othello and Desdemona’s love. Desdemona is the daughter of a well-respected Senate, and she is much known for her beauty, and it seems like all the men in Venice in one way wanted to her as their wife, and Othello, who is a moor cannot just marry Desdemona.
Furthermore, Iago was jealous of Othello from the fact that he hated him, even if he was given the position or not. For instance where Iago said “Though I do hate him as I do hell pains, yet, for necessity of present life, I must show out a flag and sign of love which is indeed but sign”(Shakespeare (1.1.171-174). This quote helps to show how Iago will always hate Othello no matter what happens, he will always seek pleasure going against
Jealously is one of the main central ideas and is shown through many character but mainly Iago and Hugo and Othello and O. In act 4, scene 5 Othello
Iago’s self-doubt and jealousy is a natural result of being human, regardless of the way he decides to deal with these emotions, he manages them more honestly and manly than anyone throughout the play. Iago is well aware of the emotions he has and though he does not admit to anyone he is feeling this way, he knows it personally. It is quite apparent to the audience, that Iago has once before felt jealous; “Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy!/It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/The meat it feeds on” (III.iii.165-167). Iago’s previous jealousy does not show that he is evil or weak but rather that Iago is the only man throughout Othello to reveal his truly humanistic emotions. Iago knows about the `green-eyed monster of jealous` and does not freat to speak of it knowing it is human to be jealous and that is exactly what he is. By studying Shakespeare`s depiction of Iago, it can be concluded that if Iago felt as if being jealous was not human, he would not warn others of it and rather let them deal with it themselves. The way Iago thinks, provides proof to the audience that Iago neither is villainous or evil but just a human living in a society where being powerful is important, thus, bringing
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.
says,” Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me,” (Act 2, sc 1,
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.
Jealousy is someting that can cloud the minds of even the most smartest people.It can friends enemies and blur people's judgment and convince themselves of something that is false .throughout the book anger is a big motivator for the characters.
Iago does not stop there, his jealously leads him to start infecting others and the first is Roderigo, a naïve gentleman in Venice. To put his scheme into motion, Iago informs Roderigo of Othello and Desdemona’s elopement, which causes Roderigo to become very upset because he too is in love with Desdemona and is willing to do anything to win her love. Iago plants the seed of jealousy in Roderigo’s mind because he knows he can now use Roderigo “for sport and profit” (I.iii.1180) by playing off his jealousy toward anyone who comes close to Desdemona. After breaking Roderigo down he then, builds him back up by telling him a way they can break up the marriage. Iago tells him:
Shakespeare is known for his use of recurring themes throughout his work, including love, death and betrayal. These themes are present in his work of Othello. However, the most fundamental issue is jealousy. The lives of the characthers in Othello are ruined by jealousy from the beginning to the end of the play. The telling of the story is carried out by passion, jealousy, and death. Shakespeare’s Othello reveals devastating tragic inevitability, stunning psychological depth, and compelling poetic depth; the fragility and mysterious power of love, as well as demons of doubt, and how suspicion can be triggered by manipulative villain (Barthelemy 12).
In the play Othello, jealousy is shown to be very evident through the actions of the characters. Jealousy is an emotion that everyone shares, and it is ultimately responsible for the tragic ending of the play. Everyone feels jealous at certain times of their lives, and this feeling can cause people to do irrational things. This human emotion also shows people to be weak in the sense that they are never happy with what they have. Shakespeare shows through Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio that jealousy is the most corrupt and destructive emotion.
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
In Othello, one of the most significant scenes that portrays jealousy is when Roderigo uses Iago to get closer to Desdemona. It doesn’t seem as though Iago really wanted Desdemona,
Iago is a jealous beast and he knows the true power and control jealousy holds on a man, Iago knows the danger it holds and uses it in his favor against Othello. In Act 3 scene 3 Iago says “Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons. /Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, /But with a little act upon the blood. /Burn like the mines of Sulphur. I did say so:/Look,
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
But jealousy, and especially sexual jealousy, brings with it a sense of shame and humiliation. For this reason it is generally hidden; if we perceive it we ourselves are ashamed and turn our eyes away; and when it is not hidden it commonly stirs contempt as well as pity. Nor is this all. Such jealousy as Othello’s
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.