Who Is Iago's Jealousy In Othello

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.

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

Roderigo is jealous of Othello, because he has Desdemona, Desdemona is seen as, this innocent and sweet girl and that is what she is. Roderigo just wants Desdemona to be his and he starts to take action in order to do so. Everyone would be lucky to have a girl like Desdemona because everyone else seems to cheat on their husbands. Even in the play it is mentioned that is all they seem to do. Because he is jealous of Othello having Desdemona, Iago convinces him that if he would “put money in thy purse,” he would for sure have Desdemona. Iago is also jealous of Cassio, he

Jealousy is something every individual experiences some point in their life. It could either be something that someone else has, or something that you should of earned. Othello shows Jealousy towards Cassio’s looks right from the very beginning. Once Iago puts into Othello’s mind Desdemona has been cheating on him with Cassio, Othello’s jealousy increases drastically. Due to Othello being a “moor”, he feels though as if he does not fit in with the others. He begins to notice how well Cassio fits in with everyone because he is a Venetian. “He hath a daily beauty in his life” (Act 5, Scene 1, line 19). This show the jealousy Othello holds for Cassio because it states that Cassio is a well known, attractive individual. Not only is he jealous of his looks, but wanting to be who Cassio is, so Barbantio would not be so furious about him and Desdamona’s relationship. Othello’s jealousy has a big part with the handkerchief that plays a key part in the novel. “That is a fault. That the handkerchief did and egyptian to my mother give. She was a charmer, and could almost read the thoughts of people. She told her, while she kept it, ‘Twould make her admirable and subdue my father, entirely to love her. But if she lost it.” (Act 3, Scene 4, lines 49-55). Othello’s anger beings to build up more when Desdemona begins to change the topic of Cassio, though this anger does show he loves Dedemona, he was hoping Iago was wrong about the affair between the two. In comparison, Gatsby also portrays a lot of jealousy towards Tom’s relationship with the love of his life, Daisy. Gatsby has alway dreamed of being with Daisy, before he went to the war, and 5 years after, though she was a married woman. Gatsby holds great denial that Tom and Daisy would never have an intimate relationship, that would resemble to anything like Gatsby and Daisy’s. “I did love him once, but I loved you too.” (Fitzgerald 126). This is when the jealousy comes to life

Now that Michael Cassio is in distraught, he has no one to turn to, but Desdemona, Othello’s wife. Iago’s ultimate destruction is put into full motion. Michael Cassio and Desdemona spend a lot of secretive time together trying to figure out how to convince Othello to reinstate Cassio’s lieutenant position. The only person that knows their time together is Iago, since he is considered a trustworthy friend. This makes Iago’s plan

Another area of jealousy in Othello is when there are accusations of Othello having an affair with Iago’s wife, Emilia. Emilia was a woman who thought her husband was unfaithful, but stayed with him anyway. Along with these rumors, there were also rumors that Cassio had slept with Emilia too. I believe that jealousy is a powerful thing, and it’s hard to overcome rumors and accusations when they involve everyone’s husbands and wives. Not every character handled themselves the same while getting through these accusations of affairs and what not.

As a result of society‟s prejudice, Othello‟s self-esteem diminishes, allowing Iago to capitalize on his insecurity to invoke the feeling of jealousy in Othello. To start off, Iago insinuates that Desdemona is unfaithful to Othello, as she prefers only people of her „type‟, a class Othello will never belong. Iago convincingly states: “As, to be bold with you,/Not to affect many proposed matches/Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,/Whereto we see in all things nature tends” (III.iii. 232-236). By the same logic, Desdemona would prefer Cassio, who is like her in age, race, and class, as opposed to Othello who is older, black and unattractive(1538). Similarly, Iago uses Desdemona‟s gender and past to convince Othelloof her infidelity. Iago states: “She did deceive her father, marrying you,/And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks,/She loved them most” (III.iii. 210-213). He alludes that Desdemona, having betrayed her father, is very likely to betray Othello. Combined with the knowledge that wome of that time period were unvirtuous and unfaithful, this tips Othello over the

In act One, scene one we see Iago's conversation with Roderigo about Cassio being promoted ahead of him and how Iago believes that this is because of favourtism. This suggests one of many reasons why Iago plots against Othello. From this conversation we see that Iago is envious of Cassio being promoted ahead of him, and plotting against Othello as a means of seeeeking revenge. “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”. Iago believes that he

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,

This statement undermines his self-esteem. Because of his self-indulgence, we are inclined to believe his superiority as a warrior. Iago points out to Roderigo that Cassio, the newly appointed lieutenant, is not a true soldier. Iago says Cassio knows more “division of a battle “ (1.1.23) than this “bookish theoric” (1.1.24). Furthermore, there is nothing Iago can do about the situation: “there’s no remedy” (1.1.35). He realizes that “preferment goes by letter and affection” (1.1.36) and not by “old graduation” (1.1.37). So Iago will continue “serve” Othello, so that eventually he can “serve [his] turn upon him (Othello)” (1.1.42). As the reader, we get a clear-cut picture of where Iago was coming from, and we were forced to sympathize Iago’s position. In order to disguise his deep dissapointment and conceal his plans for revenge (which was his choice of action), Iago begins early in the play to reinforce his image as being an honest and loyal soldier. In Act I, Scene 2 for example, in a bit of playful boasting, Iago says that “in the trade of war I have slain men, / Yet do I hold it very stuff o’ the’ conscience / to do contriv’d murder I lack inequity…” (1.2.1-3). This was an outright lie, but he had come on stage with Othello and he said this for his general’s (Othello’s) benefit, posing as the rough and ready , but good hearted soldier. Iago also hides

Shakespeare’s Othello has been known as one of the greatest tragedies throughout history. In Othello there have been main topics of issues surrounding Othello’s love for his wife Desdemona and the relationship between Othello and Iago, who is Othello’s ancient. There have been questions about whether or not Othello was a jealous person or if Iago made Othello believe that he had to be jealous about something. Questions have also arose when discussing Othello’s love for Desdemona because some people believe that it was love turned to hate. However, other people believe that Othello did not truly love Desdemona. Although, jealousy is an emotion that can be manipulated.

“Othello” is one of the most successful plays in Shakespeare’s collection. One of the subjects the tragedy addresses is betrayal which is a crucial part of the play that helps the author develop events to bring it to its climax. Iago’s character symbolizes disloyalty, but what are the motives of his treachery? It seems like there is not enough reason for his actions. By creating Iago in “Othello” as perhaps a masterpiece villain comparing to all his other plays, Shakespeare introduces to the audience and reader an evil type of person who unfortunately exists in society, and he suggests that disloyalty is just part of such person’s nature, so one could betray for the sake of betrayal itself.

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.

Jealousy was based on Othello’s lack of trust on Desdemona and suspects her cheating on him. “To you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess