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Jealousy in Othello is a very common yet strong theme. It single-handedly destroyed relationships and even got some people killed. It occurred when Iago wasn’t appointed lieutenant, when othello started hearing his wife was “cheating” on him, Iago got upset in hearing Othello was “sleeping” with Emilia maybe hinting towards some jealousy. One of the first instances of jealousy in the book is in Act 1 when Iago is passed up for an opportunity to be lieutenant and instead the job was given to Michael Cassio, Iago claims to hate Othello for this, saying how he has much more battle experience than Michael. (I.I. 21-34) Iago says “one Michael cassio, a florentine, A fellow almost damned in a fair wife, that never set a squadron in the field, nor
Iago' s jealousy rises mainly from a his boss, Othello, picking Cassio to be his right hand man. "One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, a fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife; that neverset a squadron in the field, nor the division of a battle knows more than a spinster;" (1.1.2.) Iago believes Cassio is way too under qualified. Therefore (not on purpose), Iago feel less like a man and giving Iago little power. He hates when people are in a higher position than him. Also when giving Cassio the lieutenant job, it gave Iago someone new to direct his attention and jealousy toward. Iago makes a plan to get revenge by making it look like Othello's wife and his newfound lieutenant are having an affair behind his back. And then Iago can get the job he believes he rightful deserved in the first place.
In Othello, the jealousy factor is deliberately introduced by Iago, with the precise intention of destroying those whom he feels have wronged him. Since it is intentionally used with malicious intent, it has catastrophic results. Iago himself is jealous of Cassio; he feels that he should have been appointed to Cassio's position by Othello, and since he wasn't he hates both Othello and Cassio. Iago channels the jealousy that Othello and Cassio have made him feel, and uses it against them in a hateful plan. Iago starts the process by planting the seeds of jealousy in Othello's mind, telling him Desdemona has been unfaithful. He then proceeds to cultivate the growing jealousy by feeding it with more lies, and twisting innocent events into situations which would serve his needs (his telling Othello that Cassio and Desdemona met in secret, and convincing him that Desdemona vied for Cassio's reinstatement as lieutenant because she loved him, for example). When the seeds had flourished, and Iago had succeeded in driving Othello mad with jealousy, Iago harvested his crop and convinced Othello to kill Desdemona. Othello's killing Desdemona would both rid Iago of Desde...
William Shakespeare’s Othello is a tragedy about revenge through jealousy and deception. Throughout the play, Iago is constantly pitting characters against each other in order to satiate his anger from being denied the promotion to lieutenant that Cassio was granted. As a catalyst for all the conflicts that arise during the play, Iago merely uncovers the underlying insecurities characters such as Othello, a notable war general in Venice, are struggling with. Animal imagery as well as the use of light and dark to differentiate between race is very prominent and is used to drive a wedge between the newlyweds, Othello and Desdemona. Although Othello is a highly accomplished and well respected war hero, the notion that Venetians, including Desdemona, are a superior race, prevents him from ever feeling truly secure in his marriage, ultimately leading to the demise of several people close to him, and finally himself.
In the analysis of Iago’s character, we find that the true motive for his villainous acts is simply jealousy. Throughout the course of the novel, we are confronted with some of the motives for Iago’s jealousy. He believes that Othello has been having an affair with Emilia. He also despises Cassio because of the promotion he received.
In the play Othello, there are many jealous and selfish characters. Each of the characters at one point or another let their jealousy take over. It seems like they all have these plots and plans on how to hurt another character in the play either physically or emotionally, as an act of selfishness, so that they can feel better about themselves. One main character who seems extremely jealous in this play is Iago. Infact, probably the most jealous. Many bad things happen because of Iago. The first bad thing that Iago did, was tell Barbantio (Desdamona's father) that Desdemona has married Othello, the Moore. Iago was mad at Othello, because Cassio had made Othello a higher position and not Iago. Iago thought that he was the one who qualified for the position as general, not Othello. Iago was jealous because of this, so he decided to tell Barbantio about Desdemona and Othello. This was bad, because Barbantio did not know yet, and something like that should have been said by his own daughter, not someone who was not part of the family. The way Iago went about telling him was also bad. He called to his house in the middle of the night. He yelled it to Barbantio from downstairs into his window in a rude manner. " quote from Othello here." He wanted Barbantio to be upset about what had happened, and most of all, he wanted Barbantio to be mad at Othello and do something bad to him.
The first Theme of jealousy is demonstrated by Iago. “O, Beware, my lord, of jealousy! / It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock / the meat it feeds on. (3.3.170-172). Iago pretends to warn Othello not to be a jealous man, pointing out that jealousy ends up destroying the heart of the man who falls prey to it. “The Moor already changes with my poison. / 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 sulfur....” (3.3.335-343). Iago realiz...
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock.The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss. Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er. Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves” (3.3.163-168). In Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy is the common theme that becomes Othello’s undoing. Through text in the play, the audience can notice Othello slowly begin to become crazed through his speech.
Shakespeare’s work “Othello” emphasizes the dangers of jealousy. The play demonstrates how jealousy is powered by affirmations that can easily be proven false. Therefore, resulting in the destruction of many lives, including the tragic hero himself. It is extremely apparent that jealousy is a behavioral propellant on the entire plot. Specifically, the play begins in the midst of Iago’s jealous behavior towards Cassio. Lago’s twisted actions refer to the source of jealousy, indicating that he takes revenge on the people around him and is the least discontent with the lives he damages. As the play progresses, both the tragic hero and Iago’s jealous behavior develops. Othello’s Moorish values make him obscure in comparison to other Venetians suggests that the reason for his jealousy is unreasonable. Notably, Shakespeare exhibits that jealousy is unreasonable throughout the play as a result of the tragic hero’s fatal flaw, an issue that is psychological. The action and behavior Othello performs in enviousness is not a source of a reasonable act of
(1.3.329-433) Iago’s excuse for ruining Othello’s life was always based on Here, however, Iago suggests he loathes Othello due to the ongoing rumours that Othello is having an affair with his wife Emilia. This demonstrates that Iago’s jealousy is rooted in more than one situation or event regarding Othello. As with Roderigo, Iago is ruled by his jealousy, even in the absence of real evidence. Although Othello possesses many admirable traits such as loyalty and determination, his tragic flaw is jealousy.
What is the most disastrous human emotion? William Shakespeare's Othello makes it clear that the answer to this question is jealousy. After all, it is jealousy that drives Iago to concoct the plan, which ruins the lives of several innocent people including Othello, Desdemona, Emilia, and Roderigo. This play poses a distinct character foil between Shakespeare's vilest villain, Iago, and the honest, but easily mislead Othello. This tragedy is mostly based upon Iago's suggestion of an affair between Othello's wife, Desdemona, and the lieutenant Cassio. As a loving, trusting husband, Othello at first does not want to believe the insinuations, but his feelings are distorted by the cunning Iago into believing his base slander. Othello's soliloquy in Act III depicts this transformation of his character from an understanding, straightforward man to an angry, suspicious, and jealous husband.
Iago's envy towards Othello and Cassio eventually cause them to become jealous, as they want to protect the things they already have. By tricking Othello into thinking his relationship with his wife may be in jeopardy, Iago brings out two very destructive emotions in Othello: jealousy and envy. Othello was jealous in the sense that he didn't want to lose his wife, and envious in the sense that he believed Cassio may have had a stronger relationship with his wife than he did. This all stemmed from Othello's insecurity that he was too physically undesirable for Desdemona to be satisfied with him for very long. While this insecurity already existed, it took Iago's plot to bring this out in Othello.
When Othello promotes Cassio to lieutenant, Iago becomes furious. Being Othello’s right hand man, Iago believes that he deserves the promotion. This fury leads Iago to create a plan, and in a monologue at the end of act one, he tells the audience that the plan is in motion. “It is engendered! Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.” (Othello,I,iii). He later reveals his plan to the audience. He uses Desdemona’s kindness to make Othello suspicious and he uses Cassio’s tendency to drink too much to get him removed from his post. A version of this can happen in society today. Two people are very close friends, and they spend large amounts of time together. When one of those friends starts dating another person, they have less time for their best friend. The best friend gets angry because they feel as though they have been replaced. They also might get jealous of the new boyfriend or girlfriend because they get to spend a lot of time with their best friend. They might be angry or jealous enough to sabotage the relationship so they can get their best friend back. Iago did exactly that. He was angry at Othello for not promoting him and jealous of Cassio because he got the lieutenancy. He sabotaged Othello’s relationship with Desdemona and he got Cassio stripped of his position because of anger and jealousy. Throughout the play, jealousy causes people to do and say things that are out of character for them. The same happens in society
Roderigo became jealous because Desdemona didn’t fall in love with him. Bianca became jealous because she thought that Cassio was cheating on her with another woman. Othello became jealous because he thought Desdemona was cheating on him with Cassio. Iago became jealous because Othello gave Cassio the position of lieutenant. These characters’ jealousy affected them in different ways.
Othello’s lack of jealousy, in the beginning, can be seen in act 3.3, line 188, “The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt,/ For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago:/ I’ll see before I doubt; when doubt, prove;/ And on the proof there is no more but this-/ Away at once with love or jealousy!” These lines, spoken by Othello, prove him trusting of his wife. This shows that there was no doubt in his wife’s faithfulness until Iago planted that doubt in his mind. While Iago did not have the proof Othello asks for, he tells Othello to “Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio.” Othello will find whatever he’s looking for, be it innocence or guilt, but Iago manipulates him to look for the later. Othello’s concerns here are his heart, his pride, and his power.
I would like to touch on the impact Iago’s actions had on Othello. As the book shows Othello was not a jealous man by nature. As I stated before I think we all have a little bit of jealousy in different situations, but it is also common sense and our natural