Jealousy In Othello Essay

1079 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Explain Iago role in the play of Othello

“Beware of jealousy for verily it destroys good deeds the way fire destroys wood” (Hadith). In the play, Othello, Iago is a soldier that becomes jealous, and rivalries with the Moor, Othello, and the chosen one, Cassio, for his next in command. Iago is upset because he wanted to be Othello’s next in command. In the opening scene Roderigo and Iago are talking, Iago is explaining to Roderigo that he will take down Othello and Cassio will not take the spot that was meant for him. Roderigo on the other hand is jealous for love. He is jealous of the love Desdemona has grown to have for Othello. Roderigo will do as told by Iago, to get Desdemona to love him as Iago promised. Iago has his ways planned to seek revenge on Othello, he will not stop until …show more content…

Iago set up Cassio into believing that going to talk to Desdemona he would keep his job. Iago ordered Emilia to arrange the meeting for Cassio to catch him and Desdemona at the perfect time for Othello to see. Iago planned to lie to Othello just to seem as if he had all the proof, to show the “reality” of the affair between Desdemona and Cassio. Iago tricked Othello into thinking that Cassio has had dreams of his love for Desdemona. Emilia helped Iago get a hold of the symbolic handkerchief Othello first gifted to his wife. Iago knew this handkerchief meant so much to the relationship of Othello and Desdemona and he decided to trap Othello and making him believe Desdemona has actually slept with him and had forgotten it in Cassio’s room. This was all made up proof to bring down Othello in the most hurtful way possible. Iago was jealous enough he hadn’t seemed good enough to be Othello’s next in command that he had to seek revenge and get Othello jealous as well. Iago went out to seek revenge for his given spot, and he did he took down Othello and made him jealous of his beloved, truthful

Show More
Related

  • The Manipulation of Perception in Shakespeare's Othello

    1210 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Iago first sets out to deceive Othello, he tells him, "look at your wife; observe her well with Cassio" (3.3.196). He knows that if he can plant enough doubt and jealousy in Othello's mind, Othello only needs to look at Desdemona being friendly with Cassio to suspect infidelity. After this, when Desdemona asks for Cassio's reinstatement, it looks as though she is trying to get something better for her lover, as opposed to just helping a friend.

    Read More

  • Essay on Jealousy in Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, and Winter's Tale

    875 Words  | 2 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • How Does Iago Use Pathos In Othello

    1696 Words  | 4 Pages

    Implicitly targeting Othello’s doubts about marrying Desdemona and insecurities about her actions with infidelity, Iago eventually impacts Othello enough that the General himself confides in Iago about his own wife. Earlier in the play, ‘honest Iago’ needs to first gain Othello’s confidence and he does so by expressing his loyalty to Cassio, “I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth/ Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio”, while Othello is present in a conflict (2.3. 203-204). Then, later in the play Iago baits Othello by suggesting that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair. Immediately, Othello wants more information; however, Iago nervously responds with, “…vicious in my guess-/ As I confess…” and tries to calm Othello by saying, “My noble lord-” (3.3 46-47, 93). When voicing his devotion to Cassio, Iago immediately begins to play on his false reputation as ‘honest Iago’. He enables Othello, and his fellow characters, to think highly of him and to respect that even when his partner, Cassio, has not been following orders, Iago would even endure physical pain and have his “tongue cut from [his] mouth” and proves his locality (2.3. 203). This leads to when Iago responds to Othello’s queries, about

    Read More

  • Othello Persuasive Essay

    1421 Words  | 3 Pages

    Two individuals may be the best of friends but when one individual is taken in by jealousy over the other he or she will do anything in his or her power to ruin the other individual’s life; this is where the dilemma arises. William Shakespeare, the playwright of Othello portrays a story about a highly honoured character Othello who is the general of the state of Venice. Iago portrays himself as very loyal and true friend to Othello while his other side is much more ruthless and cruel towards the general. Othello gives Michael Cassio a position as his personal lieutenant, but Iago is highly jealous of this situation because he is the one that is closer to Othello and should acquire the position. Soon Iago plots a malevolence and wicked plan against the protagonist, Othello. When Othello flees with Desdemona to Cyprus, Iago begins his insinuations to Othello by telling him Desdemona’s intimacy relationship with Cassio. Othello becomes envious and suspicious of Desdemona and returns to the castle to kill his innocent wife. He eventually chokes her to death and Emilia, Iago’s wife, tells Othello the truth. Iago murders Emilia and Othello severely wounds Iago and then commits suicide. Iago the master puppeteer deludes his victims Othello, Cassio, Desdemona and Roderigo by being dishonest and deceitful.

    Read More

  • Words And Actions In Othello

    522 Words  | 2 Pages

    Othello did a big mistake by letting Iago flood his mind with false thoughts instead of communicating with Desdemona and Cassio about it. When Othello asks Emilia about the “affair” between Cassio and Desdemona, Emilia tells him the truth; Desdemona was never alone with Cassio. Othello completely shuts her down and says “She says enough, yet she’s a simple bawd that cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore, a closet, lock and key, of villainous secrets. And yet she’ll kneel and pray, I have seen her do ’t”(4.2.21-24).

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Othello

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    Roderigo is consumed by jealousy. Roderigo is jealous of the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. Roderigo loves Desdemona. With romance in Roderigo is able to be controlled by Iago thinking the down fall 0f Othello and Cassio would get Roderigo Desdemona. Roderigo is the biggest pawn Iago possesses. And probably the saddest character in the whole drama.

    Read More

  • Iago’s Jealousy

    917 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jealousy’s true destructive wrath and the pure evil it brings out in people can be revealed through Iago’s actions throughout the tragedy Othello. Throughout the play, jealousy is a ruler over Iago’s thoughts and actions, influencing the way he feels about himself. Iago’s jealousy is exhibited while speaking with Roderigo “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine/ (A fellow almost damned in a fair wife)/ That never set a squadron in the field, / Nor the division of a battle knows/ More than a spinster—unless the bookish theoric, / Wherein the toged consuls can propose/ As masterly as he.

    Read More

  • Cause And Effect Of Jealousy In Othello

    1512 Words  | 4 Pages

    Have you ever been jealous of someone due to some reason? One can understand how jealousy can affect him or her to do horrible things. Jealousy causes people to perform stupid actions that they would not have done if they were not jealous of something or someone. The protagonist and the antagonist are mostly driven by love and filled with the feeling of jealousy. Due to the feeling of jealousy felt by the antagonist, Iago about not getting the job he wanted, he makes a plan to somehow destroy Othello’s love for Desdemona. As the play progresses, the protagonist, Othello begins to appear more like Iago, as his jealousy destroys his wife and consumes his life. Therefore, jealousy is personified as a “green eyed monster” through the combination of Othello’s credulous nature and Iago’s malicious villainy. It is the reason for the change in Iago’s and Othello’s behavior, impacts the insecurity

    Read More

  • Violence in Shakespeare's Othello

    1336 Words  | 3 Pages

    The situation above leaves an opening for Iago to fulfill his vital plan to bring down Othello through Desdemona. Cassio was a mental wreck and told Iago that his reputation was ruined. Iago told him that he can get his rank back through Desdemona and get back on Othello's good side. "Confess yourself freely to her, importune her help to put you in your place again (p. 54)." Once Cassio talks to Desdemona, Iago will speak with Othello and get him to think of his wife's trust. In Act three Scene three Iago is speaking to Othello and warns him to look out for Cassio and Desdemona. Othello asks Iago if it was just Cassio that left from speaking with his wife.

    Read More

  • Jealousy in William Shakespeare´s Othello

    833 Words  | 2 Pages

    Roderigo shows a destructive influence of jealousy in the play "Othello". His jealousy is for anyone who captures Desdemona's heart. Roderigo desperately wants to marry Desdemona, but her father Barbantio disapproved. When Iago tells Roderigo that Othello has married Desdemona without her fathers consent, he replies ignorantly by saying, "What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe,/ if he can carry't this" (I.i.68-69). He wanted to be with Desdemona badly and because Othello married her without consent he is jealous of him. This begins Roderigo's resentment to Othello, and his thoughts on ruining him. Also, since Othello has married Desdemona without Barbantio's approval. Roderigo helps Iago with his plan to make Desdemona's father aware of the situation, due to the fact that they both want to sabotage Othello. Iago says to Roderigo, "Call up her father,/ Rouse him. Make after him in the streets. Incense her kinsmen,/ And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,/ Plague him with flies." (I.i.70-74), and Roderigo agreed on the plan. Roderigo thinks that if he tells Barbantio he will not accept the marriage, this would give Roderigo another chance with Desdemona. Roderigo's jealousy has influenced him into being self centered. He does not care about Othello's happiness but only pleasing himself. Lastly, Roderigo agrees to help Iago kill Cassio, after Iago manipulates and convinces Rode...

    Read More

  • Tragic Hero's Downfall In Othello '

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the drama, Othello let Iago control him as if he was a puppet under his master’s hands. When Iago first brought up the idea that Desdemona and Cassio might be having an affair, Othello did not believe him, he had faith in his wife. After many lies that Iago planted in Othello’s ears, Othello started to believe him and he dropped most of the faith that he had in Desdemona. Iago told Othello that in his sleep, Cassio said “Sweet Desdemona, let us be wary, let us hide our love”. Cursed fate that gave thee the Moor” (III.iii.416-417).

    Read More

  • Jealousy, the Monster in Shakespeare's Othello

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

      In accordance with the definition of jealousy, Roderigo desires the possessions of another.   It is this jealousy which moves him to do many evil things in the play.   He pays Iago large amounts of money to conjure up a scheme to acquire Desdemona.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Jealousy In Othello '

    540 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Vs Othello

    573 Words  | 2 Pages

    From that momement on, Iago began to plot his revenge against Othello, which included convincing Othello that his wife was unfaithful with non other than Cassio. From this point on in the story Iago goes through great lengths to ensure his plan will come to fruition. Iago works his plan so that all of those around him will in the end bring each other down, he is only planting the seed in each of their ears. When Cassio is demoted, Iago convinces him to go and speak to Desdemonda, Othello’s wife, to help convince Othello of giving him his position back. Iago has already planted the seed in Othello’s ear that it is Cassio who his beloved wife is being unfaithful with.

    Read More

  • Jealousy, Love and Betrayal in Othello by William Shakespeare

    1748 Words  | 4 Pages

    The role of jealousy, love and betrayal play a major role in The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. The entire play is based on the human interactions of the characters as related to Othello and Desdemona. The characters’ personalities, their social status, and their relationships to each other control the story line and their fate in the play. Othello is portrayed early in the play as an outsider with animalistic characteristics by Iago and Roderigo because of jealousy. “Your heart is burst; and have lost half of your soul/Even now, now, very now, an old black ram/Is tupping your white ewe”.(531) Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, accuses Othello of using witch craft on his daughter. “If she in chains of magic were not bound/ Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy/ So opposite to marriage that she shunned…” (535) This point is important because Othello must defend himself not only to Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, but to the entire Venetian Senate. “And till she come, as truly as to heaven,/ I do confess the vices of my blood./ So justly to your grave ears I’ll present/ How I did thrive in this fair lady’s love, / And she in mine.” (539) Othello proves himself to be an intellectual hero early in the play. He has worked hard to gain respectability and power, but because he has a different background, is from another country, is dark-skinned and is older than Desdemona, he becomes jealous very quickly of Cassio. Cassio is from the same social class, is compatible with Desdemona and is a young handsome man. Iago has also convinced Cassio to seek favor with Desdemo...

    Read More

More about Jealousy In Othello Essay

Open Document