Jealousy in William Shakespeare´s Othello

Iago formulates a plan to get back at Othello and also to help Rodrigo achieve his aspiration for Desdemona. Angry, Iago reveals his hatred upon Othello by waking Desdemona's father, Brabantio, and informing him about his daughter not being in her quarters and is out marrying the Moor, Othello. In Act 2, Scene 1, Iago suspects Othello having an affair with Iago's wife. Already we can see this villain spawning but does not show his hate to Othello. Furthermore, Iago manipulates Othello to believe that Desdemona is cheating while the all along she is being truthful about her innocence.

With very little evidence Othello is filled with jealousy. From this point on, the characters each destroy themselves and each other over Iago’s lies. The reader can predict the disastrous unavoidable ending that is coming. It isn’t until the very end after jealousy is the weapon that kills Desdemona, Othello gives his last speech upon killing himself, and Emilia is murdered by her husband that everyone realizes what fools they all have been. The characters made each other victims of Iago’s plan.

Iago’s ill will towards Michael Cassio’s promotion puts Iago in a jealous rage and Iago will do whatever it takes to destroy Michael Cassio not caring who is taken down along the way. Jealousy serves as a theme for William Shakespeare’s Othello. Jealousy starts in the opening scene which ends the play in many of the character’s demise. In Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s Othello Iago informs wealthy Roderigo of Othello’s marriage to Desdemona. Roderigo who has been paying Iago in his pursuit to win Desdemona’s love is overwhelmed with jealousy.

Just as Iago did. Roderigo was in love with Desdemona and wanted to marry her. When he found out that Othello had already married her, he wanted to get rid of him so that he would still have a chance with her. I think that Roderigo may have known that he did not have a chance with Desdemona and that she really did love Othello, and that made him very jealous. He did not like Othello because of this, and that's why he wanted to destroy his reputation.

Othello is so envious that he would rather be a toad than share his wife with another man. Othello tries to cover up his jealousy rather than to tell his wife of the rumor and communicate the emotions he is feeling. Othello questions himself and his wife, asking “why, why is this?/ think’st I’d make a life a jealousy”(3.3.178-179). Othello lets it slip that he is indeed jealous, but he will not let it destroy his life. However, he does let jealousy take over and he murders Desdemona.

This proves how sly he is and how indifferent he is to the fact that innocent people could die because of his plot. Then Othello says “she must die, else she’ll betray more men” (5.2). Through this aside readers are told that Othello’s intention in going to her room is to murder her. It shows how significantly he was affected by Iago’s

Iago is envious of Othello’s position of power, and the rumors that Emilia had an affair with Othello. Ultimately, Iago plans to destroy Othello by inciting him with envy, and to get Othello to turn on his wife.Iago’s paramount display of envy for Othello is in his soliloquy and also his conversations with Othello. Othello soon becomes overwhelmed with envy, and it is this envy that drives the play, and Iago’s plans. Iago begins the play with a deep envy for Othello, and only deepens as the play continues. Iago’s jealousy for Othello begins with Emilia, and the rumor that they were romantically involved.

"I follow him to serve my turn upon him." Shakespeare (I, 1, 42). Roderigo tells Iago how upset he is by the fact that Desdemona, with whom he is in love, has eloped with Othello, the great Moorish general. Iago is a soldier under Othello's command, but he hates his leader and wishes revenge for the promotion of Cassio over himself as high-ranking lieutenant. He admits to Roderigo that he only continues in Othello's service because he wants to plot against him, and he encourages Roderigo to join in the plot, as this will gain him the hand of Desdemona.

The play begins with Rodrigo reprimanding Iago for not doing his job. Rodrigo is paying Iago to pursue Desdemona for him, and he has just learned that she has eloped with Othello. Iago reassures Rodrigo that the plan will eventually work because he himself is motivated to bring Othello down; Othello promoted Michael Cassio to lieutenant rather than Iago, and Iago believes that he was more deserving of the promotion. Iago starts his plan by telling Rodrigo to try and foil Othello and Desdemona’s marriage by telling Brabatio, Desdemona’s father, about their secret marriage. Rodrigo agrees and both proceed to Brabantio’s dwelling.

For instance, in the play Othello, Othello is passionately in love with his wife and when he hears a disturbing rumor about her, instead of thinking over what he heard or if it is true, he let his jealousy take over his actions. In Othello, Iago, Othello's dear truthful friend, wants to ruin Othello's life by "plaguing" his mind of depressing thoughts. He plans to tell Othello that his wife, Desdemona, is cheating on him with his ex-lieutenant, Cassio. "At least jealousy so strong that judgment cannot cure." (p. 79, Iago) Othello being passionately in love with Desdemona begins to believe the rumors he is told, and it breaks his heart.