Titile: Othello’s tragic flaw Jealousy is a neurotic flaw in the everyday lives of a human being. This tragic flaw can turn people from foes to enemies in a mater of seconds by either manipulation, or even just saying the right thing at the right time, that is able to break through someones emotional barricade. This unfortunate trait is always followed with anger no matter what the circumstance. For example, in the bible jealousy over comes Cain, Adam and Eve’s first born son, when him and his brother Able give offerings to Lord. “In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor …show more content…
So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast” (Genesis 4: 3-5). To Cain the Lords unfair comparison of his brother drives him mad leading him to lose control of his emotions causing him to murder his brother out of jealousy. “Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him” (Genesis 4:8). In the Lords eyes Cain’s jealousy was a flaw that drove him away from his loyalty and caused him to kill his beloved brother. No matter who you are jealousy is always a substantial flaw that can blind you from seeing the truth and can always lead to a horrific ending once the anger takes over. In the Shakespearian tragedy “Othello” jealousy overcomes many of the characters which affects Othello and causes him to kill Desdamona, it drives Iago to manipulate Othello by telling him lies about his peers, and it also blinds Othello when people …show more content…
Iago says, “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on” (3.3.167-169). This quotation fits the tragic theme of jealousy by describing jealousy as a monster that that plays with its prey. This perfect comparison to jealousy is very accurate, the reason for this is jealousy came into Othello’s head slowly throughout the play. Every time you notice this horrific trait of Othello it got worse and grew inside him like the green-eyed monster mentioned by Iago. The moment that drew Othello to the breaking point was when he saw Cassio with the Handkerchief. This visual conformation takes Othello’s Jealousy to a whole new level. His anger overcomes all and looses his composer when he says, “How shall I murder him, Iago” (4.1.165). At this point Othello realizes the false truths created by Iago. His emotions start running wild and he changes into a new person of hate and anger, this is because he saw some type of proof to reassure his already questionable thoughts. These new profane thoughts of murder are seen when Othello says, “Ay, let her rot and parish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live! No, my heart is turned to stone” (4.1.176-177). This is the point when we see the soon to come fate of Desdemona. The Jealousy boils over in the mind of the Moore as Iago
In a passage from William Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago dramatizes a subsequent conflict between Othello and Desdemona when he warns the former of a green-eyed monster, the manifestation of jealousy. As the play progresses, Othello becomes more like this beast that Iago told him about. Instead of being the honorable and respectable character he was, Othello now displays a more questionable personality, one that causes him to doubt his wife of infidelity. Even though Iago does play a role, it is mostly due to Othello’s insecurity that transforms him into a monstrous person.
Shakespeare said it best in regards to the emotion of jealousy, it mocks the person it feeds on. Which means to me, you never win from being jealous. I have had the emotion of jealousy plenty of times just like every other person on this planet. You can be jealous of the nerdy girl because she knows everything, the loud person because
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.
“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.
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.
A.C. Bradley describes Othello as "by far the most romantic figure among Shakespeare's heroes"(Shakespearean Tragedy, 1). This is an unusual description of a man who murders his own wife. However, Othello's feelings of hate for Desdemona started as an overwhelming love for her when their relationship began. This transformation from love to hate also inflicted the characters Iago and Roderigo and like Othello their hatred resulted in the murder of innocent people. Roderigo's love for Desdemona was transformed into hate towards any man that he thought was loved by her. Iago's love for his job and his wife, Emilia changed into a destructive hatred of Cassio and Othello. As a result of their hatred Cassio, Emilia, and at the end themselves were killed. The connection between love and hate in William Shakespeare's "Othello" is the ugly feeling of jealousy that caused such transformations. Jealousy can be described as a fear of losing something or someone that is valuable (Godfrey 2). As minor as this feeling appears to be by that definition, it can take on varying degrees of damaging behavior. Othello, Roderigo, and Iago became paralyzed by jealousy. Their thoughts, actions, and behaviors were ruled by it. Jealousy caused their inability to the act rationally. They became paranoid and unable to love. This paper will examine the jealousy that caused love to turn into hate for Roderigo, Othello, and Iago.
This peer-reviewed source was co-written by Michele Scheinkman, a psychotherapist from New York, and Denis Werneck, a psychologist from Brazil. With multiple citations from people such as Milton, Shakespeare, and Freud, and the authors’ professional background, this source provides accurate insight into the effect that jealousy has on relationships. The authors discuss how the relational experience of jealousy is such a prevalent one yet how little it is focused on in the couple’s therapy field. Scheinkman and Werneck also talk about how the spectrum of jealousy often results in aggression. This article is relevant to my research topic because it explores the concept of jealousy in couple’s relationships and how it effects and supports my thought that jealousy can be detrimental to a
Throughout the play the characters of Othello struggle with the power of envy. This struggle is not specific to the characters in this play. Every man must look at the green eyed monster for themselves. However, Othello is an exemplary model of what happens if envy’s power becomes too extreme. Iago finds it nearly impossible to prevent envy from ruling his life, and allows his envy to get out of control. Iago’s loss of control allows envy to ruin the lives of those around him. The envious nature in all men leads us to become vengeful to try to level the field, and if not controlled jealousy and envy can create disastrous situation just like in Othello.
When gathering information on who's guilty or not in this play Criminal law is the best tool that will help to determine. The play offers reciprocally some provocative thought on who is and who is not responsible for Desdemona's death. The evidence is found in the exchange of conversation between each character, along with the items used to demise her. Based on the evidence in the book Othello is indisputably guilty. In criminal law, manslaughter is third-degree murder and is said to be a passion murder.
Jealousy can sometimes be an inevitable feeling to have towards other people in relationships or even in friendships, and that feeling can negatively affect the bonds with these certain people. One of the main themes in Shakespeare’s Othello, was how friendships and marriages can be ruined all because of one person’s jealousy, which can ring true in real life.
Othello’s tragic flaws that lead to his downfall was his over jealousy. In this easy i will be showing you how he was very jealous over Desdemona. He was so worried about Desdemona cheating on him with cassio. He spent most of his time trying to catch her in the act of cheating he lost sight of his duty. Othello was trying to catch Desdemona in the catch he forgot that iago was still mad at him for skipping for the spot he wanted. Iago was playing to put the blame on Cassio because he had emilia grab her handkerchief, to act like she left it with Cassio. “Emilia, staying behind to pick up the handkerchief remembering that her iago, has asked her to steal it at least a hundred times” Iago and Emilia did in act 3 scene 3. Iago already has a plan to put it in Cassio room. What was Othello reaction to all this? What do you think he will do when he find out what actually happens.
Mrs. Cornwall ENG3U1 October 14 2015 A Tragic Hero’s’ Path Towards His Downfall In society there are always people who are easily manipulated and possess poor judgment. This leads them to make wrong decisions and negatively affect their lives and the lives of the people around them. The reason for Othello’s tragic downfall was because of his poor judgement, his easily manipulated conscience and his jealousy and obsession with the world. These traits displayed why Othello was responsible for the play’s tragic outcome. The first trait that led to Othello’s downfall was his easily manipulated conscience.
His jealousy overcame his usual respectable, noble personality and he became irrational and violent. His jealousy and rage led him to kill his wife, something he would never have done if he had not been jealous. Iago’s initial jealousy of Cassio led him to seek revenge, thus moving the entire plot. He also fuels his hatred of Othello by convincing himself that Othello slept with his wife. His jealousy initiated many of the other characters’ jealousy, which resulted in multiple negative consequences.
Othello doesn’t realize Iago doesn’t care towards him and never did after Iago wasn’t promoted to lieutenant. Iago plays the as the main director of what happens in Othello’s life. Othello doesn’t realize it thought. Iago is able to hide his emotions towards others. Which allows Othello not to notice he is faking every emotion of helping Othello. Iago is always at ease when in the eyes of his peers. “He moves jovially and at ease among the gentlemen of Cyprus, even as he sets up Cassio for a drunken fall” (Barnes 15). This shows how committed Iago was to strike revenge against his foes. Only a psychopath could hide their feelings in front of the people you want to hurt. “Iago refuses to show the "outward action" which would "demonstrate / The native act and figure of [his] heart / In complement extern" (“Where Iago Lies” 19). Because of Iago, Othello creates his own anxiety. He has anxiety because he now worries that Desdemona may be cheating on him with Cassio. Iago creates Othello’s fear by twisting his words to have different meanings. “Iago: O, beware, my lord, of jealousy/ It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/ The meat it feeds on” (Shakespeare 1816-1818). Iago is manipulating Othello into believing that Othello shouldn’t be jealous, which tricks Othello into being jealous. The green-eyed monster is another term for jealousy. It is Othello though that allows him to get trapped in anxiety. Iago exploits him to bring Othello to a tragic
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...