Othello’s Themeland

Iago’s jealousy for Othello begins with Emilia, and the rumor that they were romantically involved. Iago exclaimed in his soliloquy"I hate the Moor/ And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets he has done my office/ I know not if't be true;/ But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety”(1.3.12). In this soliloquy Iago explains what budded his jealousy of Othello. Iago’s mere suspicion was enough to engross such powerful feelings of envy. Iago also displayed how easily envy can take a hold of person, and drive them to do to extreme things.

Iago’s Jealousy In Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, good is often confronted by evil, in which almost every case is in the form of jealousy. Iago, the plays antagonist, is a very manipulative villain. Iago uses his own agony and distress brought upon him by his envy of others, to provoke the same agony within the characters in the play. Jealousy’s ability are shown to influence people to new ends and make all humanistic judgment disappear leaving that man a monster torn apart by envy. 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.

Iago is subtly instilling thoughts of Desdemona that she is unfaithful, due to Othello’s credulousness he believes every word of Iago, this will be the start of Othello’s downfall into anger and rage all due to those t... ... middle of paper ... ...nts to be remembered as someone who loved too much and was not wise about it, someone who was not easily jealous but was jealous when tricked and manipulated. He compares himself to an indian who wouldn’t have known what the jewel was worth and threw it away. His last speech is full of heroic language and it also shows Othello’s flawed perception of himself. He thinks of himself as not easily jealous but that was the reason he had killed his wife. The jealousy building up in Othello had been finally released and more or less impacted everyone around him.

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.

Jealousy in Othello The tragedy of Othello is the story of jealousy. It is Othello's public insecurity that makes him jealous of Cassio and allows him to believe that Cassio has slept with Desdemona. Also, it is Iago's jealousy of Othello that drives him to destroy both Othello and Desdemona. What is fascinating about Shakespeare's Othello is the way in which jealousy between the major characters is sexualized. Perhaps what makes Othello so disturbing is how quickly this sexualized jealousy turns into hate.

Ovid constantly tugs at our emotions and draws forth alternating feelings of pity and disgust for the matters at hand. "Repetition with a difference" in these two narratives shows how fickle we can be in allotting and denying sympathy, making it seem less valuable. Both tales begin drawing forth a sense of disgust for the situation in general yet arousing pity for each girl's predicament. Ovid clearly labels the love Byblis and Myrrha pursue illegitimate when he summarizes the moral of Byblis' tale stating, "when girls love they should love lawfully" (Mandelbaum 307) and reveals that "to hate a father is / a crime, but love like [Myrrha's] is worse than hate" (338) before describing Myrrha's tale. By presenting the girls as criminals, Ovid leads us to despise them.

“Othello believes Desdemona is unfaithful with only the insinuations by Iago, this proves that Othello is prone to jealousy.” Once Iago plants Desdemona’s handkerchief in Cassio’s room, Othello is given the proof he needs to fully believe that Desdemona has made him a cuckold. “I tremble at it, nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction, it is not words that shakes me thus” (4.1.46-48). Othello experiences jealousy so strong, that he experiences a seizure. This seizure is proof Othello is now overwhelmed with jealousy and he no longer can be certain that Desdemona is innocent. Othello is manipulated int... ... middle of paper ... ... situation.

1, 300). This shows how Iago wants to ruin Othello’s life by making him jealous and blind his judgement. His uncontrollable hate towards Othello can be reflected through the song Rolling In the Deep, “but I’ve heard one on you and I’m gonna make your head burn” (33). These lyrics show how Iago is trying to take advantage of Othello’s weaknesses, which is severe jealousy. From early on in the play, Iago’s aggravation was obvious although Othello was oblivious due to his anger towards Desdemona.

I know not if 't be true, / But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, / Will do as if for surety” (I.iii, 287-291). Not only is Iago jealous over the fact that he was passed over for promotion, but also because there is a rumor that Othello has been having an affair with his wife, Emilia. Iago then channels this jealousy into a vengeful plot against the Moor. Jealousy is a universal truth about human nature, because it is a common emotion that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. Jealousy, as Shakespeare portrays it in Othello, causes people to do detrimental things to the people around them.

Shakespeare shows through Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio that jealousy is the most corrupt and destructive emotion. Othello is horribly jealous of what he thinks is going on between his wife and Cassio. This poisonous feeling turns Othello into a mad man and he strikes his wife. Jealousy causes people to act incredibly different. People that are almost always reserved and sincere can become crazy because of jealousy.