Othello's Jealousy

Throughout today’s society, jealousy is a common characteristic to bare. However, being too envious can demolish many lives. In “Othello” by William Shakespeare, many of the characters possess the trait of covetousness, leading to the death of valued characters. Iago, is jealous of Othello giving away his lieutenant position, and Othello is jealous at the presumption that his wife may be having an affair. In the end, their jealousy caused the deaths of their loved ones, such as Michael Cassio and Desdemona. By analyzing the characters in Othello, readers can conclude that jealousy is an unappealing trait and will destroy people’s lives.

Firstly, the narrator establishes the character, Iago, who has a jealousy issue from the beginning.

This idea persuades Roderigo to follow Iago, doing what he wants. Including, following Iago to Brabantio 's house to tell him that his daughter is missing and place the blame on Othello. Roderigo tells Iago, “Here is her father’s house. I’ll call aloud,” (1.1.71). Roderigo is so envious of Othello that he is willing…. Roderigo eventually realizes that Iago is just stringing him along and tells him, “I have wasted myself out of my means. The jewels you have had from me to deliver Desdemona would half have corrupted a votarists,” (4.2.185). Roderigo continues to manifest his envy by trying to win Desdemona’s affection with jewels. However, Roderigo continues to strive for her attention, and has “given [him] satisfying reasons: ‘Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword: he dies,” (5.1.8-10). Roderigo goes to the point of envy to stabbing a man with fury. Not only does his jealousy cause a rage, but he injures an innocent man. Donald Hedrick, an Othello critic, observes that “Roderigo fails basic psychology, as Iago recruits him as confederate while professing that he serves only himself, famously declaring, ‘am not what I am’(1.1.65)”(653). Roderigo ignores Iago’s plan inspite to feed his evious ego. Roderigo is ignorant to everything going on around him, and does not realize that his envy is incapacitating