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Themes of jealousy in Othello
Summary of othello and misunderstandings
Othello character development
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In the plays Antigone by Sophocles and The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by Shakespeare there are several betrayals that take place throughout the play. These betrayals are big turning points in these plays. What kind of betrayal that is going to take place depends completely on the person’s intention. For example, in Antigone, in Antigone goes to bury Polyneices she is betraying King Creon and his law he put into place, but this was a good thing because she was doing what was right and the gods wanted. Another example is in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar when Brutus joins the conspirators in killing Caesar, he betrayed Caesar for the good of the Republic of Rome.
I believe Shakespeare used jealousy as a major theme in Othello to show how dangerous it can be. “Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ.” (3.4.332-34). This quote is about Iago understanding jealousy, though William is really the one who understood. Through suicide, murder, and deception jealousy remained the cause for
It is a dark green, a color that sickens the mind with doubt and infects the soul with rage and hatred. Its claws breed anger and deceit in its victims, and its snarls destroy relationships, tearing them piece by piece until nothing remains. It is a monster once revealed by Terri Guillemets as jealousy, when she wrote, “Jealousy injures us with the dagger of self-doubt”. Guillemets’ statement reveals that jealousy sprouts from an individual’s own doubt and can only be prevented by that person, and is further confirmed through Othello and Desdemona’s relationship in William Shakespeare’s Othello. Guillemets’ statement reveals its significance to human nature by signifying that jealousy is a monster created not by others, but by each individual,
The tragedy of Othello written by William Shakespeare presents the main character Othello as a respectable, honorable, and dignified man. However, because of his insecurities and good nature he is easily taken advantage of and manipulated by his alleged friends. Shakespeare is known for his exceptional ability to compose plays full of deceit, revenge, and jealousy. Jealousy is an underlying theme throughout the tragedy and has been represented by many of the main characters, such as Iago, Roderigo, and Othello. The topic of jealousy will ultimately lead to the demise of many characters throughout the tragedy.
In the play Othello, by William Shakespeare we are introduced to Othello who is the protagonist and faces a lot of obstacles, one of them being betrayal. Throughout the whole play we witness betrayal from many of the characters through their irrational behavior and actions. However the biggest betrayal we see is from Iago, who is the antagonist, in other words, the villain of the play. Iago plans on having his revenge and betraying Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, Rodrigo and even his wife, Emilia. Betrayal is wrong and something that can’t be forgiven, at the end betrayal breaks friendships as well as lives and trust which never works out well in the end.
Othello shows the two types throughout the story and the play, envy and fear, and how they can claw and chew away the the fragile human psyche, like a monster, trying to claw out of a deep dark hole that has had a trap on it for days without end. Othello is one of the great examples of how jealousy can teach us not to be overcome by dark things, to always stay strong and believe in our own thoughts, and that the poison known as jealousy, can make or break even the best of people a slow killing venom that makes the weak sick and twisted. This play teaches us that jealousy has no good outcomes, only horrid and how it shows no mercy to anyone. Jealousy is a card no one should or ever want to play with a deck full of
In the play Othello, William Shakespeare creates an elaborate tragedy with various in depth characters, enhancing the story with powerful characterization. Iago, the main antagonist of Othello, exemplifies Shakespeare’s use of characterization to create in depth and complex characters. Using his manipulative nature, intellectual mind, egotistical attitude, and dishonesty, Iago controls the other characters in order to achieve his goal, leading Othello to succumb to an overwhelming jealousy causing his downfall. In order for Iago to gain control of the characters in the play, he manipulates Othello, Roderigo, Cassio, and more to believe false information and turn on one another.
The most influential, important, and critical relationship amongst humanity is a trusting and attentive friend. A friend is anyone who is supportive of one 's best and compassionate at one 's worst. A friend is an absolutely essential connection to maintain throughout a lifetime. According to the Huffington Post, lack of friendship has been associated with higher chances of a premature death than obesity. Consequently, friendships are required not only for mental health but for longevity.
In Othello, it is jealousy that ultimately leads to the downfall of three characters, Roderigo, Othello and Iago. " O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green eyed monster" (III.iii.163). Although, Othello is not the only play where William Shakespeare has made jealousy a central motivator. He did it in Macbeth also. Jealousy has many faces between these two plays and in both they lead to the downfall of characters.
The tragedy of “Othello” is the destruction of one’s integrity. The play is one of the great Shakespearean tragedies, which are all “a play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character,” (Oxford Dictionary) who in this case is Othello. He was a Venetian general living in Cyprus with his lovely wife Desdemona. The play begins with one of his most trusting friends, Iago, who is furious about Cassio being appointed as Othello’s lieutenant rather than him. Given this, Iago forms the web that he would use to ensnare the characters that he would use to bring Othello down for him.
Shakespeare’s play, Othello, deeply explores the effects of jealousy on a person. Shakespeare also portrays the different types of jealousy and alludes to the causes of them. Othello is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare around 1603, about a man, Iago, who plots to take revenge on a Moorish soldier, Othello, for he has “done my (Iago’s) office”. The deaths of several people, including Othello’s wife Desdemona, Iago’s wife Emilia, Othello and Iago’s companion Roderigo, were all directly linked to Iago’s actions. Othello illustrates that jealousy often leads to revenge, jealousy can prevent a successful relationship, and jealousy leading to one’s downfall.
For many people is hard to find someone you can love, trust and have success at the same time. Othello was able to find success and love in Desdemona. But sometimes there's always some way that wishes that they could be you; jealous enough to be willingly do anything, from pulling everyone around you down mentally; may be even as far as killing someone, fortunately people like that never make it to the top. Is Shakespeare's Othello many believe the play is about trust and deception, in my opinion jealousy is the biggest role in this play. Iago is jealous of all colors so says in love with Desdemona.
Of all the emotions humans show, jealousy is one of the most common and unsettling, and it tends to bring out the worst in us. Jealousy is seen in all cultures regardless of gender; it is only different depending on a person’s degree of jealousy. In a gentle way, jealousy makes us dislike the person who is more successful in the area that we failed. When the degree has increased, dislike will turn into unreasonable angriness and disgrace, which leads to irrational hatred. William Shakespeare’s
MLA International Bibliography EBSCOhost, doi:10.1353/jem.2015.0006. Accessed 14 Mar. 2017. Synopsis Jealousy is evident in Shakespeare’s Othello through several sources, but most commonly seen as possessiveness over the female characters (with a focus on Desdemona) in the play.
In William Shakespeare’s Othello the two main characters are Iago and Othello. The entire story centers around Iago 's plan to achieve revenge on Othello for not promoting him to lieutenant. Throughout the story Iago tries to convince Othello that his wife Desdemona has cheated on him with his lieutenant Cassio. Iago’s plan is successfully and easily executed. Othello is tricked into believing that desdemona has been unfaithful and in the end he kills her.