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Examples Of Jealousy In Othello

1163 Words5 Pages

Gabe Graski
Mrs. Erdrich
Eng 100
28 April 2023
Jealousy: The Evilness Inside
Jealousy can be defined in numerous ways, but no matter what the definition is, jealousy leads to terrible things. The countless definitions of jealousy can be summed up as being jealous of what someone else has, and the fear of losing what one already has. This idea of jealousy is seen through many different characters in Shakespeare's play Othello. Shakespeare shows one idea of jealousy, being jealous of what others have, through the characters Iago and Bianca who both wish they had someone else's possessions or roles in society. Shakespeare also shows jealousy being the fear of losing what one already has through the characters Othello and Brabantio, who both have …show more content…

He displays this definition of jealousy through a few different characters, one of which is Othello. Shakespeare displaces Othello as someone who loves his wife Desdemona so much that he fears the loss of her. Othello doesn’t want anyone else to have Desdemona, he wants her for himself relationship-wise, so he becomes fearful of anyone else taking her. This is shown when Othello is integrating Desdemona about the handkerchief and says “That handkerchief /Which I so loved, and gave thee, thou gav’st to /Cassio,” (Othello 5.2.58-60). Shakespeare having Othello say this shows that Othello does love Desdemona but at the same time is quite scared to lose her. In addition to this fear, Shakespeare displays Othello having another fear, the fear of losing his good reputation. Towards the end of the play, Othello begs Lodovico and Cassio that when they make the report of what happened to not forget all the good he has done for the state. He also asks them to not exaggerate the evils he has done but to describe him how he was (Othello 5.2.398-402). I think Shakespeare having Othello say this shows that Othello is fearful of what will happen to his good reputation when the people find out what he has done. Othello is worried that the people will forget all the good he has done for them and only focus on the evilness he has committed, which results in him being fearful of losing what good reputation he has left. Through both Othello and Brabantio Shakespeare shows how jealous can be the fear of losing what one already has. Both of these characters from Othello loved their family and possessions so much that they feared the loss of them, forcing them to fall into sadness that comes from

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