Insecurity And Jealousy In Shakespeare's Othello

In the play “Othello”, a man named Iago is angered with his army commander, Othello, and configures a plan to dilapidate his life. Iago’s grudge against Othello provokes him to make up stories about Desdemona cheating on him with his military assistant. Othello becomes progressively more suspicious, although he is not fully convinced of the affair. Othello seems to be an honest and good man, but through the struggles and insecurities that have been brought upon him, he is forced to make decisions that lead to the death of him and his wife. The play focuses around the point that emotions are very powerful and that excessive sentiment can lead to turmoil when they are stirred in the wrong direction. The play displays many literary elements throughout

The insecurities in this play are found most abundantly in Othello’s personality. Othello is a moor (from Africa) in a predominantly white, European society. Although Othello is respected for his position in his society, he is still looked down upon due to his racial status. This disdain is seen when Iago says, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise! Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you. Arise, I say!” (Shakespeare 1.3.91-93). Othello is also older than his wife and not as sociably attractive as some of the nobleman wanting to steal Desdemona from him; for these reasons, he is insecure. His insecurity increases throughout the story when he starts believing more about his wife cheating on him. Othello’s motives in the short story are brought upon by the insecurities and put in place by Iago and his plan. Othello is so angry and distraught about his belief of Desdemona cheating on him that he suffocates her with a pillow, then goes on to stab himself to death. The play’s plot revolves around the insecurity of Othello and the jealousy of other characters, all wanting to have a part of someone else’s life