Jealousy In Othello

The novel "Othello" introduces Othello as a man of integrity. Unfortunately, everyone's perception of him wavers as the novel progresses. Iago creates jealousy within Othello by confusing him that his sweet Desdemona is sleeping with Cassio because he promoted Cassio, not him. This development within the story creates jealousy within Iago, creating an everlasting hatred towards Othello; causing Iago to create a plan to destroy Othello and regain his position. Othello's jealousy destroys his relationship with Desdemona, but ultimately this jealousy obscures the truth from someone he thought to be trustworthy, Iago. Othello's jealousy could have been prevented if he trusted the right people and had not been easily deceived. Furthermore, Othello's

Othello's jealousy grows even further when Iago tells him that he heard Cassio, in his sleep, talking about Desdemona. Othello's rage becomes noticeable when Othello yells out and says, "O monstrous! Monstrous!" (3.3.483). Continually, Iago furthers Othello's wrath when he tells him that Cassio wiped his beard with the Handkerchief Othello gave to Desdemona. Othello's anger grew profusely when he heard this. As he states, "Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell! Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne To tyrannous hate! (3.3.507-509). Furthermore, this jealousy hinders the truth from being sought after as he views Desdemona as unfaithful. Iago plants these ideas by creating openings for Othello to see what's happening. Othello's inability to listen or hear what's going on furthers the jealousy within him, as he only sees the actions that are going on. Continually, this occurs when Iago tells Othello that he will talk to Cassio about his sleeping with Desdemona. As such, Othello's jealousy intensifies and produces hatred towards Cassio. As Othello states, "Ay, let her rot and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone. (4.1.202-204)". Othello's misunderstanding of the situation creates a bigger gap between the truth and the misleading view. Othello becomes ruthless as he hopes to let Desdemona "rot

His integrity and position, which he holds dear, are lost to this jealousy. Iago explains to Cassio that Othello is going mad with jealousy. As Iago states, "Othello shall go mad, And his unbookish jealousy must {construe}" (4.1.119-120). This explanation shows the effects of Othello's Jealousy seen by his underlings. His jealousy becomes so great he doesn't realize what he is doing; he can't see through the thick fog of lies caused by Iago. This unfortunate incident where he lost all self-awareness causes the loss of his beloved. At the novel's end, Othello's distaste for Desdemona becomes so great that he kills her, but he doesn't realize the tragic event he has just caused until right before her death. Othello realizes what he had just done and that all was a lie, "I pray you in your letters, When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely, but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought, Perplexed in the extreme" (5.2.400-406). At the end of the novel Othello with all his might, breaks through the thick fog of lies and realizes that everything until now was a lie, configured by who he thought