Jealousy In Othello Essay

Othello by Shakespeare conveys the intricacies of human nature as well as the wrath of jealousy. The depiction of jealousy in Othello has two forms; jealousy that stems from fear of loss, and jealousy that stems from envy. In the play, the first sign of envy is through Iago, a soldier, and later Lieutenant of Othello, and Roderigo, A wealthy venetian nobleman who is in love with Desdemona, and would do anything to be with her. As the book goes on Iago becomes a master manipulator, filling people with envy, especially the character of Othello, A middle eastern man who rose in status and became governor of Cyprus, wed to Desdemona, a white noblewoman, and the man who ultimately kills his wife. Othello goes through all feelings of jealousy and betrayal later in the book. Jealousy is a powerful and destructive emotion that plays a central role in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello.

Iago is the perfect picture of envy in Shakespeare’s Othello. His resentment was initially focused on Cassio, who Iago saw as having been unfairly promoted over him as Lieutenant.. Iago's hatred for Cassio was caused by his own sense of insecurity and inferiority, which fueled his desire to bring Cassio down and prove himself superior. "One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, / A fellow almost damned in a fair wife; / That never set a squadron in the field, / Nor the division of a battle knows / More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, / Wherein the tounged consuls can propose / As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practise, / Is all his soldiership'' (1.1.4). Iago expressed his frustration that Cassio was promoted to lieutenant over him despite having less military experience, and he continued to belittle and insult him to make himself look better for the position. Later on in the