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Jealousy In Othello

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People have warned each other against the toxicity of jealousy for ages. Countless works of fiction have in some way told their audiences to be wary of envy.A brilliant example of one such work is William Shakespeare’s Othello, in which the theme of jealousy is explored through the characters Roderigo, Othello, and Iago.When Iago warnsOthello by saying, “Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy. / It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock / the meat it feeds on” (3.3.167-169), he gives an accurate account of the way covetousnesscorrupts a person. Shakespeare, through his characters Roderigo, Othello, and Iago, demonstratesto his readers how envy can control an individual and lead to their demise. By allowing jealousy to control their thoughts, feelings, …show more content…

Iago can control Roderigo to serve his own selfish motivesthrough his jealousy by promising him that he will eventually attain the affections of Desdemona. Had Roderigo learned to accept early-on that Desdemona was no longer available, Iago would’ve been unable to appeal to any jealous thought Roderigo might’ve had. However, Roderigo seals his own fate by succumbing to his emotions.The Moor of Venice arguably has many more redeemable qualities than Roderigo, but he is not immune to jealousy’s power. Othello’s tragic flaw is the reason for his downfall. The Moor of Venice earned a high reputation as general in the Venetian army and is respected by manyfor his honesty and bravery. So, though he’s not without merit, Othello is prone to insecurity because of his status as an outsider. This vulnerability is one that Iago quickly sniffs out and attempts to exploit by instilling envyin Othello. In Act III, Iago slowly starts toying with the Moor’sweakness by hinting at a possible affair between Cassio and Desdemona. AlthoughOthello asks for visual proof concerning the allegations, the audience can sense that jealousy has already crept its way into his mind. By allowing himself to fall prey, Othello becomes unwilling to listen to his wife. He is determined to think she is unfaithful to him even while she insists that she is honest. ThoughOthello seems to be freed of these emotionsonce he discovers Iago’s true deceptive nature, he cannot

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Throughout the course of a person's life, he or she may experience bouts of jealousy. Jealousy can cause one to act irrationally, displaying negative behaviors. Examples of these behaviors are found throughout Shakespeare’s, Othello. Jealousy was first exemplified by Iago. He believed he was deserving of the lieutenant position but was overlooked by Othello who gave the position to Cassio.

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“Surrounded by the flames of jealousy, the jealous one winds up, like the scorpion, turning the poisoned sting against himself ”. These wise words which were said by Friedrich Nietzsche can be used to portray the themes of jealousy and greed in William Shakespeare’s literary work, Othello. In the late sixteenth century, the time this tragedy took place, these themes of jealousy and greed played a big role during these times. Jealousy and greed were also seen as deadly sins of envy or infections which had no cure. Not only this but jealousy was viewed as something irrational and as something that dissolved the bonds holding together marriage, families, and even social frameworks.

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Heartbreak— the foreboding word that many people fear. Whether it is a small whisper of disappointment or the more common, excruciating ordeal associated with a lost or ‘stolen’ love; like many situations, every individual has a different coping mechanism. Yes, the conventional indulging of twenty-something ice cream buckets do apply. However, in the midst or aftermath of a heartbreak, an individual’s pain and sorrow often manifest into a series of alternative emotions such as anger, but more specifically— jealousy. Likewise, in Rupert Brooke’s Jealousy and the excerpt from William Shakespeare’s Othello (III.iii.255-275), both of the speakers’ expression of betrayal by their ex-lovers is built upon a foundation of jealousy.

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Roderigo also feels that same very fear Othello does, as he is talking with Iago after the Duke and senators leave the room, he states, “It is silliness to live when to live is torment” (Othello I,iii, 303). Roderigo is heart broken at having witness to Brabantio- Desdemona’s father- giving his blessing to Othello and Desdemona’s marriage, for he was so in love with Desdemona, it simply makes him want to die to not have her, in fear that he has lost her forever to the Moor general. Roderigo is so in love with the Venetian woman, that he would do whatever he could- even die to have her, no cost whether money or his own life- could get in his way. These two- envy and fear- power jealous up

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It is clear from the first scene that Roderigo is bitter towards Othello because Othello and Desdemona got married, because he also loves her and his jealousy is his motive throughout the entire play. After he saw that Othello and Desdemona were truly married, in a conversation with Iago, he stated "I will incontinently drown

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For instance, Roderigo could not distinguish that Iago was using him for his own gain. Roderigo is so jealous of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage that he would do anything to destroy their marriage and win Desdemona for himself. Iago sees an open window and convinces Roderigo to accompany him so that they could both take revenge on Othello and Iago would help Roderigo win Desdemona. In reality, Iago is only with Roderigo for financial stability and does not care to help Roderigo. Roderigo cannot see through Iago’s lies because he is too busy being jealous of Othello and Desdemona’s love.

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Using the character of Roderigo, Iago manipulates him into doing everything he wants. At the beginning of the tragedy, Iago and Roderigo are talking poorly about Othello. Roderigo, who is in love with Desdemona, is upset due to hearing that Othello and Desdemona have recently married. Iago, who just found out Othello did not give him

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Jealousy in Othello leads to his insecurity after his mind being onslaught by Iago. Nordlund reasons, “The typical interpretation of Othello’s jealousy…, is that it arises from low self-esteem” (Theorising Modern Jealousy 154). His internal complication was actually created by external force—Iago. Othello shows proud and confidence to his achievements, he is aware that he is being loved and admired; furthermore, he is sure that he deserves Desdemona. Iago intelligently recognizes the moment of Othello’s anxiousness starts and exploits it.

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"Othello" by Shakespeare is a well-known and outstanding literary composition which pays distinctive attention to the dangers associated with jealousy. The play deals with the root and driving force of all evil and exemplifies how far jealousy can induce a human being as well as destroy lives by mere circumstantial evidence. According to Godfrey (1972), “Jealousy, once awakened, becomes self-perpetuating, self-intensifying, and where no evidence for it exists, the jealous person under the impulse of an extraordinary perversity will continue to manufacture it”. Jealousy manages the characters’ lives in "Othello" from the beginning of the play, when Roderigo feels jealousy towards Othello because he desires to be with Desdemona, and to the ending of the play, when Othello is furious with envy because he supposes Cassio and Desdemona have been engaging in a love affair. Some characters’ jealousy is generated by other characters.

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In The Tragedy of Othello, Iago believes the same thing. He warns Othello “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!/It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/ the meat it feeds on” (III.iii.165-167). The Monster demonstrated how jealousy can rip one’s world apart. This quote is so powerful, and by using imagery the reader is able to picture the monster as a symbol for

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