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The theme of jealousy in othello essay
The theme of jealousy in othello essay
Iago as a vertable villain in shakespeare's Othello
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Alexandra Sirakides Mr.Spalding Honors Literature April 21, 2023 Jealousy in Othello There are many ways jealousy is represented and embodied throughout Othello. Jealousy is the major theme because amongst the characters it directly influences the plot of events. Throughout the play, one can see jealousy starts destroying everyone's relationships and leads to many deaths. The play's author William Shakespeare created complex characters who make their mark in the story.
Iago does not know for certain what he is accusing Othello of yet he vows to act as if they are facts. While one could attribute Iago’s disdain for Othello to many things, namely, feelings of envy towards Cassio, sexual interest towards Othello, or simple racism; the mere fact that there is no clear motivation for Iago’s actions is a clear indication that Iago cares very little for his relationships and does not wince at the thought of treachery and the vicious backstabbing of those closest to
Following a conversation with Desdemona, Othello’s lieutenant, Cassio, leaves in a hurry, and Iago capitalizes on the opportunity to poison Othello’s mind: “Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?/ Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it,/ That he would steal away so guiltylike, Seeing you coming.” (3.3.38-41) Iago is planting the seeds of jealousy in Othello’s mind by being vague and nonchalant about the suspicious events occurring regarding Michael Cassio. This is the first of many stages of which Iago presses envious thoughts into Othello’s mind.
Characterization of the Green-eyed Monster in Othello Envy and jealousy can be described as natural emotions that are part of our bodies. However, in Othello, envy and jealousy contained within the characters of the play ultimately causes the downfall of many, otherwise, innocent people. Through the deaths, Shakespeare explains the negative consequences that jealousy has on humans. He also reveals that envy and jealousy are character flaws, describing jealousy as a “green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on” (3.3.171-72). The movie adaptation, directed by Oliver Parker, helps the audience to bring Shakespeare’s characterization of jealousy into reality.
Iago uses very clever methods of persuasion and manipulation aimed to use Othello’s hamartia against him, pointing out that “ “She (Desdemona) did deceive her father, marrying you,” so much so that Brabantio “thought ’twas witchcraft”. Through this, Iago is subtly raising the issues of Othello’s cultural differences with Desdemona; a root cause behind Othello’s insecurities with his wife – along with inadequacy due to race, degree of sophistication and age. As Iago prompts Othello to think the worst, his utterances are short and uneasy, revealing the beginning to his downfall, whilst Iago’s dialogue is at length highlighting his growing power of
Jealousy is first represented in Iago by his desire to become Othello’s lieutenant, however the position was offered to another character named Michael Cassio. Iago sincerely believes that he should hold the position of lieutenant and that the
On another hand, A.C. Bradley looks to Othello as hero, pro – Othello, a victim and an “open and passionate, a lover the strength of whose passion inspired the love not only of Desdemona but the audience. The newness of Othello’s marriage made his jealousy credible”. He blames the society and Iago because they transformed Othello from a noble and a pure person to a monster. In this community of Venetians, where the racism, class and gender play a center role, they consider anyone who is dark and outsider as an uprooted person, homeless and from a low status class. Roderigo and Brabantio take it for granted that the marriage between black African and Brabantio a white Venetian woman is deeply unnatural.
Othello, the tragic hero of the play, experiences intense jealousy which drives him to do the unthinkable: ending his wife’s and his own life. Jealousy provides conflict in the hero's life, and controls his emotions. Throughout the play, Iago creates jealousy within Othello, by using his own insecurities against him. An example of this is when Iago uses his manipulative tactics to convince Othello that his wife, Desdemona, is cheating on him. Because of the time period, it was necessary for Othello to work hard for everything he has, therefore when it is threatened to be taken away, he becomes vulnerable and needs a solution.
He is also jealous because he thinks that Othello is sleeping with his wife. Othello is fed lies from Iago about Cassio and Desdemona being together which causes Othello to become jealous. Iago also uses his words brutally because of his atrocious personality. First to prove this play is about jealousy Iago uses metaphors to talk poorly of the people he jealous about.
Johann Kaspar Lavater once said, “The jealous are possessed by a mad devil and a dull spirit at the same time.” People who have become jealous are taken over by an evil greater than themselves, but are also taken by a insecurity they have inside of them, strong people taken over by jealousy so much- that they change so horribly no one wants anything to do with them. William Shakespeare’s Othello teaches us that in jealousy as either envy or fear, the only thing that could come out is the monster deepest inside of someone that even the best people wouldn’t want anyone to see.
In Act 4, Iago lies to Othello saying,“What if I had said I had seen him do you wrong?” convincing Othello of Desdemona and Cassio’s affair (4.1.24). Iago knows Othello’s jealousy overwhelms him at the thought of Cassio and Desdemona, giving Iago control over Othello’s emotions and
Othello by William Shakespeare is one of the most popular tragedies of 1603. Shakespeare has written many plays with the recurring themes of death, love, and betrayal. All of these themes emerge in Othello. However jealousy is the most dominant theme of the play. From the beginning of the play, when Roderigo becomes jealous of Othello to the end of the play when Othello himself becomes infected with jealousy.
William Shakespeare’s Othello focuses on how a jealous soldier orchestrates the downfall of his general. Othello, the black general, chooses Cassio over Iago for the position of lieutenant, resulting in a vengeful Iago. The jealous soldier retaliates by using Othello’s insecurities to attack his marriage with a white, high-class woman, Desdemona. Like a puppeteer, Iago manipulates everyone around him and leads them to their demise while, simultaneously, revealing how the men in Othello believe women are born immoral.
Knowing how jealousy eats someone up, Iago uses that upon Othello by introducing doubt in one of the greatest things he had, his love in Desdemona. The way Iago worked into Othello’s head is that he made it seem like he was helping him by thinking of different possibilties, which only fed the green-eyed monster in Othello. “Their best conscience is not to leave ‘t undone, but keep ‘t unknown,” (III,iii. 235-236)said Iago, which exaplains exactly how he functions. He tells Othello what he wants to hear, which is what builds the doubt of Othello.
Shakespeare’s play, Othello, deeply explores the effects of jealousy on a person. Shakespeare also portrays the different types of jealousy and alludes to the causes of them. Othello is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare around 1603, about a man, Iago, who plots to take revenge on a Moorish soldier, Othello, for he has “done my (Iago’s) office”. The deaths of several people, including Othello’s wife Desdemona, Iago’s wife Emilia, Othello and Iago’s companion Roderigo, were all directly linked to Iago’s actions. Othello illustrates that jealousy often leads to revenge, jealousy can prevent a successful relationship, and jealousy leading to one’s downfall.
