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Othello's Jealousy

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Shakespeare's Othello follows a great general, Othello. Othello is plagued by the thought that his newly wedded wife, Desdemona, may be cheating on him. While he never catches desdemona in the act, he is persuaded by the villain Cassio to believe that Desdemona is unfaithful. Othello is typically a standup guy, the thought of his wife committing adultery drives him to the brink of insanity. Because of the jarring difference in character from the beginning of the play to the end, readers are made to ask himself: Why does Othello become jealous? Othello becomes jealous because he has never had to deal with challenges in his personal life. Because of this, Othello has no coping skills, leading him to act out irrationally when faced with a potential …show more content…

Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? Iago. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like, Seeing your coming. (725)

Iago from this point on continues to make remarks to Othello in an attempt to make Othello jealous. This jealousy that Othello harbors hijacks his thought. As Millicent Bell points out in her critical essay, “Othello’s Jealousy,” Othello “wriths” in the thought of his wife cheating on him. Othello's jealousy becomes so powerful that he begins hallucinating, physically seeing Desdemona with other men. Othello lets this happen because he has no other ways to deal with his thoughts and imagination. Bell claims that although Iago is the source of doubt, Othello’s mind is the “theater” where faith is questioned. People who have experienced jealousy have coping mechanisms. Othello does not have any skills to aid him in dealing with his thoughts. Adding to this is the idea that Othello even after killing his wife because he believes her to be cheating, thinks he is not a jealous man. Othello says: Othello. 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 …show more content…

Rather, he wants to be remembered as one who loved too vigorously. Othello’s final words before suicide are a contradiction. Othello doesn’t wish to be known as a jealous person, only a person who loved his wife too much. Othello’s actions in the play blur the two sentiments. If Othello loved his wife so much, then why would he kill her in the bed they share? Othello gives readers an insight into his mind during a monologue. Othello

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Iago says later “ the moor already changes with my poison dangerous conceits are in their nature of poison which at the first scare found to distaste but with little act upon blood burn like mines of sulphur i did say so look where he comes note poppe nor mandragora nor all the drowsy syrups of the world shall ever medicine thee to the sweet sleep which thou owedest yesterday” 3.3.373-282). This quote here is a big on proving jealousy. Iago here realize the power of jealousy. He says here how he poisoned Othello's mind, by saying Desmonia did something horrible, because Iago Succeeded making Othello suspicious, and never being able to have a good night's sleep ever again, even if he uses the best medicine in the world. Iago and Othello are super jealous right now.

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In Othello, it is jealousy that ultimately leads to the downfall of three characters, Roderigo, Othello and Iago. " O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green eyed monster" (III.iii.163). Although, Othello is not the only play where William Shakespeare has made jealousy a central motivator. He did it in Macbeth also. Jealousy has many faces between these two plays and in both they lead to the downfall of characters.

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In the play of Othello jealousy caused anger and distrust, which in the end led to much bloodshed. The first time we see jealousy towards Othello is in the council chamber, everyone is gathered together when Othello and Desdemona share how they truly feel about each other and Brabantio was displeased. Brabantio told Othello with much anger, “look to her, moor, if thou hast eyes to see: she has deceived her father, and may thee.” (Othello I.III 293-294)

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