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