The Destruction Of Jealousy In Shakespeare's Othello

In his tragedy Othello, The Moor of Venice, William Shakespeare employs jealousy as the main motivator of the play’s action. Without this element, characters’ emotions would not have become as intense and the plot would be null. Consuming jealousy hinders a character’s ability to rationalize; Shakespeare accurately portrays this condition in his tragedy in the most extreme method. Because jealousy compromises numerous characters’ sound judgment, they correspondingly act unjust, which leads to the tragic demise of the characters as well as others. Iago, the antagonist, resents Othello because he is a Moor that he is obligated to take orders from. Initially Othello angers Iago by promoting Cassio instead of Iago, but Iago’s hate for Othello

Iago first manipulates his associate Roderigo solely using his infatuation for Othello’s wife Desdemona as bait for Roderigo to willingly supply Iago with funds for his mischief. Promptly lying to Roderigo about Desdemona’s interest in him, Iago reveals his only use for Roderigo in saying “do I ever make my fool my purse” (363). He clearly announces how much of a useless fool Roderigo is and he is only good as long as he supplies Iago with money. Without any money to give to Iago, Roderigo is of no use to Iago; thus, Roderigo is now useful in fighting with Cassio. Iago convinces Roderigo that killing Cassio will gain him Desdemona’s love and after Roderigo fails twice Iago kills Roderigo before he discovers Iago’s intentions. As a target of Iago’s rampage, Cassio suffers immensely from Iago’s lies. Othello fires Cassio after Iago entices him to drink and then fight with others, but Iago is not satisfied with Cassio’s unemployment because he wants his life. Ironically, Iago swears his loyalty to Cassio by declaring he “would rather have [his] tongue cut from [his] mouth [t]han it should do offense to Michael Cassio” (200-201) while lying about the very man. Iago suggests that Cassio asks Desdemona to persuade Othello in rehiring him, but Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair. In this way, Iago

Iago’s insistence that Desdemona and Cassio have a budding relationship makes Othello irrationally jealous and inconsolable. Although Iago warns Othello of “the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on” (168-169), he intends for the “green-eyed monster” to consume Othello whole and for Othello’s influenced actions to be detrimental. Othello protests that he will not be jealous or accuse his wife because “[he] will see before [he] doubts, when [he] doubts, prove and on the proof, there is no more” (191-192). Contrary to his prior statement, Othello does not reason with Desdemona or demand proof of her infidelity and he primarily takes Iago’s “trustworthy” word as proof enough. Desdemona’s inquiry to Othello about rehiring Cassio fuels the rumors Iago has sparked in Othello’s mind. Furthering Desdemona’s undesirable situation, Cassio and Iago discuss Cassio’s mistress Bianca, but Othello overhears them and assumes Cassio is talking about Desdemona in ways only Othello is supposed to talk about her. Conveniently, Bianca confronts Cassio about possessing Desdemona’s handkerchief while Othello is watching. Iago’s vivid and graphic descriptions of Desdemona and Cassio in bed together cause Othello to go into epileptic fits. Along with Iago’s influence, Othello is initially insecure about his interracial marriage and could