The Manipulation Of Roderigo's Jealousy

Humanity lives as a constant slave to the power of jealousy, without the knowledge of when they are being manipulated by this severe human flaw. Iago knows about the strong dominion of jealousy, and refers to jealousy as a monster, “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! / It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock / The meat it feeds on;” (3.3.195-197). This “green-eyed monster” is what brings many characters to their demise and what ultimately makes the play a tragedy. In Othello, William Shakespeare conveys the absurdity of jealousy and how it is humanity’s most detrimental flaw. Othello’s actions are exceptionally irrational and fueled merely by circumstantial evidence, that when examined is not even accurate. Ironically, at the beginning of the

Often Roderigo is overlooked, as his character cannot be emphasised as much with, and though he influences the plot substantially, he is seen as more of a side character. His extreme jealousy prevents him from the appalling realization that he is being manipulated by Iago, like a puppet being played by a puppeteer. Iago uses their shared hatred of Othello to manipulate Roderigo, "Thou art sure of me. Go make money. I have / told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I / hate the Moor. My cause is hearted: thine hath no / less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge / against him" (1.3.407-410). His envy of Othello, because of his lust for Desdemona, clouds his judgment and leads him to blindly follow Iago. All the while not seeing that Iago does not have his best intentions in mind, Iago admitting at the end,“I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense, / And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio / Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, / Every way makes my gain (5.1.12-15). The tragic demise of Roderigo shows that jealousy can ignite quickly and spread like a wildfire without the slightest knowledge of its