Othello and jealousy Essay

Jealousy takes slicey forms and sometimes it is harmless while at otherwise times it discount be destructive. In William Shakespeares play Othello a man named Iago loathes and is jealous of the protagonist Othello because Othello has not promoted him to position of Lietunant, so he decides to humble and kill Othello. However, he introductory convinces Roderigo to help him because Roderigo is in do it with Othellos wife Desdemona and Iago promises that he can get him together with Desdemona. With Roderigos help, Iago is able to speckle a series of events which eventually leads to convincing Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, and this not only causes conflict between husband and wife, except leads to Othellos desire to kill Cassio. Thus, Shakespeare suggests that when state are conflicted with green-eyed monster, they may hurt others and even cause their own destruction. At the beginning of the play, Iago feels jealous towards Othello and tells Roderigo that I hate the Moor And it is thought abroad, that twixt my sheets He has make my office I know not ift be true But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety.(1.3.12).Iago first states that he hates Othello for passing him over for a promotion but he hears rumors that his wife Emilia might have had a fling with Othello. Even though Iago is not sure if the rumors are true, he still decides to try and disrupt Othellos life. This reveals the buildup of green-eyed monster and hate within him, and even without any clear solid ground to disrupt Othellos life, he feels the need to do create evil rumors about him in order to ruin his reputation. Moreover, Iago manipulates Roderigo in order to cause mental confusion and cause green-eyed monster in Othellos mind. Iago tells Roderigo that 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. (1.3.358). Roderigo is jealous of Othello marrying Desdemona, the woman he loves and is now blinded by love so believes whatever Iago tells him. Indeed, Iago sees this opportunity and decides to take advantage and use Roderigo to plot a series of events that will lead Othello into Iagos trap.Shakespeare shows that due to Iagos evil and jealous nature, he does not want happiness for anyone and therefore uses people as as well asls or toys for his own purpose. Finally, Iago uses Cassio and Desdemona to make Othello think and suspect that Desdemona is fraud on him. Iago thinks to himselfif I can fasten but one cup upon him, with that which he hath drunk to-night already, Hell be as full of quarrel and umbrage as my young mistress dog.(2.3.9). Iago gets Cassio drunk so he will get in a fight because he wants Cassio to be in distract with Othello and while that is happening he knows Desdemona will intervene and try to help Cassio. Iagos actions show that h e is so jealous of Cassios position that he is willing to do anything to make Cassio look suspicious. Iagos capability to portray Cassio as unreliable and untrustworthy reveals the extremes people can go to because of jealousy. Iago is willing to utilise everyone just to get even with Othello proving that jealousy can actually lead humans to abandon their logic.As Iagos plans to get Cassio killed continue, he successfully creates the seeds of jealousy in Othello too. Ironically, he even says to Othello that O, beware, my lord, of jealousy it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on (3.3.15). Iago pret completes to be on the side of Othello and warns him not to be too jealous because it will lead to self-destruction. As a result, Othello naively trusts a person who is trying to lead him into self-destruction yet he does not exculpate this and continues to step on the traps that Iago sets up. Moreover, Othello falls deeper and deeper into Iagos master plan and begins to doubt Desdemona even though he at first wants proof of her affair. Othello reminds himself Nomy wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well where virtue is, these are more virtuous No, Iago ill see before I doubt when I doubt, prove and on the proof. on that point is no more but this, aside at once with love or jealousy (3.3.31). Othello refuses to be destroyed by jealousy because he can clearly see that Desdemona chose him out of love and not because of anything else, but he feels exchangeable he needs proof from Desdemona that she is not cheating on him to be truly convinced. This passage shows that even though Othello claims that he will not be conflicted by jealousy, step by step he is moving away from his claim and becomes jealous and filled with doubts. Shakespeare warns that jealousy has the capacity to make a person forget the reality and see people and situations clearly because it is such a strong emotion Finally, Em ilia warns Desdemona about Othellos jealousy as she says but jealous souls will not be answerd so / They are not ever jealous for the cause, / But jealous for they are jealous tis a monster/ Begot upon itself, born onitself.(3.4.3). Emilia understands that jealousy is like a monster that comes out of nowhere and becomes worse and worse over time.This suggests that Othellos mind is being controlled and taken over by the monster and the jealousy in his mind can keep growing until it is finally out of control. In Othellos time, men owned women and an affair would damage a mans reputation and ego more than today. Since Othello is a Moor, the thought of his wife cheating on him is even worse than if he was Venetian since Desdemona is his and she owes him loyalty. Near the end of the play, Desdemona discovers that her handkerchief is missing and asks Emilia where her handkerchief is. Emilia does not know and Desdemona says Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse / Full of crusadoes an d, but my noble Moor / is true of mind and made of no such baseness / as jealous creatures are, it were enough / /to put him to ill thinking. (3.4.7). Desdemona knows that the handkerchief is an historic gift from Othello and losing it might cause doubts in Othellos mind about her loyalty.Unfortunately, Othello is set up by Iago and finds the handkerchief and is now convinced of his wifes unfaithful character, so he murders Desdemona. After strangling Desdemona he says Behold, I have a weapon / a better never did itself sustain / upon a soldiers thigh I have seen the day, / that, with this little arm and this good sword, / I have made my way through more impediments / than xx times you stop but, O vain boast (5.2.55). Othello understands after killing her, that Desdemonas death was pointless as he is now alone without the love of his life. By the time Othello realizes that he was set up by Iago and Desdemona did not cheat on him, Othello cannot tolerate the guilt of killing her an d decides to commit suicide. Before not bad(p) himself he says tattle 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 well / of one not easily jealous, but being wrought / Perplexd in the extreme. (5.2.341-345).Othello becomes the victim of Iagos cruelty because he is unable to control jealousy, and he ends up being his own worst enemy as his jealousy becomes so powerful that he kills because of it. Shakespeare shows that jealousy can destroy not only others lives but can lead to ones own self-destruction as people cannot see clearly and think rationally when they let such a strong emotion over-take them. Therefore, Shakespeare warns readers that they must control the jealousy in their lives because if theydo not, they will destroy the relationships with those around them and themselves. Jealousy is one of the strongest emotions and it can come easily when a person feels like they deserve better, as Iago doe s, or when they are too possessive over another person, as Othello is over Desdemona. Either way, jealousy causes people to misread reality and act irrationally.