othello iago jealousy essay

William Shakespeare

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Iago refers to jealousy as the "green-eyed monster." As this metaphor suggests, jealousy is closely associated with the theme of appearance and reality. For instance, at one point Othello demands that Iago provide "ocular proof" of Desdemona's infidelity—he demands to see reality. But Iago instead provides the circumstantial evidence of the handkerchief, which Othello, consumed by his jealousy, accepts as a substitute for "ocular proof." Othello's jealousy impedes his ability to distinguish between reality and appearance. While the prejudiced characters in the play denigrate Othello as an animal or a beast based on his race, Othello's obvious honor and intelligence makes these attacks obviously ridiculous. Yet when Othello is overcome by jealousy, he does become beast-like, falling into epileptic fits that rob him of the ability to speak intelligibly.

Othello is also not the only character in Othello to feel jealousy. Both Iago and Roderigo act to destroy Othello out of jealousy, with disastrous consequences.

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Iago’s Jealousy in Othello

This essay will analyze the theme of jealousy in Shakespeare’s “Othello,” focusing on the character Iago. It will discuss how Iago’s jealousy drives the plot of the play and leads to the tragedy of Othello and Desdemona. The piece will examine Iago’s motivations, manipulations, and the destructive power of jealousy. On PapersOwl, there’s also a selection of free essay templates associated with Jealousy.

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William Shakespeare is prolific for his plays of love, revenge, deceit and jealousy. Among his most celebrated plays is the tragedy Othello, in which the themes of jealousy and deceit play a central role. In Othello, one of his most recognized tragedies was revolving around the central theme of jealousy and deceit. The themes of jealousy and deceit go with love. Love consumes all those who take part in it and in Othello’s case, his love for Desdemona has blinded him.

This is what gave Iago a chance to corrupt him so easily. Iago, the main antagonist of this story, is the embodiment of these themes, driving the theme to its tragic end. Iago compares himself to the devil. He is aware of his own evil and is aware that he is distorting his state of morality, but he chooses to be evil anyway. At his core, Iago is an evil person and this bothers him little.

Furthermore, in his scheming, he takes pleasure in watching Othello, Desdemona, and Cassio while they unknowingly hurt one another. Essentially, there are no good qualities in his nature. He understands Desdemona’s loyalty to Cassio, turning her “virtue into a pitch,” and using her positive traits to bring out the most negative traits in Othello. A noticeable quality that Othello carries is his strict expectations of how people should behave, and when they do not behave according to these expectations, he is quick in carrying out strict punishment. The jealousy of Roderigo is purely fuelled by Iago, who uses him as a pawn in order Phelps 2 to play his evil tricks.

For instance, in Act II, Iago purposely provokes Roderigo by telling him about Cassio’s feelings towards Desdemona so Roderigo will take action and create a trouble that he knows will put Cassio’s reputation at risk. The Deceitful Character of Iago: Iago, a Venetian career soldier with advanced military experience that has earned him the senior position of sword bearer to the General Othello, is notoriously ambiguous in motivation and reveals little humanity to help the audience to perceive him as anything but an evil and deceitful man. The key to understanding a mind like Othello’s is through the work of the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. For Jung, “man is an enigma to himself,” and our key need is the ability for looking within instead of looking out. Jung pursued his research and published The Undiscovered Self in 1958. He believed that we all have the capability for evil within ourselves and it is only by recognizing this capability that we can escape and see through the sometimes evil influences around us.

Our fear of the unknown interior compels the individual to constantly attempt to deceive oneself into thinking that he or she is always in the right. In Othello, Jung’s ideas cannot be clearer than what we see in the outward influence Iago has over Othello. Othello’s final speech is itself a form of self-deception: he blames fate, he blames Iago, but he never blames himself except for loving “too well” because of the lack of the power of introspection. “Of one that loved not wisely but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought” (Act V). He turns an obvious negative into a positive, further reinforcing the defenses that he uses to direct responsibility elsewhere as opposed to his own psychological make-up. In his book Magic in the Web, Heilman explores the nature of Othello’s and Desdemona’s love which provokes Iago’s attempt to destroy it due to his own inability to love. Iago views love as a form of witchcraft, something that he cannot understand or control. Iago possesses little emotion Phelps 3 other than bitterness and hate, “Good sense, hard sense, common sense, no nonsense, rationality—all these terms we may suppose, are ones which Iago might consider as defining his perspective” (133).

It is never really clear whether Iago has any kind of self-awareness other than the awareness of his ability to hate. What is most frightening about Iago is that even if he did have extreme amounts of self-awareness, it is highly likely that he would still do evil things. He is the epitome of evil. In examining the nature of evil, it is necessary to keep Iago in mind in comparison with Othello. In his article “Evil Characters,” Daniel Haybron attempts to define evil in order to make a judgment on whether a character is truly evil in fiction. He begins by suggesting that the evil character judges how people are supposed to think, act, and behave. To be truly evil, one must have a need to dismiss evil on a regular basis.

Moreover, Iago is more or less an expert on this matter: “…takes pleasure in seeing people do evil to one another” (134). He enjoys witnessing and contributing to “the pain of others,” he does not possess an “active conscience,” he has no better nature, “evil permeates his character right down to the marrow” (132-38). Iago lives in his own world, presenting a face to society that differs greatly with his real self. But once again we are presented with Iago’s sexual insecurity, the duality of his nature, and his awareness of exactly who he is. He knows he is a “knave,” but he accepts it.

He embraces the darkness within; he does not fight it, but embraces it, takes pleasure in it, revels in the power he has over others because of his capability for evil and his twisted intelligence in knowing how to extrapolate the worst attributes that might be found in people. There are numerous passages in the play that portray Iago’s self-awareness. In Act 1 Scene 1, Iago professes the duality of his nature to Roderigo: Phelps 4 “Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago. In following him, I follow but myself; Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, But seeming so, for my peculiar end; For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In complement extern, tis’ not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.” (1.1.57-65)

“In pursuit of his end of justice Iago employs the method of craft and intrigue, and in pursuit of revenge, the method of psychological suggestion”( McCloskey 27) Iago uses his skills and intelligence to get his revenge against Othello. He hated Othello so much that he decided to get even with him for his unfair decision. Iago says, “But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor; And it is thought abroad that twixt my heets. He’s done my office” (Act I Scene III 365-367). Iago had everything in his life: Goodfriends, a good job and a wife. However, he envied everything around him. “Iago becomes an Elizabethan Machiavelli, who is not bothered by moral values in the ordinary sense” (McCloskey 28). This utter apathy and wickedness is the sole conflict of this play and ultimately comes with fatal consequences.

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At the end of his tale to Roderigo about how he was passed over for promotion to lieutenant, Iago displays his jealousy of Cassio. He says that Cassio, a (our phrase is "bean counter"), has the job Iago wanted, while Iago has to keep on being [ensign] . A little later, Roderigo, who is desperately in love with Desdemona, expresses his jealousy of Othello's marriage to Desdemona by exclaiming, [own] . Where Roderigo says "carry't thus" we would say "carry it off." [ ] . No father has ever expressed a more hateful jealousy of his son-in-law. [ ] [feed] . He wants revenge for his own suspicion that Othello has gone to bed with Emilia. It's eating at his gut and he won't be satisfied [reason] . The phrase "even'd with him, wife for wife," seems to mean that he has some notion that he might have sex with Desdemona, but it's not the sex that's important. Othello must feel that same poisonous jealousy that Iago feels, and Iago's jealousy is so strong that he also suspects Cassio of wearing his " ." [ ] . Here Iago uses the word "jealousy" in its general sense of "suspicion," but -- whether he knows it or not -- he has also told the truth about himself. We have already seen that his jealousy has made him "shape faults that are not" in Emilia; he suspects that she is sleeping with both Othello and Cassio. This speech is justly famous, not only for its description of jealousy, but also for the cunning of its psychological destructiveness. The meat that the monster feeds on is a person's heart, which it eats away. At the same time, the monster mocks that person's heart, so that he or she feels shame. And the monster is insatiable, always gnawing away, so that the jealous person is never at peace. In comparison to all of this pain of suspicion and doubt, it's "bliss" to just be angry. Thus Iago tempts Othello to make the jump from suspicion to anger, without pausing to determine if the suspicion has any basis in fact. . Othello here uses the word "once" in both the sense of "as soon as" and in the sense of "finally." He means that as soon as he is in doubt he will resolve that doubt once and for all. . "Exsufflicate" means "overblown," and "blown" probably means "flyblown"; meat gets flyblown when it's so rotten that the blowfly lays eggs all over it. In short, Iago's inferences are disgusting exaggerations. However, Iago has not actually made any inferences; he's implied much, but he's been very careful not to make any accusations, not to say anything that could be refuted or disproved. Instead, it's Othello who is making jealous inferences even as he's denying that he can be jealous. He says, . He's right. An outgoing personality doesn't make a woman loose. But he wouldn't have to remind himself of that if he weren't jealous. Similarly, he says, . Again, Othello is right. Before her father and the world Desdemona proclaimed her choice, but if he weren't jealous he wouldn't have to remind himself that she chose him. . To "doubt" means to suspect, and despite what he says, Othello already has strong suspicions, not from seeing anything, but just from listening to Iago. Still worse, Othello is prepared to hear and believe whatever Iago says next. Othello believes that he's not the jealous type and he believes that Iago is his honest friend, so he believes that Iago couldn't be lying and he believes that he himself can't be mistaken. . Then Iago adds, [natural generosity] . In other words, Othello shouldn't be jealous, but if he's not, Desdemona is likely to take advantage of him. . As it turns out, Iago is right; when Othello sees Cassio with the handkerchief he thinks that he has seen the proof that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. [ ] because otherwise the loss of the handkerchief might be . Emilia seems to have a doubt about Othello not being jealous, but Desdemona says confidently, . "Humours" (bodily fluids) were thought to control a person's temperament; for instance, a person who was full of phlegm would be phlegmatic. Desdemona is sure that the sun of Africa baked out any humours that could have made Othello a jealous man. . Desdemona tries to convince herself that Othello is only upset by something that happened at work, but Emilia, unconvinced by Desdemona's reasoning, says diplomatically, . A "toy" is a silly or stupid idea, and Emilia clearly thinks that Othello could be toying with the stupid idea that Desdemona is unfaithful to him. (Later we will learn that Emilia knows that Iago has a "jealous toy" of his own -- the idea that she's having an affair with Othello. Therefore Emilia thinks she knows jealousy when she sees it.) Desdemona replies, , which gives Emilia the chance to remind her that jealousy doesn't need a cause; . Desdemona exclaims, , and Emilia -- who probably thinks that she's said all she can -- simply answers, . . Cassio replies, . Cassio goes on to explain that he found the handkerchief in his chambers. Although that's true, it sounds like a lame excuse, but Bianca copes with her jealousy. She takes the handkerchief and wants to talk about when she'll see Cassio again. [ ] that he " ." Later in the scene Bianca deals with her jealousy by confronting Cassio. She has decided that she was a fool to agree to copy the handkerchief, and a fool to accept Cassio's story that he found it in his room. She now throws it back at him, tells him that he should give it to the whore he got it from, and declares that no matter where he got it, she's not about to copy it. She says, . Then Bianca storms out, though not before telling Cassio that he can come to supper at her place if he wants. Cassio, not wanting to lose his girlfriend or his supper, follows her. [ ] [cheating] [deceiving] . This describes Iago exactly, and it makes him uncomfortable. He says, . However, Emilia is unconvinced. She continues to denounce the unknown villain until Iago tells her to quiet down, which only inspires Emilia to say, . He finally shuts her up by saying, . "Go to" is an all-purpose phrase which can mean "go to hell," "no way," or "get out of my face." Emilia's mention of Iago's paranoid sexual jealousy has made him quite angry. [ ] . If Roderigo lives, Iago says, he'll want those jewels that were supposed to be given to Desdemona, and if Cassio lives, . At this point, Iago has a practical reason for wanting Cassio dead, but he's also just plain jealous of Cassio. The phrase "daily beauty" suggests that Iago feels that Cassio is much more charming and attractive than he is. [ ] . Is Othello right about himself? The first half of the statement, that he was "one not easily jealous," was supported by Desdemona when she said, . On the other hand, many people would say that he was too easily made jealous, probably because they are confident that they would never do what he did. The second half of the statement seems beyond doubt. He was indeed "perplex'd" (which meant both "confused" and "tormented") "in the extreme," and he views his perplexity not as an excuse, but as a fault -- for which he kills himself. [ ]

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Essay: The theme of jealousy in the play Othello

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Othello, written by William Shakespeare is the story of sexualized jealousy. Jealousy and envy take a toll on the story from beginning to end. Jealousy is the “green-eyed monster” that is inherently unreasonable. Othello, as well as, the other characters feature jealousy as the dominant motive for their actions. Shakespeare portrays sexual and romantic jealousy, as well as professional jealousy as the evident cause of self-destruction. Othello’s insecurities drive him to be jealous of Cassio. Iago’s jealousy of Othello urges him to shatter Othello’s relationship with Desdemona. Throughout Othello, Shakespeare idolizes that love becomes hate, and hate becomes love. For the characters, the distinction of these feelings is being blurred. Jealousy amongst the characters is the causation for their consequential actions. “In the early modern period, to be envious of something was to want something you did not have, and to be jealous was to fear losing something that you did’ (Olson 8). William Shakespeare proves through his literary work Othello, that if jealousy becomes part of ones’ personality, it can control us and once it does, one loses the ability to ration.

Roderigo is a minor character, who carries out the thematic desire of jealousy. However, Roderigo’s jealousy does not change the way he acts and behaves. His purpose in Othello is carried out through the manipulations of Iago. Iago realizes that Roderigo is in love with Desdemona, so he convinces Roderigo that he can make Desdemona fall in love with him. Roderigo is jealous of Othello for having Desdemona, the girl he thinks he cannot have. Roderigo sees Othello as an opponent, which he has to compete with in order to win Desdemona’s heart. “What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe, / If he can carry it thus,” Roderigo says expressing his emotions of Othello having Desdemona out of luck (Othello 1.1.67-68). It is because of this Roderigo continues to seek Iago’s advice. Iago uses Roderigo’s jealousy to his advantage. Iago persuades Roderigo to confront Desdemona’s father, Brabantio. He tells Roderigo “Call up her father, Rouse him…poison his delights…do, with like timorous accent and dire yell,” (1.1.64-65). Iago is not concerned with how Roderigo truly feels. “His intentions are not to help Roderigo seek Desdemona but to have Brabantio after Othello because it will cause him, Othello, distress” (Putnam 43). Roderigo’s love for Desdemona has clouded his judgment which leads him susceptible to Iago’s manipulation. Roderigo falling into Iago’s plan, is betrayed and killed by Iago, leading to his downfall.

“Iago is a man blinded by envy and anger, with a goal in mind for everyone to become equally jealous, which aim he completes through his betrayal and manipulation of characters” (43). Iago can identify the weaknesses of the other characters and uses their weakness to harvest jealousy within them. Iago provides a distinction of envy and jealousy. He is envious, rather than jealous, of Cassio, who earned the position of lieutenant rather than himself. Iago believes he should have earned the position rather than Cassio because he is more experienced. Iago plans to disrupt and destroy the life of Cassio. While in Cyprus, Iago urges Cassio to drink a lot of alcohol to disprove his position in front of Othello. Iago conceives a plan for Roderigo to attack Cassio. Roderigo falling into Iago’s plan, attacks Cassio, leading to the demotion of Cassio. Iago reveals his evil capabilities after he successfully gets Cassio fired. Iago is however, sexually jealous of his wife Emilia. Emilia is rumored to have been sleeping with Othello. Iago is an inherently jealous character, yet he does not seem convinced: “I know not if’t be true, / But I, for mere suspicion of that kind, / Will do as if for surety” (Othello 1.3.369-72). His jealousy develops which grows into greater hatred for Othello. Iago’s rejection for the position of lieutenant is not the reason for his manipulation. However, it is that Iago wants everyone to feel the jealousy and anger that consumes him. In Iago’s soliloquies, Shakespeare conveys Iago is not driven by reason but by passion. According to Marcia Macaulay, Iago “is consumed by a desire to best those whom he feels rightly or wrongly have wronged him” (4). Iago’s jealous rampage has affected his relationships with Othello, Roderigo, and Cassio. Iago is not affected by jealousy personally, however, his jealousy has affected the other characters. It has destroyed lives and relationships. Iago’s jealousy of Othello and Cassio have made him responsible for the deaths of Emilia, Desdemona, Othello, and Roderigo. William Shakespeare portrays Iago as one of the evilest villains.

Othello is not an inherently jealous character; however, Iago drags out the jealousy within him. Othello is a confident and dignified character; however, the audience sees a transformation in his personality as he begins to use bestial language and make accusations. “Iago so desperately wants Othello to become insane with jealousy, and he initiates this envy and rage by creating lies of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness” (Putnam 45). He conceives a plan and delivers a story of betrayal to Othello in which destroys the matrimony between Othello and Desdemona. Iago does so by deceit and trickery fueling a jealous rage within Othello. Iago learns that Cassio has been appointed lieutenant instead of himself and seeks revenge on Othello. Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Iago chooses Cassio to be the victim because he is consumed with so much jealousy of not being appointed lieutenant. “When initially confronted with Iago’s suspicions, [Othello] boldly rejects the imputation that he possesses a jealous disposition” (Olson 12). However, when Desdemona becomes relentless at dinner about reinstating Cassio Othello’s jealousy grows. “Give me a living reason she’s disloyal,” Othello demands, threatening Iago that he must prove of Desdemona’s affair (Othello 3.3.61). As Othello’s jealousy rages, Iago offers many ‘proofs’ in which is the beginning of his plan to enrage Othello. Desdemona drops a handkerchief which Othello gave her, and Iago uses it for his own deceit. Iago plants the handkerchief in Cassio’s room and proclaims to Othello he has seen Cassio with such a handkerchief. “Othello turns the appraising gaze at himself and begins to doubt Desdemona’s attraction to him” (Olson 14). Othello’s jealousy develops as the audience learns his mind is being controlled by Iago. Iago’s words of Cassio talking in his sleep confessing his love for Desdemona burned into Othello’s brain. Othello’s perception of Cassio has completely changed because of Iago. Othello has ordered Iago to murder Cassio. Pretending to have doubts of Othello’s wish, Iago has asked him to reconsider. In response Othello says:

Never, Iago… Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace, Shall ne’er look back, ne’er ebb to humble love, Till that a capable and wide revenge Swallow them up (Othello 3.3.454, 458-461).

Othello has turned his love and respect for Cassio into hatred. Othello has become jealous and begins to suspect Desdemona’s intentions. Iago has power over Othello because of trust, loyalty, and evidence of infidelity. Othello does not need to be jealous but is because he allows Iago to manipulate him. Othello only takes into consideration what Iago has said and presented to him. He had the choice to ask Desdemona of the affair but chooses to trust Iago. Othello’s jealousy has worked him into trance leading him to smothering Desdemona to death. His feelings of love for Desdemona has turned into murderous hatred. As Othello is being consumed by jealousy, he speaks such words, “Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men” (5.2.7-8). Othello believes he cannot have Desdemona anymore and commits an act of murder so no one can have her. Only after murdering Desdemona, Othello discovers the truth of Iago’s intentions allowing Othello to return to the man he once was. Othello, a tragic hero, takes his own life and asks to be remembered as “not easily jealous.” William Shakespeare has conveyed that personal weakness and insecurities can drive oneself to be incapable of rational thoughts. Shakespeare has portrayed through Othello that jealousy is a personal flaw.

William Shakespeare has explored the theme of jealousy in the play Othello. With Iago, Othello, and Roderigo, Shakespeare conveys the effects of jealousy. Shakespeare portrays how human emotions can be manipulated leading to self-destruction. Jealousy is what drives the character’s lives from beginning to end of Othello. Othello and Roderigo’s jealousy are not self-inherited, rather fashioned by Iago. Othello, written by William Shakespeare conveys a story of sexualized and professional jealousy. Self-inflicted insecurities and self-inherited jealousy are the prominent causes of self-destruction throughout the play. With the characters Othello, Iago, and Roderigo, Shakespeare idolizes love becoming hate, and hate becoming love. To be envious was to want something one did not believe they could have, and to be jealous was to lose something you had. William Shakespeare conveys in Othello, jealousy can consume a person through manipulation, and once it does, a person loses ability to think clearly and reason.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Iago — Iago’s Silence And Power Of Manipulation In Othello

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Iago’s Silence and Power of Manipulation in Othello

  • Categories: Iago Othello William Shakespeare

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Published: Feb 8, 2022

Words: 1543 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

Works Cited:

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othello iago jealousy essay

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  1. Jealousy Theme in "Othello" by William Shakespeare Free Essay Example

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  2. 📌 Critical Essay on Othello: A Tragedy of Jealousy and Gullibility

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  3. SOLUTION: Jealousy in othello essay

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  4. ≫ Iago's Jealousy in Othello by William Shakespeare Free Essay Sample

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  5. Theme Of Jealousy In Othello By William Shakespeare Essay Example

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  6. The Insecurities and Jealousy of Man: Shakespeare’s “Othello” Free

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COMMENTS

  1. Jealousy Theme in Othello

    Iago refers to jealousy as the "green-eyed monster." As this metaphor suggests, jealousy is closely associated with the theme of appearance and reality. For instance, at one point Othello demands that Iago provide "ocular proof" of Desdemona's infidelity—he demands to see reality. But Iago instead provides the circumstantial evidence of the handkerchief, which Othello, consumed by his ...

  2. Iago's Jealousy in Othello

    This essay will analyze the theme of jealousy in Shakespeare's "Othello," focusing on the character Iago. It will discuss how Iago's jealousy drives the plot of the play and leads to the tragedy of Othello and Desdemona. The piece will examine Iago's motivations, manipulations, and the destructive power of jealousy.

  3. Destructive Jealousy in Iago and Othello

    Jealousy is a powerful and destructive emotion that can consume individuals, leading them to commit heinous acts. In William Shakespeare's play, Othello, the characters Iago and Othello both experience jealousy, but in different ways and to different extents.This essay will explore the reasons behind Iago's jealousy of Othello and the consequences it has on their lives.

  4. PDF jealousy Shakespeare: Critical essay on Ot hello's

    Shakespeare: Critical essay on Ot hello's. jealousy. Bonnie Greer puts Othello in his place - at the centre of the play - and. argues that it is his jealousy, not Iago's hatred, that is the real tragedy. Many people have asked why this great play, one of Shakespeare's masterpieces, is named after a. character who, by the end of it, is almost ...

  5. Othello Navigator: Themes: Jealousy

    Othello is overwhelmed by his jealousy, but not Bianca. Iago makes insinuations about what Cassio and Desdemona might be doing in bed until Othello is so overcome by imagined "Noses, ears, and lips" (4.1.42) that he " Falls in a trance ." Later in the scene Bianca deals with her jealousy by confronting Cassio.

  6. PDF Jealousy

    This means that jealousy is central in driving most characters' actions. The revenge plot of Iago is driven by both jealousy towards Cassio, who was made lieutenant by Othello, and sexual jealousy through the assumption that Othello slept with his wife. Additionally, it is sexual jealousy that causes Othello to kill Desdemona, making their love ...

  7. Themes Jealousy Othello: Advanced

    The imagery associated with the central theme jealousy suggests the destructive, terrifying and perhaps unnatural qualities of this emotion. It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock / The meat it feeds on (III.3.168-9), a monster / Begot upon itself, born on itself (III.4.161-2). There is a strong sense of devouring and being devoured ...

  8. Themes Professional jealousy Othello: A Level

    Iago is also envious of Cassio's superior manners and social status. As late as Act V, Iago is still motivated by jealous thoughts about Cassio. Iago says Cassio must be destroyed because of the 'daily beauty in his life/ That makes me ugly' (V.1.19). Ask yourself whether there is an element of professional jealousy in Iago's treatment ...

  9. How Iago's Jealousy Leads to The Tragic Events in Othello

    The essay demonstrates a clear understanding of the topic at hand, and the writer effectively argues that Iago's jealousy is the driving force behind the tragic events in Othello. The essay is well-organized and the focus is maintained throughout. The sentence structure is clear and concise, with a good variety of sentence types.

  10. Essay: The theme of jealousy in the play Othello

    Othello's jealousy develops as the audience learns his mind is being controlled by Iago. Iago's words of Cassio talking in his sleep confessing his love for Desdemona burned into Othello's brain. Othello's perception of Cassio has completely changed because of Iago. Othello has ordered Iago to murder Cassio.

  11. Iago's Jealousy Essay

    Iago is a jealous beast and he knows the true power and control jealousy holds on a man, Iago knows the danger it holds and uses it in his favor against Othello. In Act 3 scene 3 Iago says "Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons. /Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, /But with a little act upon the blood.

  12. The Impact Of Iago's Jealousy On Othello And Desdemona ...

    In Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago's jealousy resulted in the urge to want to ruin Othello's life. Othello's response to this was his mental deterioration from a confident and noble man to one ridden with jealousy over Desdemona's supposed affair with Cassio, while Desdemona's response was one of complete and utter trust in ...

  13. What role does jealousy play in Shakespeare's Othello

    Jealousy and trust, or mistrust, are some of the main themes in Othello.In the first two acts, Othello is dedicated to Desdemona. In Act 3, Scene 3, Iago really begins to prey on Othello's ...

  14. Iago's Silence and Power of Manipulation in Othello

    Othello is a tragedy that revolves around Iago's jealousy towards Othello. In its beginning, their relationship seems wholesome yet constructive, like a successful president and their vice president. After being pushed over the edge — when Iago isn't promoted to lieutenant and a rumor speculates that Othello has slept with Iago's wife ...

  15. Othello Jealousy Essay

    Othello Jealousy Essay - Free download as Word Doc (.doc / .docx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. The document provides a detailed analysis and summary of William Shakespeare's play "Othello". It discusses how the play is a study of how jealousy can destroy lives. Iago uses jealousy to manipulate Othello into believing Desdemona has been unfaithful, which leads to ...

  16. The theme of morbid jealousy in Shakespeare's Othello

    In Shakespeare's Othello, is Iago a foil to Othello in the context of morbid jealousy? Foil : Literally a "leaf" of bright metal placed under a jewel to increase its brilliance (Holman & Harmon 198).