Differences and Similarities in the Jealousies of Othello and Iago. “Jealousy is the jaundice of the soul”, as said by John Dryden, a famous British poet in the seventeenth century, and William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, although fictional, goes a long way to show how true this statement can be. Jealousy is the major driving point of the play, leading both the protagonist and antagonist of the story to their unfortunate downfall. Othello and Iago, the aforementioned protagonist and antagonist respectively, while both being victims of jealousy, show, however, differences, as well as similarities in their encounters with jealousy. Othello’s reason for jealousy is love, while Iago’s is hatred and Iago keeps his jealousy hidden, whereas Othello fails to hide his. Ultimately, however, both characters are pushed to mental extremes by their jealousy. Firstly, in Shakespeare’s Othello, the titular hero of the story succumbs to jealousy due to his love for his wife, Desdemona, while Iago, the villain of the story, is jealous because of his hatred for Othello and his lieutenant, Cassio. Othello shows this when, as he decides to …show more content…
Othello’s love for Desdemona makes him a prey to jealousy, whereas Iago’s hatred for Othello is what makes him jealous and Iago keeps his jealousy unnoticed while Othello fails to do the same. Ultimately, however, both characters let their jealousy get the best of them and push them to extremes mentally. Othello is a tragic story about love, betrayal, trust and most importantly, jealousy. Jealousy steers the play in different directions. It breaks friendships, ends relationships, and stirs up evil. Shakespeare shows how, like a spark in a dry forest, one little thought can destroy many lives. Jealousy takes many forms in Othello, however, in all cases, it is
but Othello is poisoned by the monster of jealousy and resultantly murders his wife. In the play, jealousy takes many different forms from professional competition to sexual suspicion, but whichever the form, it always leads to destruction. This paper focuses on the theme of jealousy depicted in Shakespeare’s
Othello is a classic Shakespearean tragedy that consists of many underlying themes depicted in the story. One of the most significant themes portrayed in this play revolve around the aspect of jealousy. Jealousy is a strong feeling of resentment that can overpower a person’s good will and compel them to take involuntary action against one. During the course of this play, we see three main characters that possess this idea of a jealous nature. The theme of jealousy is recognized in the villainous Iago which exposes his true self, the pathetic Roderigo, who in turn faces severe consequences, and the great Othello himself whom jealousy devours, leading him to make rash decisions.
Jealousy is common in the novel, and the author, Shakespeare uses it to keep the storyline moving. In Othello, Shakespeare uses figurative language to help Iago manipulate Othello, causing the reader to feel more sympathetic towards him. The way Iago is treating Othello makes the reader realize what jealousy and a thirst for revenge can cause a person to do to another person. Othello was manipulated by Iago in many different ways for numerous different reasons, one of them is jealousy.
Jealousy shaped the events in Othello. Without jealousy the plot of Othello would have been completely different. Othello would have never killed Desdemona and they still would have been together, if jealousy was not a factor in the play. It also made the play more interesting by adding drama to the play. But jealousy was the catalyst that ultimately ends Othello and Desdemona’s life.
Jealousy is a major theme in Shakespeare's play, Othello that brought the downfall of many characters. Iago envy for rank, and spreads their envy to others, like Othello, who killed his wife as a result, to create chaos. In the end, everyone's envy leads
Kellie McCarthy Professor Barber LITR205 6 April 2015 Tragic Flaw William Penn once said, "The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves." Shakespeare's play Othello, is a prime example of how jealously can ruin a person or peoples lives. The most prominent theme in the play is jealousy and is explored in great detail through the main characters Othello and Iago's personalities and actions. The titular character in the play, Othello, is possibly the greatest example of the damage caused by jealousy in a work of English literature.
Jealousy is a form of hatred built upon insecurity. It can cause assumptions to arise that are very far from the truth. In Othello, by William Shakespeare, many of the conflicts that arise are built off pure jealousy. Iago uses his own jealousy as an excuse to come up with evil plans to ruin innocent peoples lives. In addition, he uses others jealousy as their weakness, to convince them into going along with his plans. Ultimately, Shakespeare conveys that the feeling of jealousy causes untrue conclusions to appear and logics to be distorted.
Even though Othello was not a jealousy man, once the seed of doubt is planted, it simply added fuel to the fire and Othello turns that doubt into jealousy. Shakespeare’s play suggest that jealousy can destroy relationships and end happiness. In the play, Othello
Jealousy is a theme that is developed throughout the play Othello. Jealousy has ruined many lives in Othello Jealousy has ruined many lives in Othello because of Iago becoming jealous of Cassio when he found out that Cassio got the lieutenant position, Roderigo being jealous of Othello because Othello married Desdemona, and Othello becomes jealous of Cassio because he believe Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona.
In Shakespearean plays jealousy usually plays a considerable role in the causing the tragedy. Shakespeare shows great understanding in human nature and human tendencies. One aspect of human nature that he has a lot of insight on is jealousy. Shakespeare understands jealousy well, and is able to illustrate how jealousy can bring out the worst in people. In Othello , it is clear that in law relationships will fail because jealousy makes both parties of the relationship act evil. In addition, jealousy can cause the downfall of a marriage. Moreover jealousy can initiate the downfall of a friendship. Jealousy can bring out the evil and irrational actions in a relationship, resulting in the failure of the relationship.
Shakespeare is well for his ability to compose plays full of deceit, revenge, and jealousy. Othello, one of Shakespeare’s most recognized tragedies, was consistently evolving around the central theme of jealousy. As these lies are unraveled the central theme of his play became distinct, and clearly visible. Furthermore the theme of jealousy goes hand in hand with love, as often is the case in real life. Love consumes all those who take part in it, and in Othello's case his flaws lie in his loving Desdemona so blindly. It is for that single reason that Iago knows that such a naïve man as Othello, who loves his wife so blindly and unrealistically, can be corrupted.
William Shakespeare’s “Othello”, illustrates four of themes in the play. One of the themes is extreme jealousy can make a person act like a monster. In the play, Shakespeare uses Othello, Roderigo, and Iago to prove the theme of Monstrous Jealousy by Othello slapping Desdemona in front of the Public of Venusians & calling her cruel names and Developing evil schemes to kill Desdemona at night. Iago tells the lie to Othello about Cassio and Desdemona to and convincing Othello to believe in it. Roderigo having feelings for Desdemona and Iago suggesting Roderigo buys her a purse to win Desdemona.
A warrior must walk around with his back against a wall and his hand upon his sword. A husband must walk around with his heart upon his sleeve, with faith that his wife will protect it. These two concepts are in direct conflict with each other. This is one reason that Othello became such an easy target for Iago. Othello had never found himself to be so vulnerable. Iago uses this to his advantage and plants the seed that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair. He engrains the ideology of jealousy by telling him not to be, “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy. It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” Jealousy has a way of making a person see what they want to see. Once Othello fears Desdemona’s
Jealousy is a theme seen throughout the Shakespeare tragedy. As you read you can see that jealousy is within most of the main characters such as Iago and of course Othello himself.
The Shakespearean play “Othello” examines the role jealousy plays in relationships and everyday life. Before the play opens, Cassio has been promoted to Lieutenant in the Venetian army by his long-time friend General Othello. Iago is upset by this act of spoil system and swears revenge on Othello and Cassio. The play follows Iago’s plan of vengeance from the day after the promotion and Othello’s engagement to Desdemona, where it first takes root, to the deaths of Roderigo, Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello and the capture of Iago as his plan is foiled. He frames an affair between Desdemona and Cassio, causing tension between Cassio and Othello, and he gets Cassio drunk to make him act without thought and disgrace himself, causing him to be dismissed by Othello. Iago is the prime example of a deceptive character. He manipulates the other characters for his own nefarious purposes, playing off people’s natural instinct of jealousy to turn everyone against each other. Though Iago’s motive for his deception is not definitely known, he contributes his actions towards rumors about Othello and Cassio sleeping with his wife and his anger about Cassio being promoted to a rank over him. His jealousy inspired actions and jealousy based manipulation lead to numerous deaths and broken relationships contributing to the meaning of the play: jealousy is bad.