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othello essay theme of jealousy

othello essay theme of jealousy

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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The Theme of Jealousy in Shakespeare's Othello

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The Theme of Jealousy in Othello, Essay Example

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Shakespear’s Othello is one of the most prominent literature works that incorporates the theme of jealousy. In this play the reader can study and understand how jealousy can ruin people lives, even in cases when only the most circumstantial proof of guilt is provided. In this play, jealousy is employ as a weapon, which was unconsciously lethal because its victim tends to demolish himself and those around him. In this play, the theme of jealousy is mainly revealed through Iago and Othello. Iago uses jealousy as the source for his hatred, thus directing it against Othello. By taking different forms, like sexual suspicion or professional competition, the theme jealousy is still destructive for all the characters.

The fact of jealousy in this play shows us how it completely corrupts the lives of its main characters – Iago and Othello. Being noble and famous, Othello occupied relatively high position in the regard of his rulers, thus he had everything he needed and wanted. However, his primary weakness was revealed through his saturating insecurity and self-loathing that granted profuse ground for the scoundrel Iago to capitalize on Othello’s fatal mistake an unreasonable, unfounded jealousy, which drove him to kill what he loved the most, thus putting everything away along with his own life and destiny.

In the very first Act of the play, one of the major characters Iago puts across an ultimate and irresolvable jealousy of Othello, thus suspecting him – “that twixt my sheets / He has done my office.”(1.3.367-368) In fact, Iago sets the tone for the way jealousy effects the characters in the play. Iago appears to be not certain that Othello is actually cuckolding him, thus without having any evidence he is still being suspicious – “I know not if’t be true; / But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, / Will do as if for surety.”(1.3.371) “His destruction of Cassion is not only a means towards the ruin of Othello, but also an end in itself.”(Elster, 109) Thus, Iago is constantly reflecting his own envious and jealous feelings. However, it is Othello and his intense jealous behavior that encompass the major theme of the play. Othello appears to be the center of power, thus his behavior and exercise of free will strongly affects everyone around him. In his turn, Iago uses Othello’s prevailing insecurity and jealousy as the means for instant changes in Othello’s attitude towards Desdemona. As a result, Othello’s jealousy makes him to overestimate the worth of the handkerchief “More than indeed belonged to such a trifle”(5.2.226) and as a result underestimate his wife’s true worth like “the base Indian.”(Korda, 112)

Eventually, Iago uncovers his plans to get even with Othello:

“And nothing can or shall content my soul Till I am even’d with him, wife for wife, Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor At least into a jealousy so strong”(2.1.275-279)

Consequently, as Iago unfurls his plans and intentions, he uses the ‘monster’ metaphor for the description of jealousy in an insincere, ironic warning to Othello to watch out “O beware jealousy; / it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock / The meat it feeds on”(3.3.165) In the scene when Emilia warns Desdemona that a jealousy in men is a “monster / Begot upon itself, born on itself”(3.4.156-157) the thread continues. As a result, Desdemona trembles at the thought Othello’s potential jealousy, thus praying “Heaven keep the monster from Othello’s mind!”(3.4.158) I appears that Emilia serves as an ignorant contributor to Iago’s web through handing him the handkerchief of Desdemona. So, first she assists Iago, and then she ‘kills’ him by revealing his betrayal. But at this point, the jealousy has already killed Desdemona; Emilia will pay a high price of her life as well; it will take Othello by suicide, and will destroy Iago through torture and punishment. Of course, the fundamental root of the tragedy is Othello’s trustfulness and insecurity, thus he listens to Iago’s words and lets himself to be cast adrift in self-doubt and failure to believe that Desdemona can truly be in love with him.

Shakespeare’s Othello is a heartrending paradigm of mankind’s legacy of doubt and disappointment, and the way they poison the free will given to us by God. The tragedy is that if Othello only would have kept believing in Desdemona’s honesty and accepted her devotion and faithfulness, he could have lived a long and happy life. However, we observe completely opposite picture in the play. In fact, the play and its tragedy could be a perfect example of how pure faith and acceptance are more valuable than contaminated free will.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Othello . Classic Books Company, 2001.

Korda, Natasha. Shakespeare’s Domestic Economies: Gender and Property in Early Modern England . University of Pennsylvania Press, 2002.

Elster, Jon. Alchemies of the mind: rationality and the emotions . Cambridge University Press, 1999

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The Theme of Jealousy in Shakespeare's Othello

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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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COMMENTS

  1. Jealousy Theme in Othello

    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.

  2. The Theme of Jealousy in Shakespeare's Othello

    Othello originally becomes very jealous of both his wife Desdemona and Michael Cassio, after Iago manages to take advantage of his credulity and brainwash him gradually into thinking that Desdemona has had recent affairs with Cassio. Eventually, his jealousy brews into a fiery rage.

  3. The Theme of Jealousy in Othello, Essay Example

    Shakespear’s Othello is one of the most prominent literature works that incorporates the theme of jealousy. In this play the reader can study and understand how jealousy can ruin people lives, even in cases when only the most circumstantial proof of guilt is provided.

  4. The Theme of Jealousy in Shakespeare's Othello

    Othello originally becomes very jealous of both his wife Desdemona and Michael Cassio, after Iago manages to take advantage of his credulity and brainwash him gradually into thinking that Desdemona has had recent affairs with Cassio. Eventually, his jealousy brews into a fiery rage.

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

    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).