Jealousy in Othello
In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago uses Othello’s feelings and self consciousness against him to carry out an elaborate plan. The play is about jealousy and reveals that being overly jealous can be damaging to relationships. Iago is fueled by his own jealousy which then leads him using jealousy against other characters such as Othello.
At the start of the play we can see that Iago is jealous of Michael Cassio because Othello chose him to be lieutenant. Iago believes Cassio is not fit for the position like himself, this appears to be the beginning of Iago’s hatred for Othello. “But he, sir, had th’ election; and I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof at Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on grounds Christened and heathen, must be beeled and calmed” (Act 1. Scene 1. Lines 28-32). Iago is clearly upset that an inexperienced man was chosen over him as lieutenant. He believes he’s better fit and claims Othello has seen it with his own eyes. Iago seems to be jealous of Cassio because of this but he gears his anger towards Othello because it was his decision. This event is the trigger that sets off …show more content…
He has officially lost all confidence in Desdemona and ends up killing her out of rage. “By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in ‘s hand! O perjured woman, thou dost stone my heart” (Act 5. Scene 2. Lines 77- 77) Iago had asked his wife Emilia to steal the handkerchief Othello gave DEsdemona and plant it on Cassion. This led Othello to truly believe that the affair between the two was real and this sent him over the edge. The handkerchief was a token of his love and devotion to Desdemona and it appeared that she gave it to Cassio. All the jealousy that Othello had been building up has bursted into complete rage an betrayal, so he murders Desdemona in his fit of rage. Iago’s plan seems to have succeeded, and all he did was make Othello jealous and drive him crazy with
In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago uses Othello’s feelings and self consciousness against him to carry out an elaborate plan. The play is about jealousy and reveals that being overly jealous can be damaging to relationships. Iago is fueled by his own jealousy which then leads him using jealousy against other characters such as Othello.
At the start of the play we can see that Iago is jealous of Michael Cassio because Othello chose him to be lieutenant. Iago believes Cassio is not fit for the position like himself, this appears to be the beginning of Iago’s hatred for Othello. “But he, sir, had th’ election; and I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof at Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on grounds Christened and heathen, must be beeled and calmed” (Act 1. Scene 1. Lines 28-32). Iago is clearly upset that an inexperienced man was chosen over him as lieutenant. He believes he’s better fit and claims Othello has seen it with his own eyes. Iago seems to be jealous of Cassio because of this but he gears his anger towards Othello because it was his decision. This event is the trigger that sets off …show more content…
He has officially lost all confidence in Desdemona and ends up killing her out of rage. “By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in ‘s hand! O perjured woman, thou dost stone my heart” (Act 5. Scene 2. Lines 77- 77) Iago had asked his wife Emilia to steal the handkerchief Othello gave DEsdemona and plant it on Cassion. This led Othello to truly believe that the affair between the two was real and this sent him over the edge. The handkerchief was a token of his love and devotion to Desdemona and it appeared that she gave it to Cassio. All the jealousy that Othello had been building up has bursted into complete rage an betrayal, so he murders Desdemona in his fit of rage. Iago’s plan seems to have succeeded, and all he did was make Othello jealous and drive him crazy with