The Destructiveness of Jealousy and Greediness
What made Othello, written by William Shakespeare in the 17th century, popular is that the play dealt with sensible topics as racism and race. The protagonist of the play is a dark skinned foreigner, surrounded by white characters. Othello’s race makes him sensible for criticism of the people around him, because he knows that he will always be the weaker ‘species’. But what is shown in this play is that it is not his race that will be his downfall. By displaying Othello as an alien, a weak man condemned by his appearance, sensible for influences of others, Shakespeare illustrates the destruction of envy and avarice. Iago uses envy to bring Othello down but he himself is also driven by jealousy. …show more content…
They warn Brabantio against Othello, telling Brabantio that he must look after his daughter. At the end of the scene, Brabantio is convinced that the Moor must have mislead his daughter, making her fall in love with him. This is the first step of Iago turning everybody against Othello, because of the envy he is feeling towards him, and because he wants the position as a lieutenant. In act one scene three, another reason of the hatred of Iago against Othello comes to light. Iago tells the audience: I hate the Moor: And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets He has done my office: I know not if't be true; But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety. (1.3.12-16)111 Iago heard a rumor about Othello having an affair with his Iago’s wife, Emilia. He does not know if he should believe this rumor, but for him, this assumption is enough reason to destroy Othello. This scene displays that Iago can not handle the idea of his wife cheating on him, with Othello. Again, he is led by envy. He wants to punish Othello for what he did to him, and he would not allow Othello to have a steady relationship with Desdemona because he had not got one himself. …show more content…
Iago chooses Cassio as Desdemona’s lover, presumably because he wanted to take down Cassio as well because he stole his position as lieutenant. Then Othello’s jealousy takes over in act three. Othello wants some kind of confirmation about Desdemona’s infidelity, but Iago figures that Othello only suspecting the disloyalty must already be enough to make him jealous. But
What made Othello, written by William Shakespeare in the 17th century, popular is that the play dealt with sensible topics as racism and race. The protagonist of the play is a dark skinned foreigner, surrounded by white characters. Othello’s race makes him sensible for criticism of the people around him, because he knows that he will always be the weaker ‘species’. But what is shown in this play is that it is not his race that will be his downfall. By displaying Othello as an alien, a weak man condemned by his appearance, sensible for influences of others, Shakespeare illustrates the destruction of envy and avarice. Iago uses envy to bring Othello down but he himself is also driven by jealousy. …show more content…
They warn Brabantio against Othello, telling Brabantio that he must look after his daughter. At the end of the scene, Brabantio is convinced that the Moor must have mislead his daughter, making her fall in love with him. This is the first step of Iago turning everybody against Othello, because of the envy he is feeling towards him, and because he wants the position as a lieutenant. In act one scene three, another reason of the hatred of Iago against Othello comes to light. Iago tells the audience: I hate the Moor: And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets He has done my office: I know not if't be true; But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety. (1.3.12-16)111 Iago heard a rumor about Othello having an affair with his Iago’s wife, Emilia. He does not know if he should believe this rumor, but for him, this assumption is enough reason to destroy Othello. This scene displays that Iago can not handle the idea of his wife cheating on him, with Othello. Again, he is led by envy. He wants to punish Othello for what he did to him, and he would not allow Othello to have a steady relationship with Desdemona because he had not got one himself. …show more content…
Iago chooses Cassio as Desdemona’s lover, presumably because he wanted to take down Cassio as well because he stole his position as lieutenant. Then Othello’s jealousy takes over in act three. Othello wants some kind of confirmation about Desdemona’s infidelity, but Iago figures that Othello only suspecting the disloyalty must already be enough to make him jealous. But