A Literary Analysis of the Jealousy in Othello by William Shakespeare

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago plots Othello’s destruction when he is passed more than for a promotion. Iago tells Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him and offers circumstantial proof for this. Othello becomes full of anger and jealousy and kills Desdemona. Othello later finds that Desdemona was not unfaithful and commits suicide. Jealousy appears numerous instances in many characters of Othello. Jealousy leads to the ultimate downfall of a number of characters in Othello such as Roderigo, Othello, and Iago.

Roderigo shows jealousy throughout Othello, and is sooner or later killed by Iago, as a outcome. Roderigo is enlisted by Iago to aid him in his plot to ruin Othello. Roderigo was a feasible suitor for Desdemona till she married Othello on her personal. This fills Roderigo with jealousy toward Othello. For this cause, Roderigo is eager to help Iago with his strategy. He very first helps Iago in telling Brabantio of Desdemona’s secret marriage to Othello. Roderigo rudely wakes Brabantio one night saying, “What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho!” (1.1.78). He then gives help to Iago by starting a brawl in which Cassio wounds one more man. As a result, Othello relieves Cassio of his command. Roderigo’s jealousy lastly catches up with him when Iago asks him to kill Cassio. Iago tells him that Desdemona will sleep with him if he will kill Cassio. Roderigo’s selfishness is apparent and he attempts to kill Cassio. His attempt to kill Cassio fails when his mail shirt saves him. In the procedure, Roderigo is also wounded. Iago comes along later and finishes him off. Even though he is not the only victim of jealousy in this play, Roderigo is eventually killed by this emotion.

Othello is also a victim of jealousy in this play. He is overcome with jealousy when Iago tells him of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Othello falls appropriate into Iago’s trap when he hears this news. Othello trusts Iago also significantly and becomes simply convinced of this accusation. All he can consider about is acquiring revenge on Desdemona. Because of his jealousy, Othello is simply swayed into believing Iago’s flimsy evidence. After presented with this evidence, Othello becomes furious with Desdemona. He ultimately decides that Desdemona need to die and tends to make no attempt to speak with her about the accusation. He says to Iago, “Get me some poison, Iago, this evening. I’ll not expostulate with her, / lest her physique and beauty unprovide my thoughts once more. This evening, Iago!” (four.1.186-87). This clearly expresses his rage and jealousy once lastly convinced of Desdemona’s actions. Othello’s thoughts is taken more than by jealousy and he becomes irrational. He states, “I will chop her into messes! Cuckold me!” (four.1.182). In the end, he realizes that jealousy gets the greatest of him, though it is too late.

Iago is the most jealous character in Othello. His jealousy benefits in the death of practically all the characters in this play. Othello passes more than Iago for a promotion and Iago becomes furious. Iago develops an elaborate strategy that will sooner or later bring him revenge on Othello. He begins out by recruiting Roderigo to assist him. They break the news to Brabantio that his daughter secretly married Othello. He says to Roderigo, “Call up her father / Rouse him. Make right after him, poison his delight” (1.1.68-69). Iago’s determination to bring down innocent folks to get to Othello is displayed right here. His next process is approaching Othello to inform him that Desdemona has been cheating on him with Cassio. Jealousy spreads to Othello as Iago’s plan starts taking impact. To provide evidence for this accusation, Iago plants a handkerchief of Desdemona’s in Cassio’s residence. Othello’s anger and insecurity permit him to be persuaded quite very easily by this flimsy proof that he believes proves Desdemona’s guilt. In order for this strategy to work out, Iago had to kill his wife, Cassio, and Roderigo. Significantly like Roderigo and Othello, Iago’s’jealousy catches up with him and he is tortured to death for the murder of his wife.

Jealousy is an everpresent trait in Othello. It consumes several characters and at some point brings them to their untimely death. Roderigo’s jealousy brings about his own murder, Othello’s jealousy forces him to commit suicide, the ultimate act of selfishness and Iago’s jealousy affords him death by torture. Sadly, the wicked emotion, jealousy, not only resulted in the deaths of three of Othello’s primary characters, it caused the untimely deaths of innocent characters as well.