The play vividly shows how jealousy has no concrete cause but often is built on an assumption. Othello loves truly but his own insecurities allow Iago to plant the possibility of Desdemona’s infidelity. Jealousy is shown here as a strong by-product of a strong love. This is done various times throughout the play. In Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy is the prominent theme, which causes the destruction and tragic downfall of the play’s main characters. It “doth mock the meet it feeds on”. It is not Othello’s social position that is attacked by Iago but he uses Desdemona as an instrument to instigate falsity, something that he could make him believe he didn’t deserve but got. The Theme of Jealousy in Othello Roderigo - Othello Rodrigo is jealous of the fact that Desdemona is in love with Othello and not him Leads him to pay Cassio to break them up Leads to Rodrigo joining Iago in his plans Why is the theme of Jealousy so important? Love & jealousy are linked by the play’s vision of human nature. But it is only Othello’s own belief in the deficiency of  ____ that makes him believe the reasonable possibility of his wife’s infidelity. Considering the love in friendship, one can analyse the friendship between Emilia and Desdemona. When Desdemona asks Othello to restore Cassio to his position and Othello doesn't immediately agree to do it, she appeals to him in the name of their love, saying, "Good love, call him back" (3.3.54).Othello tries to put her off, but she keeps talking and eventually says, "Tell me, Othello.I wonder in my soul, / What you would ask me, that I should deny, / Or stand so mammering on" (3.3.68-70). Although Iago might be speaking out of jealousy and hatred towards Othello, the nature of love is merely portrayed as lust through the elopement of Desdemona and Othello. The audience knows right from the start, even before Iago begins his lies, that they are lies. They all, however, find an outlet that matches their capacity of evilness. Iago - Cassio Othello’s flaw lies in his gullibility, he “loved not wisely but too well”, too much to not let go of the thoughtful betrayal, to kill her, ruining the innocent face he fell in love with. Jealousy is a major theme of the play. He literarily destroys Othello by making him jealous of his wife. It is written approximately in 1603 and was published in 1622, whereas the first performance of this play is in November 1604 (Wikipedia, Chronology of Shakespeare’s play). Iago’s anthropomorphizing of jealousy as a “green-eyed monster” is famous, and his use of the color green stems from a Renaissance belief that green was a “bilious hue,” linked to an imbalance of the humors that caused fear and jealousy. His soliloquy foreshadows the near futures to come for Othello. Emilia loves Iago so much that as his wife, even a deeply understanding woman like her, never questions her husband’s intentions behind questionable demands. It is 'the green-eyed monster, which doth mock / The meat it feeds on' (III.3.168–9), 'a monster / Begot upon itself, born on itself' (III.4.161–2). Through the juxtaposition of Othello’s credulous nature and Iago’s pernicious villainy, the image of jealousy is truly personified as an all-consuming “green-eyed monster”. Jealousy Shakespeare is prominent in his use of recurring themes throughout his works, particularly those of love, death, and betrayal. Jealousy could not have existed without the inrtroduction of one other very important element- doubt! Checkout English Summary's free educational tools and dictionaries. He was known for addressing various themes such as betrayal, death and love in his works as evidenced in his play Othello. Othello is a tragic play due to its many aspects of death throughout it. Jealousy is shown here as a strong by-product of a strong love. The play is a study of how jealousy can be fueled by mere circumstantial evidence and can destroy lives. From the beginning of the play, Othello, a moor, is considered an ill-suited match for the Venetian, fair and beautiful Desdemona by other characters. Progress Booster. Othello’s devotion to Desdemona is supreme too but it is vulnerable and imprudent. In Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy is mainly portrayed through the two major characters: Iago and Othello. The love between Desdemona and Othello begins as ideally as it can. The Theme of Jealousy In a sense, Shakespeare's domestic play Othello is a play about sexual jealousy; the main tragic character Othello brings about his own disaster due to jealousy, and two other male characters are also somehow the victims of jealousy and self-consuming revenge. In Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy is mainly portrayed through the two major characters: Iago and Othello. As this metaphor suggests, jealousy is closely associated with the theme of appearance and reality. Jealousy creates power struggles, his mistrust between his and his loved ones and results in him losing what he loves the most. Theme of Jealousy in Othello Throughout Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy is apparent. Characters like Rodrigo and Bianca are engaged in the same fruitless attempts of overlooking reality and Othello works under the fear of losing what he already has. The tragedy Othellofocuses on the doom of Othello and the other major characters as a result of jealousy. Love and its varying aspects of beauty and misfortune remain among the prime thematic concerns of this play. However, theme of jealousy stands out from the start till the end of the play. In front of the Duke and others, she openly proclaims her love for Othello. He says, “I do love thee! “Othello jealousy overpowers him, as … Earlier, their love is not afflicted by the excess of lust which may imbalance it. Jealousy in Othello In the play Othello by Shakespeare, jealousy is the main theme that is explained in detail using the main characters Iago and Othello. Theme of Jealousy Jealousy is one of the central themes in this play. This jealousy, which does get to Othello, pushes him to kill Desdemona, the love of his life. Iago’s confidence in his ravaging plot comes from his knowledge that Jealousy emerges from within. He is both the culprit and the victim. The theme of jealousy appears throughout the play as many of the main characters seem to embody the characteristics of a jealous man, which all lead to their downfall. Iago also acts as a friend and his abuse of such a bond of love with Roderigo, Cassio and Othello show us his understanding of it and the capacity of a human being to misuse that. Iago himself acts the entire malignant plan because of his jealousy. It seeks the potential acts in anger, revenge to cure itself. Shakespeare’s focus is to show how jealousy is destructive in the play. The Theme of Jealousy in Othello. Shakespeare was one of the most prominent writers who ever lived. In the play at a point or another each character experiences jealousy for each other, this can be a very dangerous attribute. Theme of Jealousy in Othello Throughout Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy is apparent. "2 Irving Ribner, on the … That is, he knows that saying the word “jealousy” and conjuring an offensive visual image will intensify Othello’s concern. After realizing what he has done, he stands in front of dead Desdemona and expresses regret by saying “This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven, / and fiends will snatch at it. Without the element of jealousy, each character would have less of a desire to carry out the actions that occurred during the play. The tragedy in the play, in actuality, is caused with “trifles light as air” that is required for jealousy to emerge. It shows the triumph of faith in the course of love. Othello represents how jealousy is one of the most corrupting and destructive of emotions. JEALOUSY IN OTHELLO JENNIFER PUTNAM 43 Shakespeare is prominent in his use of recurring themes throughout his works, particularly those of love, death, and betrayal. Theme Of Jealousy And Manipulation In Othello. Roderigo is essential to the plot, his actions act as a catalyst in the narrative. John w. Draper voices a similar interpretation in saying, "Love is the theme of Othello, and jealousy is the alembic by which that love is tried. Being Desdemona’s previous suitor, Roderigo is jealous of Othello. Iago then goes crazy and starts plotting it is the stubborn rejection of his disability that makes him jealous of Cassio. It is propagated by Iago who goes to all lengths to make everybody envious and angry. The theme runs throughout the play until the end, leaving Othello very angry and envious because he believes that Cassio and Desdemona have been entangled i… It is evident from the pay that jealousy forces Lago to show his The play Othello, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragic play that goes over a variety of topics, from love to death. Two related questions occur to most people who read or see the play—is Othello too Iago, at the centre of all these, knows how to exploit this loving tendency in human beings. We see how lives can be destroyed when people succumb to jealousy and become convinced that merely circumstantial evidence is proof of wrongdoing. He infatuates from his own side only. In contrast to this, the play also shows the like of love of Roderigo. Love existed already as Shakespeare's play 'Othello' opened - jealousy didn't. The imagery surrounding jealousy makes it a monster which controls the characters. But Iago traces the weakness in Othello and utters with precision and cunningly makes him conscious of the false convention of women going for someone like refined Cassio instead of a rough Othello. With every character, it is their ignorance, in some or the other form, that makes them slave to jealousy, damaging their power of reasoning and discretion. As it has come out from the … He says, “I do love thee! Iago starts off the jealousy theme in Othello when he gets jealous of Cassio. The primal drives; lust, greed, pride and fear are simmering just beneath the surface of this otherwise civilized society. The play Othello portrays various stages of love and how it is bound to the nature of the individuals who experience it. Shakespeare uses a combination of recurring themes and motifs such as betrayal, love, conflict, and jealousy throughout his plays and sonnets. As a true observation of life, the play shows how most of the time such one side excesses bring tragedy upon one’s own and other’s life. Once it becomes evident to him, it transforms to take the shape of revenge and violence for its elimination. In the tragedy of King Lear, Shakespeare also shows jealousy among Lear’s three daughters. Jealousy. Shakespeare shows how the immensity of one’s deep connection can be turned upside down to an equal amount. However, theme of jealousy stands out from the start till the end of … Checkout English Summary's free educational tools and dictionaries. Theme of Jealousy in Othello by Shakespeare - Jealousy is an emotion feeds over a possible ground of depravity, lack of desired ownership or over a fear of loss. Othello, known for his bravery and integrity, retells their bond in front of everyone. The theme of love can be used against you is best shown in Othello and Desdemona, Cassio and Bianca, Roderigo and Desdemona, and Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio. At the very beginning of the play, Lear divides the kingdom between his daughters who love him the most. The main themes of Othello revolve around the issue of love, jealousy, fidelity and also pride. The use of jealousy by Shakespeare as a central theme for his play was crucial to show the motives of each character. And when I love thee not, chaos is come again.” It ends up in angelic Desdemona’s death by Othello. Roderigo is jealous of Othello because he is in love with Desdemona. Most para- mount, however, is jealousy. Even though she is from a high lineage, she elopes with Othello, known to be a moor in that society. Shakespeare refutes the idea of mismatch on the surface level with the veracity of the pure love that Desdemona has for Othello. A mere handkerchief, that authenticates their love, is easily misused by Iago to prove Desdemona infidel. Shakespeare also demonstrates of the theme: " ••• the theme is universal; jealousy in love is one of the commonest of human failings."1. In the play, one gets to see the love of Desdemona and Othello and also the kind of love between Emilia and Iago. In essence, jealousy is a paramount theme that runs throughout Othello. The play Othello is one of the works written by William Shakespeare. Othello is the most famous literary work that focuses on the dangers of jealousy. It is jealousy alone that proceeds the acts and demands the destruction, making the play a Tragedy. Cassio shows a pure aspect of love and friendship by remaining loyal to Othello to the end. ”The play of Othello shows that power jealousy can overcome people and take control of them. Without even asking why he needs it, she gives away the handkerchief of Desdemona given to her by Othello as their first token of love and it becomes the solid weapon in the hands of Iago. Othello puts Cassio as his 2nd in command while he signed Iago to be his ensign which means third in command. He only extends his own self, makes Othello fall into his situation, for he knows how damaging, irrationally harmful can jealousy be. Iago famously uses jealousy to bring Othello down, yet he, Iago, also admits jealousy … He was known for addressing various themes such as betrayal, death and love in his works as evidenced in his play Othello. Othello’s devotion to Desdemona is supreme too but it is vulnerable and imprudent. As the play begins, Roderigo is presented as he tries to be close to Desdemona. It is the most ideal strength of love where both are afraid of nothing and equally ready to face the world. He fails to take command of his own actions, making Iago take charge of them. But with the advent of Iago’s plan, one sees Othello’s vulnerability who is yet to match the devotion and trust which Desdemona has for him. However, Othello kills his beloved wife because of jealousy. Rodrigo’s absurdity lies in his imagined, vain idea of love. (Click the themes infographic to download.) Jealousy perverts the lives of the characters in the play. In the play, every character is a part of either nurturing jealousy or falling victim to it by the former. Shakespeare’s Othello, as a play and the character himself, is tragic because of the working of jealousy at the effective end. Othello’s own latent insecurity makes him fall prey to Jealousy. All these themes are present in Othello. The “ocular proof” for Othello is not his wife’s words but a cloth material. Othello’s jealousy towards Cassio and the believed affair with Desdemona may be rooted in Othello’s insecurity in a society where he is still regarded as an outsider by some. Shakespeare was one of the most prominent writers who ever lived. Shakespeare explores the theme of jealousy in Othello through Iago,Roderigo, and Othello. Shakespeare’s play of Othello is largely driven by a grand love story, and filled with jealousy. The main themes conveyed are: Love can be used against you/ love can be manipulated, and love is blinding (unconditional love). It is Roderigo who goads Cassio into the fight which loses him his job, Roderigo attempts to kill Cassio so that Desdemona stays in Cyprus and eventually Roderigo exposes Iago. If you are asked to write about the ways in which love and marriage are presented in Othello you need to link these themes to the cultural and historical context of the play in order to get the best grades. And when I love thee not, chaos is come again.” It ends up in angelic Desdemona’s death by Othello. 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