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Exploring The Theme Of Jealousy In Shakespeare's Othello

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The cold tip of a pistol gently sits on the back of your head. Holding your breath, you wait for the bullet to come. All of this is happening simply because your husband is jealous. Othello: The Moor of Venice, written by the literary genius William Shakespeare, is a play which revolves around jealousy and its extremes. The characters portray real-life concepts of jealousy, going to great lengths to harm others, a result of their deep envy. Through the characters of Othello and Iago, Shakespeare reveals a condition of jealousy in human nature.
Jealousy is a major theme in Othello, and Shakespeare employs the theme through Iago in many ways. The jealousy Iago expresses is a depiction of human nature, although it may seem as though he goes beyond what is normal. According to Psychology Today’s article “Jealousy: Love’s Destroyer,” “Jealousy lends itself far too readily to obsession and delusion.” This idea is clearly seen throughout the play in Iago’s most cunning of actions; his attempt to murder Cassio, and his malicious lies which tear Othello and Desdemona apart. Not only does Iago’s jealousy lead to delusion, but also to deception. Iago is in search for something to sooth his envy, and this leads him to vast lies which will please …show more content…

They both display results and consequences of jealousy, from delusion to pushing away the one you need most. At first glance, the events in Othello may seem extreme, but it is an accurate portrayal of the human condition. As shown above, there are many parallels between modern analysis of jealousy, and the events which occur in Othello. This emphasizes Shakespeare’s timeless depiction of jealousy, and its role in human nature. Shakespeare knew the problems with jealousy, very well, and could have possibly been warning us. Will humans ever escape the grip of the green eyed

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