Othello's Jealousy

What is jealousy? Jealousy is feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages. "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on;"(3.3.15). Iago tells Othello that jealousy is a monster, Shakespeare knew this as well. Jealousy is the theme in his play Othello, it causes conflicts from marriage problems to as severe as death. Jealousy is the start of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage problems. Although, the start of the jealousy is caused by Iago. He was purely driven by that very green-eyed monster that he talked about. Iago’s goal is Othello’s downfall and for himself to rise to power. In Act 1 Scene 3 lines 360-68 Iago expresses his hatred for Othello by saying, “I hate the Moor, and it is thought

“Cassio confess'd it: And she did gratify his amorous works With that recognizance and pledge of love Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand: It was a handkerchief, an antique token My father gave my mother.” (5.2.243-49) Othello talks about how he believes that Cassio has “confessed” to sleeping with his wife. He eventually kills his wife, and Iago, who convinced Othello goes to jail.

Some of the characters in Othello were not jealous and it helped them tremendously. “Your power and your command is taken off, and Cassio rules in Cyprus.” This is said in Act 5 Scene 2 lines 380-87 by Lodovico, he takes the power that Iago was so desperate for and simply gave it over to Cassio. By not being a jealous person Cassio eventually gained power. I believe Shakespeare used jealousy as a major theme in Othello to show how dangerous it can be. “Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ.” (3.4.332-34). This quote is about Iago understanding jealousy, though William is really the one who understood. Through suicide, murder, and deception jealousy remained the cause for