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The Manipulation Of Jealousy In William Shakespeare's Othello

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Alien to those around him, Othello – an outsider – is preoccupied on trying to gain acceptance from the Venetians; therefore, he left himself vulnerable to Iago’s manipulative tendencies. Shakespeare created Othello to be one of a different race, and this alone infulenced Othello to become self-conscious, enabling Iago to take control. Consequently, Iago knew that Othello depended heavily on the approval of those around him. Iago pretends to be Othello’s friend and declares that he’s venturing to help him but he essentially destroys Othello by making him so jealous that he goes into an envious fit then kills Desdemona. Once again in soliloquy, Iago ponders “And nothing can or shall content my soul till I am evened with him, wife for wife. …show more content…

Determined to eradicate Othello, Iago intends to provoke Othello until the Moor does something so heinous and unforgivable, which is caused by “a jealousy so strong that judgment cannot cure”, implicating how Iago wants Othello to become so jealous that he won’t be able to think straight or reasonably. When Iago is alone with Othello he announces “Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio. Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure. I would not have your free and noble nature out of self-bounty be abused”, ironically signifying how Iago is attempting to plant the seed of suspicion by subtly hinting at the notion that something is going on between Desdemona and Cassio. Othello believes and only trusts Iago, and Iago uses that trust against Othello, so in the end it will benefit him and only him. Iago’s motive for betraying Othello is jealousy and revenge, resulting in Iago betraying several characters to quench his thirst for

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