Preview

Examples Of Jealousy In Othello

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
668 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Examples Of Jealousy In Othello
Othello paper

The Green Monster

Jealousy is a common emotion that everyone shares at one point in life. At most times it is when a person is most vulnerable and insecure that he loses faith in the things he once felt so certain about. Othello, being of a different race, is a man who fights for all he has ever had in life including the marriage to the senator’s daughter Desdemona, who is not a suitable match for a man like him. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, Shakespeare cleverly demonstrates how a man with great honor and respect is driven to insanity by the big green monster of jealousy. Othello is a strong, confident, and trustworthy man who tragically falls from grace due to the idea of Desdemona’s infidelity to another man which ultimately drives him and his loved ones to their graves.
…show more content…
Triumphant in proving his worth, he is able to win over the woman he loves, Desdemona, making her his new wife. His devotion to Desdemona is relevant in depicting how much trust and love he feels for her. An instance of Othello’s affection towards his wife is as follows,

It gives me wonder great as my content/ To see you here before me. O my soul’s joy!.../ If it were now to die, /‘Twere now to be most happy, for I fear /My soul hath her soul so content so absolute/ That not another comfort like to this succeeds in unknown fate.(Shakespeare, Othello 2.1.199-200,205-209).

Othello’s words explain his overwhelming happiness for his new wife and that if he were to die tomorrow he would be perfectly content for he will never be as overjoyed as he is in that

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The play Othello, written by William Shakespeare was written the 16th century during the Elizabethan era. Othello is an amazing character. He enjoyed success in the warfare, which gave him the reputation as one of Venice’s best generals. Although he has great success in the battlefield, he has a dramatic flaw that causes a downfall in his life. The dramatic flaw is jealousy. This was brought on by a simple persuasion of Iago, the antagonist of the play. Even though Iago used manipulation to get Othello jealous, it was Othello views his own racial identity and his lack of confidence in himself that allows Iago to persuade him that Desdemona is cheating on him. Othello was misguided by his jealousy which led him through a path of constant questioning…

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The English language owes a lot to Shakespeare. He invented over 1700 of our common words by changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words never before used together, and adding prefixes and suffixes. William Shakespeare has become the most famous and influential author in English literature. He was only active as a writer for a quarter of a century. He wrote thirty eight plays, one hundred fifty-four sonnets.…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    explore universal truths and emotions. This is one of the main reasons why his plays are so…

    • 1125 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Othello thinks that he knows his wife, Desdemona, better than anyone else knows her. He knows deep down that Desdemona would never be untrue to him. But, as Iago points out when he says “She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when she seem’d to shake and fear your looks, she loved them most” (III, iii). Othello now realizes that he does not know his wife well at all. As said in A Discourse of Marriage and Wiving, “Be advised before…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Jealousy can lead to people doing destructive things, like killing one another. Its marks on Othello make him so crazy that he resorts to killing his wife, and then killing himself. “Ay, let her rot and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone (IV.1.178-180).” Othello has just seen his “proof” that Desdemona is unfaithful. He is too rash and starts making threats that cannot be undone, like killing his wife. His character is so quick to judge that he doesn’t even think about Desdemona’s character and how she would behave. He does not look deeper into the matter. Othello says this metaphor “my heart is turned to stone” expressing how quickly his character changed and how jealousy brings a toll to his life. In the next speech Othello reflects on his actions and tells Lodovico and Gratiano what he wants to be remembered by. “Then must you speak/Of one that loved not wisely, but too well./Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought,/Perplexed in the extreme. Of one whose hand,/Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away/Richer than all his tribe (5.2.343-348)”. He admits that he was irrational and that his emotions were too strong. “loved not wisely, but too well”, he got carried away too quickly by being in love, and was not fully thinking properly. Once tricked into jealousy, he went berserk and threw away everything good in his life. Using the simile “Like the base Indian” him being a silly “savage” who wasn’t smart and “threw a pearl away” referring to killing Desdemona: a white, fair and rare woman. Reflecting on his actions with this simile and his new knowledge and realization of himself, he then kills himself. When one is tricked by jealousy, their actions are greatly altered leading them to kill loved ones and finally, leading to the self-destruction. Jealousy is a murderer that becomes a virus, killing everyone it…

    • 1473 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The relationship between Desdemona and Othello is an integral aspect of ‘Othello’, both in terms of plot and in conveying Shakespeare’s socio-political commentary. The view that Desdemona ‘is vital to her husband’ and ‘in losing her, he loses himself’ is strongly evidenced by Othello’s degeneration throughout the play having an undeniable correlation with the breakdown of his marriage. Furthermore, the ‘tragedy’ of the play is Othello’s hubris forcing him to murder his wife – the action which proves his inability to integrate with Venetian society. Shakespeare presents the relationship between Desdemona and Othello in a deeply immersive way by defining it both in terms of their personal interaction, and the reaction and interference of the characters in the play. Most importantly, the antagonist of the play, Iago, uses Desdemona’s “goodness” as the net to “enmesh” Othello, in addition to his other victims including Cassio and Roderigo. Iago’s Machiavellian plot to be evened with Othello, “wife for wife” depends heavily on his ability to destroy his marriage – thus confirming the importance of Desdemona.…

    • 1124 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    ‘Othello' begins with a meeting between Iago and Roderigo outside Brabantio's house. We are taken into the plot through the two men's animated discussion about the fact that Othello has eloped with Desdemona of whom has captured Roderigo's heart. We learn of this affair as an act of stolen love or ‘witchcraft' on Othello's part. Othello is portrayed very badly in this scene and Iago's wit makes him truly believable. The fact that Othello is written about as a ‘burglar' or ‘foul thief' suggests to the reader that he is not worthy of Desdemona. However, our assumptions are foiled when Othello is finally asked for his side of the story. ‘True I have married her. That is the top and bottom of my offence, no more . . . I won his daughter'. Perhaps it is his version of the story, the method by which he attained this ‘treasured gift' that warms our hearts to the ‘black ram'. It is easy for one to sympathise with the beautiful tale of love. How she ‘loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her.' Othello won her through his impressive stories and adventures he encompassed when he was travelling.…

    • 971 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Before Othello’s death, he had spoken about how he does not want people to think that it was all in spite of jealousy. “Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak of one that loved not wisely but too well-” (words reported by Lodovico) Othello did not want to be remembered as one…

    • 398 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jealousy Othello Essay

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Throughout Shakespeare’s play, Othello, the major theme of jealousy is explored in detail through the main characters Othello and Iago's actions. In the tragedy Othello, Shakespeare focuses on how jealousy affects Othello and the other major characters to result ultimately in their destruction. The theme of jealousy is evident throughout the play as it motivates the characters’ actions and suggests alot about the impacts, effects and nature of jealousy itself. In Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy is portrayed through the major characters of Iago and Othello. It acts as a poison administered by Iago's words to Othello which causes him to transform from an honest noble general into a vengeful murderer. Jealousy is the "Green eyed monster."…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello Speech

    • 815 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Throughout the play, we see how Othello’s nature and attitudes change from the fondest love for his wife, Desdemona, and unbounded confidence to the tortures of jealousy. Jealousy is a human quality that transcends time and place. The revenge of Othello, after it has once taken possession of his mind, grows stronger at every moment of its delay and leads to his eventual downfall.…

    • 815 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In the play of ‘Othello,’ we firstly see a perfect, loving relationship between two of the main characters, Othello and Desdemona. By the end of the play, this relationship that they share is completely destroyed as Othello is driven by the strong emotion of jealousy to kill his wife and then himself, after realising that he had done an unjustly thing.…

    • 1712 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin, in the extract Othello uses a high volume of religious lexis to explain his pain at what he believes Desdemona has done (committed adultery with Cassio). From lines 47-52 Othello describes how he would rather contract any ‘affliction’ than to be betrayed by Desdemona, this implies that he now believes his love for Desdemona has turned into a disease that is destroying his strength (could also be related to the fits he suffers and bouts of insanity towards the end). Also these lines are a direct reference to the Old Testament (Book of Job) and this may have been picked up on by many of the highly religious audience during the period it was written in; making the meaning behind his words more comprehendible and relevant.…

    • 995 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Othello Vs Cinthio

    • 1584 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Charles Lamb calls it “the perfect triumph of virtue, over accidents, of imagination over sense”. On the other hand Brabantio calls the marriage ”judge maimed and most imperfect”, on accounts of transgression of “all rules of nature”, resulting in “treason of blood”. His plea that this unusual marriage hence unnatural is imperfect ,is rejected by the Duke himself, for it is not hard for him to imagine his own daughter falling for Othello. And as Samuel Johnson notes in his notes on Othello ”It is no wonder that in any age or in any nation a lady –recluse, timorous and delicate should desire to hear of events of scenes which she could never see and admire the man who endured dangers and performed actions which however great were yet magnified by her timidity”. Her love for the dangers “I had passed” can be seen a desire for “forbidden pleasures”. Thus validating Othello’s self-image.She achieves vicarious sense of fulfillment through this marriage; undoubtedly Desdemona prizes the “virtue and valiant part” of…

    • 1584 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello describes himself as "one that loved not wisely, but too well," which infers that his love is so intense, passionate and fulfilling that he has a dramatic weakness for making mistakes. Othello is a man of action, often makes quick and irrational decisions, enters his loving relationship under false pretences and has his own conflicting identities as well as being self-deluded, which ensures that he is judged as "one that loved not wisely, but too well."Othello is a man of action and as a result, is extreme in whatever course of action he chooses. Othello 's extreme haste and resolve is best evidenced when he sorrowfully exclaims "Nay, that 's certain; but yet the pity of it, Iago! O, Iago, the pity of it Iago!" a sorrowful cry for his belief that he has committed himself to action and although he wants to change his course of action, feels bound by a duty to act upon his previous statements. Othello 's inability to falter on what he believes to be binding statements, gives proof to his capacity for loving too well, for he is so extreme in his actions that when he chooses to love Desdemona he loves her with such an intense passion, that he loves her too well. Further evidence of Othello 's extreme devotion to actions comes when he exclaims, " 'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death: even then this forked plague is fated to us when we do quicken," likening the fate of Desdemona to death, such is the strength of fate and his duty to act. Othello loves Desdemona with a similar passion and dedication which is why he loves Desdemona too well.…

    • 690 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jealousy in Othello

    • 505 Words
    • 3 Pages

    If a monster with green eyes were coming at an individual, what would one do? The answer of course, depends on the circumstances of that particular person. Would one permit the green-eyed monster to destroy his or her own mind, and control his or her every move? In this case the green-eyed monster would indeed be jealousy. so lets use Iago for example. He was prejudice towards the African American,othello, to whom he held a lower military position; a less qualified man, Cassio, was promoted as Othello's lieutenant, and he wasn't high in social classes. Iago's life was excruciatingly unsatisfactory and Iago welcomed the green-eyed monster with is arms wide open. First of all, why does one feel a need for control over others? Besides jealousy, could ones own life not be going the way they would like? Iago didn't have power over anything. The only thing he had power over was his emotions, and he couldn't even control them. He says, and I quote, "Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to which our wills are gardeners " In translation, it means only we have control over out internal selves. We are also the only one's who can take control over our feelings. As soon as Iago put his scheme into action, he saw results: "Now art thou my lieutenant." Iago had Othello under his control, just as he anticipated. Iago told lies to Othello and to try and convince him to bring his own wants to life; one being lieutenant for Othello. Additionally, how could a person be so cruel? Iago was ruthless and surmounted by jealousy, selfishness, prejudice, and he was also spiteful. Iago had said, "I have it. It is engendered. Hell and night must bring this world's light ." Iago was referring to his cruel scheme designed to destroy Othello's life. How selfish of Iago to want to impose his cruel lies and actions on these somewhat good, unsuspecting people.…

    • 505 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays