Othello depicts this concept in a hyperbolized manner in which every character’s downfall is because of the nature of evil that lies within themselves.
The nature of evil takes form within everyone as various traits. One being the green-eyed monster that surfaces more often than not. Jealousy is a dangerous force to be reckoned with seeing as it is one of the few things that can drive someone to do drastic things they would not normally do. Just as in Shakespeare’s Othello, the antagonist is possessed by the monster rendering him to transform into a sociopath who destroys people’s lives. He is a Venetian soldier who goes by the name Iago. Iago’s jealousy of Cassio and Othello induces him to making everyone his puppets that are under his control. Iago’s jealousy of Cassio is what strings the whole ordeal together. His green-eyed monster comes from the way Cassio seems to always better than him at everything. Cassio is more chivalrous, liked, skilled, but he is also more naive. When Cassio was chosen for the lieutenant job, it tipped Iago over the edge since he believes that he was the only one good enough for the position. In the very beginning of the book Iago reveals his spitefulness towards Iago as he …show more content…
Although once one reads in between the lines, it becomes clear that it was not jealousy the was the cause of his demise, but his insecurities. While everyone has their insecurities, Othello’s is heightened even more seeing as he is considered to be an outside being a black Moor married to a white ewe in a racist white community. The color of his skin has always been used against him. When Iago and Roderigo had gone to Barbantio’s house to inform him of Othello and Desdemona’s decision to elope, they utilize the fact that Othello is black to further enrage Barbantio by stating,
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe Because we come to do you service and you think we are ruffians, you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse. You’ll have your nephews neigh to you. You’ll have coursers for cousins and gennets for germans