Jealousy in Othello Essay - Peters 1 Max Peters Professor...

Peters
Max Peters
Professor Tamara Wilson
Intro to Literature
21 March 2010
Jealousy in Othello
Jealousy and envy are major themes in Shakespeare’s great tragedy
Othello . Many of the characters are motivated by their jealousy, including
Iago, Bianca, Roderigo, Emilia and the titular character, Othello. Othello can
even be read as a tale with a moral—a cautionary play about the dangers of
jealousy, the “green-eyed monster which doth mock/ The meat it feeds on”
(3.3.166-171)
In this paper I will attempt to show the major role jealousy plays in Othello
through various quotes referencing the effects of jealousy as well as my own
analysis of the play.
Both a and b of the fourth definition of jealousy in the Oxford English
Dictionary are relevant to my argument. The Oxford English Dictionary
defines jealousy as "4. The state of mind arising from the suspicion,
apprehension, or knowledge of rivalry: a. in love, etc.: Fear of being
supplanted in the affection, or distrust of the fidelity, of a beloved person,
esp. a wife, husband, or lover. b. in respect of success of advantage: Fear of
1

Peters
losing some good through the rivalry of another; resentment or ill-will
towards another on account of advantage or superiority, possible or actual,
on his part; envy, grudge."
In this paper I will attempt to show the major role jealousy plays in Othello
through various quotes referencing the effects of jealousy as well as my own
analysis of the play.
Othello’s jealousy is the most obvious. The stark change in Othello’s
personality and demeanor from the start of the play to the end has much to
do with the ease with which readers are able to perceive his jealousy. When
the play begins, Othello appears resolute, proud and strong. As Othello falls
prey to jealousy, however, he becomes an emotionally weak, irrational and
suspicious man, victim to enormous envy. Ironically, it was Othello’s early
propensity for over trustfulness that is his downfall. His willingness to trust
in others makes it easy for Iago to plant the seeds of jealousy, even
unfounded jealousy. Othello is an outsider. Visually to an audience watching
this play, Othello is a black man among white men.
In the first act of the play, the first hints of jealousy are introduced
when Desdemona's father, Brabantio, cautions Othello to "Look at her, Moor,
if thou hast eyes to see;/ She has deceiv'd her father, and may thee."
Brabantio’s tone is strange here, showing a bitterness towards his daughter
that would sugest an unnatural and powerful jealousy of his son-in-law. Iago
2

Peters
uses this to take advantage of Othello’s natural jealousy and devises a plan
to fool Othello. Quickly, the devious Iago is able to poison Othello’s mind
with the idea that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him. Though Othello’s
emotional and physical reactions to Iago’s insinuations show him to have a
jealous nature, after murdering his wife he claims he wants to be thought of,
not as jealous, but merely confused and led astray. He pleaded, “”When you