Othello- Love, Jealousy, and Envy

Othello- Love, Jealousy, and Envy

1. The jealous nature of humanity

   • Symbolism (Monsters)
     • "monster too hideous too be [seen]"
       • We turn into something that we would never think of becoming
       • You become unrecognisable because jealousy turns you into someone you are not
       • "I had been happy if the general camp, pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body, so I had nothing know."
         • Othello would rather that Desdemona had an affair with everyone and not have known than think she had an affair with Cassio.
           • So that he did not have to be jealous
             • Did not have a monster of jealousy living inside him
       • "Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind"
     • "Jealous... is green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on."
       • we are the meat that jealousy consumes
         • It consumes us and takes over us to a certain point that we become monsters ourselves
         • The more it consumes the stronger it gets-- the harder it is to escape
       • Like that of monsters, jealousy is hard to control
     • "Jealous souls are not ever jealous for the cause, they are jealous for they're jealous, 'tis a monster begot upon itself born on itself"
       • When we are jealous we lose sight of our morals
         • Blinded and aren't aware of the actions that we are performing
           • "Heaven knows thou art false as hell"
           • "I will tear her to pieces"
       • Human nature that even when you are only slightly jealous even the most insignificant acts can make that hatred grow stronger
       • Start to exaggerate everything because jealousy is born on itself and will grow stronger as long as you remain jealous
   • Soliloquies
     • "i hate the Moor"
       • "This fellow's of exceeding honesty"
       • Iago is "Othello's most trusted ancient"
       • Labelled as the Moor
       • Contrasts to how we really feel
         • Contrast to what we think and the actions that we portray
       • "My ancient: a man he is of exceeding honesty and trust"
       • "Honest Iago"
     • "A jealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure
       • Point of no return
       • Spread the pain
       • Human nature to make those we are jealous of jealous
       • Like that of a disease jealousy can not be rid of easily
       • We inflict what we are feeling onto someone else so they understand what we are going through
         • Even though it may not be our intention to hurt them-- it's in our human nature to not be alone
           • So we hurt others to ensure that we aren't the only ones who are feeling pain
       • Never ending viscous circle of constantly making others jealous and inflicting pain
   • Metaphor (Animal Imagery)
     • "An old black ram is tupping your white ewe"
       • Hatred is often expressed in inhumane ways that are immoral and often worse than the reasons that you are actually feeling that hatred.
     • "You'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse you'll have your nephews neigh to you."
       • That Desdemona and Othello being together is a bad thing
       • Shakespearean society considers it inhumane when you are different
         • Unaccustomed to change
       • Black people are not supposed to be with white people
         • Racism
       • Hatred from jealous is something we indirectly express
       • Hatred we express when we are jealous is the most painful
         • By hurting the person you are jealous of's loved ones or family members = causing more pain
           • Not hurting them directly...but hurting someone they love-- which will hurt both of them
             • Human nature to protect those we love and if necessary, allow ourselves to get hurt in order to protect those that we love from getting hurt.
     • "Your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs"