Jealousy in Othello

Jealousy in Othello

1. Iago

   • Motives which cause Iago to be a villian are cause by jealousy
     • Iago is initially jealous of Cassio getting the position of lieutenant
       • 'I hate the Moor/I know if't be true/But mere suspicion/Will do for surety'1.3
         • Mere prattle without practice is all his solidership 1.1
           • Yet that I put the more/At least into a jealousy so strong/ That judgement cannot sure 2.1
           • Trifles light as air/Are the jealous conformations strong/as proofs of holy writ 3.3
     • Plans to ruin Othello's marriage to get back at Othello and Cassio
   • Iago is the trigger for Othello's harmatia
     • Iago uses other people's jealousy to manipulate chiefly Othello but also Rodrigo

2. Othello

   • Othello lets jealousy consume him and ruin his life,it is is harmatia
     • It allows him to be manipulated and then very easily enraged and encompassed
       • Leads to the eventual killing of himself and his wife as well as being stripped of his rank and respect
     • Beware/Of jealousy/it is the green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on/the cuckold lives in bliss 3.3
       • The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt/For she had eyes and chose me 3.3
       • I'll see before I doubt 3.3
         • Of one not easily jealous/but being wrought perplexed to the extreme 5.2

3. Roderigo

   • -Shakespeare uses Roderigo's jealousy to portray him as desperate
   • Jealousy functions as an easy manipulation tactic for Iago
   • Roderigo will do anything to win Desdamona over- is extremely jealous of Othello
   • ''I have no devotion to the deed yet he hath given me satisfying reasons' 2.3
   • What a full fortune does the thick lips owe/If he can't carry't thus 1.1

4. Tracking Jealousy

   • The play opens up with a discussion about jealousy-Iago wanted Cassio's rank. This initial jealousy becomes a catalyst for all the chaos in the play
     • Brabantio is jealous of Desdamona choosing the moor. Roderigo is in love with Desdamona
       • Rodrigo is manipulated by Iago through his jealousy
         • Iago's soliloquy reveals his plan by insinuating an affair between Cassio and Desdamona, fueled by jealousy
           • Iago plants the seed of jealousy in Othello's mind and makes him wary of 'the green eyed monster
             • Iago tells Othello about the hankerchief the physical proof which leads to Othello's turmoil
               • Bianca sees the hankerchief in Cassio's room and becomes riddled with jealousy
                 • Play concludes all reasons for jealousy was in fact false

5. Critics

   • Kenneth Tyan 'Not easily jealous' is the most appalling bit of self deception.He's the most easily jealous man anyones ever written about. The minute he suspects or thinks he has the smallest grounds for suspecting Desdamona he wishes to think he guilty