Download Othello: A Tragedy of Jealousy O, Beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is

Othello: A Tragedy of Jealousy
O, Beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mocks the meat it feeds on." It is
through Iago’s manipulative actions in Shakespeare’s play, we are introduced into a web of a world entangled
with lies, jealousy, and ultimately tragedy. We observe as Iago single handedly –quite a statement to claim he
does this single-handedly destroys the matrimony shared between Othello and the beautiful Desdemona. Iago
achieves this destruction by playing upon one of the strongest and most basic of human emotions, jealousy.
From the very first lines of the play to the very last Iago cunningly plots treachery that will ultimately end in harm
to Othello. Good “With as little as web as this, will I ensnare a great a fly as Othello’’. Iago’s lies of betrayal
capture Othello’s soul in a jealous rage of infidelity. Iago lies so well told convince Othello his loved wife,
Desdemona, is false with Cassio. Originally an African slave NOT!, Othello has achieved greatness; he is a
Blackman, the General of the Venetian Army, a man respected and held in a high esteem by many. Although a
strong and capable leader, Othello’s fear of being cuckold is a result of his deep insecurity; Othello does not
understand Venetian customs or woman. He is a Blackman in a White man’s world. Good
For all his success Othello the moor of Venice is still an outsider and it is through this fear of inadequacy that his
jealousy is fueled. Iago is aware of this deep insecurity and exploits it. Nice Showing him proof of Desdemona’s
infidelity. The ‘proofs’ are deceitful, but all work to spark the flames of jealousy in Othello. The quote “Let us be
conjective against him. If thou canst do him, thou dost myself a pleasure, for me a sport”, gives the impression
that Iago only motivation to ruin Othello was fun. Iago slyly starts Othello to suspect that Desdemona and Cassio
are having an affair. “So I will turn her Virtue into pitch, and out of the Goodness make the net that will emesh
them all.” Continually poisoned through Iago’s lies and manipulations the spark becomes a smoldering fire of
jealousy in Othello’s heart. Burning into Othello’s brain such cruel ideas fanning his Jealousy, suspicions and
sense of betrayal. Othello’s thoughts disturb him and make him act irrationally. By the end the play Iago’s lies
have successfully transformed Othello’s flame of jealousy into a burning pit of hell in his soul. Great
Through Iago’s evil nature he unfortunately knew the immense power that jealousy could have on a mans soul
and artfully unmasks this. Good Iago is the Arch Villain of Shakespearean drama. This tragedy ultimately brings
out credibility of one proof, being that jealousy is one of the strongest human emotions and just as hate, it can to
consume you. Good Othello’s Harmatia or flaw is that of being easily manipulated, he is unable to rationalize and
ask question’s of others to verify Iago’s proofs. Othello is a tragic hero who creates his downfall. Aristotle
defined tragedy as “on not by vice and depravity but by some error of judgment.” Sadly Othello’s Jealousy leads
to destroy himself in the process of driving out he evil around him. Othello falsely believed that he was protecting
and saving Desdemona by killing her. It was his overwhelming love for her, which makes him feel as though he
has no other choice, to protect his all-important honor. And a need for justice Othello’s tragic flaws are similar to
other Shakespearean characters. Like King Lear, lack of insight leads to his downfall, he cannot see that he is
being manipulated by Iago and like Macbeth disregarding the evil nature of the witches in the play Macbeth,
Othello disregards the evil nature of “Honest Iago. The small seed of jealousy carefully planted by Iago, results in
the harvest of tragedy of the pointless deaths in the play. The irony is the only person Othello trusts, is the only
person who is dishonest. “The Moor Is of a free and open Nature, Thinks men honest that seem to be so, and will
as tenderly lead as asses are’’. Othello is simply not a good judge of character, Good
“But jealous souls will not be answered so; They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they’re
jealous. It is a monster begot upon itself, born on itself.” Othello is completely consumed by his jealousy and it is
this jealousy that clouds his judgment and rationale.
Othello says of himself, just before his suicide “one not easily jealous, but, being wrought, perplexed in the
extreme”, He was now aware of the manipulation and insidious cunning of Iago. Othello states that he was not
easily made jealous but that Iago’s scheming manipulation of proofs fully convinced him of Desdemona’s
infidelity. I do not believe that Othello’s true and open nature made him easily jealous, it was an emotion that he
was ill prepared for. But he was indeed ‘’being wrought perplexed in the extreme. The depth for his love of
Desdemona allayed his suspicions until the false evidence against her seemed overwhelming true, “If she be false,
O then heaven mocks itself, Ill not believe it”
Othello’s downfall and ultimate tragedy is not attributed to the weakness of his love for her or any inherent
jealousy, but only to Iago’s cunning manipulation of their love. Othello is consumed in fiery depths by the green
eyed monster of jealously, for Othello “loved not too wisely, but too well’.
This is a well-argued essay. Try not to leave a gap for your quotations as quotes ‘woven’ into your paragraph are
far more effective (see markers’ comments from previous years).