Othello is one of the most famous and acclaimed literary works of William Shakespeare, who is dexterous in portraying love, betrayal and jealousy in his creations. The play Othello focuses on its main theme jealousy and also educates about its possible effects. The Othello kills his wife and himself which shows how jealousy can ruin the lives. Jealousy is present in several forms in the play and it has been presented as ferocious in all the forms. This paper discusses the jealousy as the main theme of Othello and further looks at several related aspects.
One incident of jealousy occurs in the beginning of the play when Iago is portrayed very dissatisfied because the Othello has passed Iago and appointed one Michael Cassio as his lieutenant. In this scene the Iago is portrayed jealous of the Cassio’s position and he believes that he is more competent and experienced than the newly appointed lieutenant.
Second incident is when Emilia discusses about the bad effects of jealousy with Desdemona. Let us have a look at their conversation:
EMILIA- Pray heaven it be state-matters, as you think, and no conception nor no jealous toy
Concerning you.
DESDEMONA- Alas the day! I never gave him cause.
EMILIA- But jealous souls will not be answer'd so; They are not ever jealous for the cause,
But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster Begot upon itself, born on itself.
DESDEMONA- Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind!.
One more incident of jealousy is the Roderigo’s jealousy with Othello. Since Roderigo used to love Desdemona but she loves the Othello and seeing this, the Roderigo has a feeling of jealousy with the Othello. In the play, Roderigo has been shown following the directions of the Iago just because he is jealous of the Othello because of the relationship between him and Desdemona.
Another incident is when Iago conspires to put the seeds of jealousy in the mind of Othello by portraying the Desdemona as immature woman and also raised doubts about her character in Othello’s mind. He knows that the Othello is an emoyional man and will not be able to even sleep after knowing such things.
IAGO- the Moor already changes with my poison. Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons. Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, But with a little act upon the blood.
Burn like the mines of Sulphur. I did say so: Look, where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandragora,
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep Which thou owedst yesterday.
Another incident is when the Desdemona lost her handkerchief and discusses the same with the Emilia. She says that Othello is not jealous of anything.
DESDEMONA- Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?
EMILIA- I know not, madam.
DESDEMONA- Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse Full of crusadoes: and, but my noble Moor Is true of mind and made of no such baseness As jealous creatures are, it were enough To put him to ill thinking.
EMILIA- Is he not jealous?
DESDEMONA-Who, he? I think the sun where he was born Drew all such humours from him .
One more example of jealousy is Bianca, when she finds the handkerchief of Desdemona in Cassio’s room. The handkerchief was though planted in the Cassio’s room but Bianca; the lover of Cassio presumes that there is something between the Cassio and the Desdemona.
After having observed several examples, it is apparent that jealousy is the main theme of the Othello and it is present in several forms in the play right from professional competition to the love affairs and from the personal qualities to the warrior qualities.
Works Cited
"AbsoluteShakespeare." absoluteshakespeare. 15 December 2011
"Bartleby.com." bartleby. 15 December 2011
Mabillard, Amanda. "Othello Plot Summary." 20 August 2000. shakespeare-online. 15 December 2011
"Shakespeare Resource Center." 3 December 2011. bardweb. 15 December 2011
Shakespeare, William. Othello, The Moor of Venice. U.S.: Plain Lable Books, 1968.
