Jealousy In Othello Essay - 1517 Words

The way you see the world today, may not be the way you see the world tomorrow. But, the way the world is today, is the way the world will be tomorrow. I hope that was not confusing. The important word in the first sentence is â€Å"see,† and the important word in the second sentence is â€Å"is.† â€Å"See† connotes a perspective, while â€Å"is† connotes an action. William Shakespeare’s, Othello, incorporates both perspective and action, however, Shakespeare adds an additional element: temporality. In Othello, Shakespeare personifies jealousy through the character Iago to argue that our perspectives may be temporary, but our actions are permanent. Jealousy is not incorporeal in Othello. While most assume jealousy is an emotion that people feel internally,†¦show more content†¦His jealousy stems from a protectiveness over property (Desdemona). Also, towards the end of Act I, Roderigo, who is with Iago often in the first act, becomes jealou s too. His jealousy is demonstrated in the â€Å"Put money in thy purse† scene (1.3.335-361). Roderigo is so jealous of Desdemona’s affection towards Othello, that he first threatens to drown himself, and then foolishly agrees to sell all his land to make money for Iago—who promises to â€Å"help† him. If jealousy, defined by Shakespeare, is a monster that is born on itself, then Iago must personify jealousy because his interactions with other characters reproduce his jealousy inside of them. Hence, Desdemona’s reply to Emilia’s definition is ironic: â€Å"Heaven keep that monster from Othello’s mind!† (3.4.163). It is not farfetched to associate Iago with â€Å"that monster† because he does wreak havoc on Othello’s mind, through his use of false evidence framing Desdemona as unfaithful. Shakespeare’s personification of jealousy through Iago is only the beginning, however. His ultimate goal is to illustrate how perspectives are temporary and actions are permanent. The character Emilia, successfully accomplishes his goal. First, consider Emilia’s perspective on Iago. Originally, she sees her responsibility as a wife as satisfying Iago’s desires: â€Å"I’ll have the work taen out/And give ’t Iago. What he will do with it/Heaven knows, not I/I nothing but to please his fantasy† (3.3.300-303). But, herShow MoreRelatedEssay on Jealousy in Othello1076 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare’s Othello is a play consistently based on jealously and the way it can destroy lives. One is quick to think this jealously is based on Othello’s lack of belief in Desdemona’s faithfulness to him or his suspensions over Desdemona’s affair with Cassio, Othello’s honorable lieutenant. Upon closer inspection of the jea lously that exists throughout the play it becomes clear that his jealously is not the sole start and reason for all of the destruction that occurs. 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