Othello Analysis Essay

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Jealousy is the feeling of envy towards one another. In Othello, jealousy, also known as “the green-eyed monster” (III, iii, 15), is the key piece of Iago’s plan to drive Othello mad. Iago makes Othello believe that Cassio is having a hidden affair with his newly wed wife Desdemona. Iago utilizes Othello’s jealousy of Cassio to break his mentality and make him go crazy with rage. Othello’s jealousy soon destroys his bond with Desdemona and corrupts his good nature. Iago manipulates Othello, through his anger and jealousy towards Cassio, to make him do the unthinkable. Jealousy is used as piece of irony, because Othello says to Iago:

“For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;
I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this,—
Away at once with love or jealousy!” (III, iii, 44-47).

Othello is saying to Iago that he does not think his life will be changed for he will not grow jealous from anything his wife may do and yet when the idea of Cassio and Desdemona having an affair becomes prevalent Othello becomes enraged with jealousy displaying how jealousy is a piece of irony in Othello. The role of revenge is found within the devious soul of Iago. Iago is Othello’s ensign who Othello has trusted with all his hearts. Othello goes to Iago when he is need of advice or confirmation on any of his next actions. But Othello recently gave away the position of Lieutenant to the Arithmetician known as Michael Cassio. Enraged by this sudden lose of power he so rightfully deserved, Iago wants to exact revenge on Othello for taking away his designated position as Lieutenant. Iago states to Roderigo, “Its seems not meet nor wholesome to my place/ To be producted, as if I stay I shall/ Against the moor”(I, i, 162-164). This statement from Iago means that he may stay with the moor but to work against him instead of with him. He also says “I hate the Moor:/
And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets/
He has done my office: I know not if't be true;/
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,/
Will do as if for surety.” (I, iii, 12-16). Iago messes around with his own mind to make him believe that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia in order to have a better reason to assert his vengeance on Othello. Iago plots to make Othello lose his sanity and get him removed from his current occupation as General of the Archduke. Iago’s vengeance is diabolical and encompasses many different people who are completely innocent but are twisted into the scheme. Loyalty is one’s ability to stay true and trustworthy to another. Desdemona displays her loyalty for Othello in multiple ways with only being married for less than a week. Even though Desdemona is loyal to Othello until the moment she dies, Iago uses Desdemona honesty to disfigure Othello’s sanctity by creating a false affair between her and Cassio. However all the things that Othello does to Desdemona does not change the way she felt about him, she thinks it is she has done rather than blaming it on Othello. She remains loyal to him even when he is smothering her in bed. As she is dying Emilia enters the room but Desdemona is not crying out that Othello is killing her but instead she is slaying herself. Desdemona says “Nobody. I myself. Farewell./ Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell.”(V, ii, 152-153). This proves that she is loyal to Othello because she is telling Emilia that she has slain herself in order to protect her husband’s good name. Emilia is also always loyal
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