Othello Essay

Submitted By jhsportsman988
Words: 1934
Pages: 8
Open Document
Othello Essay

“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on;” This line from Othello, a play written by William Shakespeare, helps to explain one of the major themes of the novel—jealousy. According to dictionary.com, jealousy is defined as, “mental uneasiness from suspicion or fear of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., as in love or aims”. Jealousy is used within the play as the driving force behind various characters’ actions. It is also one of the tragic flaws of the tragic hero, Othello, which helps lead to his downfall. Jealousy caused Roderigo to be under the manipulation of Iago, caused Othello to murder his innocent wife, and caused Iago to plot a scheme so evil that it lead to the death of four innocent people—Roderigo, Emilia, Desdemona, and Othello—who all did no wrong. One major character that fell victim to jealousy was Roderigo. He was paying Iago to help him lure Desdemona. Upon learning that Desdemona has fallen in love and run off with Othello, Roderigo was pissed off and didn’t know what he could do to still get her. Iago then uses Roderigo’s jealousy against him. “Call up her father, Rouse him: poison his delight, proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen, and, though he in a fertile climate dwell, plague him with flies:” Iago creates a plan that can benefit the both of them. Roderigo will inform Brabantio of his daughter’s actions in an attempt to have Brabantio go after Othello. Brabantio would then take action against Othello and accuse him of kidnapping his daughter. With Othello condemned by Brabantio, there would be nobody to stop Roderigo from having Desdemona. Roderigo agrees to this plan, without even considering the fact that he could potentially ruin an innocent man in Othello, who has done nothing to him. Roderigo’s jealousy was so strong that he was willing to do anything at all costs to be with Desdemona. Roderigo’s jealousy, however, would become increasingly unstable to the point where Iago would have to eliminate his main ally. Roderigo at this point in Act IV, is not only consumed by jealousy, but has lost all of his patience. He threatens to kill Iago because he is still without Desdemona. His jealousy is causing Roderigo to demand Desdemona or Iago will feel his wrath. “I will make myself known to Desdemona: if she will return me my jewels, I will give over my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation; if not, assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you.” Roderigo finally has started to overcome his jealousy with Desdemona, but at Iago’s expense. Roderigo wants to approach Desdemona, and will give up on her if she will return the gifts he had Iago deliver for her. However, Iago never delivered the gifts. If Roderigo were to discover this, his jealous rage would be taken out on Iago. Iago couldn’t take a chance in this situation so he would have to kill Roderigo. Roderigo was so controlled by his jealousy, that he got tangled within Iago’s web of lies by wanting Desdemona so badly. Unfortunately for Roderigo, the only way out was for him to die. Othello is likely the one character in the play that saw the worst effects of jealousy. However, at the beginning of the play, a different kind of Othello was introduced. “Not I; I must be found. My parts, my tittle, and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly” “Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them” “Where will you that I go to answer this your charge? Othello’s characterization in Act I is a confident, controlled, and rational man. He will not fight for any reason when he approached by Brabantio and his armed men. Rather, he feels that all he has done for Venice and the fact that he is the general, will benefit his case. He does not exhibit any impetuous behavior and is able to think things through rationally. However, Iago would soon converse with this Othello, and turn him into an irrational and jealous man. Iago does this in a unique way. He first asks
Show More

Related Documents: Othello Essay

Othello Essay

Othello Essay Q: Does Desdemona bear any of the responsibility for the tragedy? Why or why not? Desdemona bears some of the responsibility for the tragedy in Shakespeare’s Othello. To understand and give the analysis of this topic, let’s try to back up to the end of the play and consider of understanding the tragedy at the deepest level. As we know, Desdemona is dead in the bed at the end of play, and the most shocking thing is that Desdemona got killed by Othello as a result of her remaining silent…

Words 1041 - Pages 5

Othello Essay

AP Literature and Composition Lanier Langdale Essay IV: Othello Tuesday, March 10, 2015 Othello is a tragic hero who falls through free moral choice when he is honestly deceived by Iago, a man who is outwardly good and inwardly bad. Othello is convinced to see marriage and women from Iago point of view, and Othello’s background and true love for Desdemona work against him, bringing his downfall. Othello is first introduced in the novel using specific diction. He is called “the moor” and “the thick-lips”…

Words 979 - Pages 4

othello essay

Professor Kremers Othello essay 1) a) Othello and Desdemona are defensive about their eloping because they felt Brabantio, Desdemona’s father would not approve of their marriage. Othello was considered an outsider, a moor. They felt Brabantio would not accept Othello since he was not of the same ethnicity. Although Brabanto wouldn’t have been accepting of it at first he would have eventually given his blessing. Othello and Desdemona really messed up by eloping. b) Othello justifies the elopement…

Words 968 - Pages 4

Othello Essay

Othello Essay Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello (circa 1601) reflects the turbulent and contradictory world in which Shakespeare lived I Tudor England. Each character in the play experiences their own struggles to comply with the expectations of strict social and cultural values. Each character experiences their own personal and public battles with the unpredictable power of human emotions. For over 400 years, audiences have been mesmerised by the play’s profound depiction of the fine line between reality…

Words 1370 - Pages 6

Othello Essay

Othello Essay If someone possessed zero character flaws they would live forever. Othello written by William Shakespeare is the general of the Venetian army. Iago is a friend of Othello he is also in the army. Othello promotes Michael Cassio to first Lieutenant, Iago becomes extremely jealous feeling he is more deserving of the position. Iago begins an evil and malicious plan towards Othello. Iago convinces Othello that his wife Desdemona is cheating on him with Michael Cassio. Othello becomes…

Words 815 - Pages 4

Othello Essay

Othello Essay 2 Throughout all time, it is clear that texts reflect the values of the society that produces them. These texts reflect the issues, struggles and circumstances facing the society of which the authors they are living in. This is seen through Andrew Davies 2001 film version of Othello due to his adaption of values, which are relevant in today’s society, which appeal to a contemporary audience such as racism, jealousy and love. These appeal to the audience due to because they require…

Words 1258 - Pages 6

Essay Othello: Othello and Desdemona

the weakness of the brave Othello is famous art of work that focuses on the dangers of jealousy. The play is a study of how jealousy can be fueled by mere circumstantial evidence and can destroy lives and change people’s integrity. In Othello, the hero succumbs to jealousy when Iago convinces him that Desdemona has been an unfaithful wife and in the end Othello murders his wife and then kills himself. It is interesting that Iago uses jealousy against Othello, yet jealousy is likely the source…

Words 837 - Pages 4

Othello: Othello and Desdemona Essay

Othello: My beautiful warrior. Desdemona: My dear Othello! Othello: I’m amazed you got here before me. But I’m overjoyed my love, if the calm after the storm could always be this wonderful, I’d want the wind to blow until it woke the dead and whipped up waves as tall as mountains! If I died right now I’d be completely happy, since Ill probably never be as happy as this again in my life. Desdemona: I pray to God our love and our happiness will increase as we get older. Othello: Amen to that!…

Words 525 - Pages 3

Noble Othello Essay

Othello is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around the time 1603. The story tells about powerful general in the Venetian Army. Othello is a black man from North Africa, who travels the world, been sold into slavery, escaped, and ended up as the military commander of the Venetian military a powerful Italian city-state. This play has many major themes to it. The three main themes in my opinion are race, jealousy, and hate. Race was a huge theme in this poem, Othello is considered one of…

Words 609 - Pages 3

Othello conflict essay

Essay Question – “Composers use their texts to reflect life and humanity, and as conflict is very much a part of life, their text often focuses on conflict and it’s consequences. Conflict is defined as a disagreement or controversy from differing ideas, opinions, morals etc. The play Othello by William Shakespeare and the painting Stolen Generation by Delisa McCormack, demonstrates conflict and its consequences. In the play Othello, the main instigator of conflict was Iago who sabotaged Othello…

Words 874 - Pages 4