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Othello- Jealousy essay (marked)
Essay study book Othello of Mary,Ellen Snodgrass, William Shakespeare - ISBN: 9781853260186, Edition: Annotated edition, Year of publication: - (Marked essay)
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Rukhsar Yazmin 12HHNMs Patel
English literature
‘Typically, all marriages and relationships contain an element of jealousy’
In light of this view, discuss how jealousy is presented in this extract and elsewhere in
the play.
In the extract, Shakespeare presents jealousy through Othello’s gradual belief in Iago’s story
of Desdemona’s infidelity, and how overtime he doesn’t question or doubt that Desdemona
could be unfaithful. When Othello was first told of Desdemona’s possible betrayal, he
refused to believe it, he demanded evidence and maintained his high opinion of her being a
virtuous woman as seen in the lines “I’ll see before I doubt” and “Tis not make me jealous to
say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, is free of speech, sings, plays and dances
well…”. The use of listing and the authoritative tone connotes that despite Desdemona
being ‘free’ and ‘fair’ he has the utmost trust in her, and these qualities that she has is what
he adores about her. Moreover, the lines show that Othello’s confident and sure of his
relationship with Desdemona, and has the strong belief that their love and passion for one
another was all that Desdemona desires, rather than having an ‘appetite’ as Iago has
repeatedly mentioned. However, as time goes on Othello begins to question Desdemona’s
character, the reader sees him begin to doubt their love and begin to fall into the toxic trap
that Iago is setting up for him. This is seen in the extract, in the savage imagery of “I’ll tear
her to pieces”, the brutality of Othello’s character is a complete opposite of his earlier self
and juxtaposes the adoration and passion that he previously had, as seen in the line “O, my
fair warrior”. Othello’s change into a now ruthless and resentful character would be seen by
the Jacobean audience as expected; they would see Othello’s change in demeanour from a
respected and moral man to an uncivilised brute as him becoming naturally savage overtime
into what they stereotype as typical ‘moor’ behaviour and virtues. Whereas, modern day
readers would see Othello’s transformation from a ‘valiant’ man to one whom would ruin
his own wife over ridiculous lies and stories as the actions of someone jealous and hurt; he
is heartbroken over Desdemona’s supposed adultery and is jealous of her ‘desire’ for other
men. Furthermore, Othello’s jealousy is also evident in his swift belief in ‘honest Iago’s’
words despite how exaggerated and unrealistic they are. Iago claims that Cassio “Kissed me
hard, as if he plucked up kisses by the roots” The use of the hyperbole is a blatant over
exaggeration which is immediately noted by the reader, who is aware of Iago’s intentions,
however an unsuspecting Othello doesn’t question the realism of Iago’s story but instead
follows it, indicating that Othello is so overtaken by jealousy and grief, that he’s lost his
sound judgement and tranquillity, and instead has allowed the lies to corrupt him.
Shakespeare presents jealousy in the play Othello as a vindictive plan manifested from
Iago’s own anger and jealousy, therefore he taints Othello’s good nature and masculinity to
transform him into a possessive and jealous man. Earlier on in the play, Iago warns Othello
to ‘beware of jealousy; it is the green eyes monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on”.
The use of the metaphor conveys that Iago is aware that jealousy and possessiveness are
toxic traits that can ruin a man, and by warning Othello to ‘beware’ of succumbing to these
traits he’s in fact instilling doubts and uncertainty into Othello’s mind, since Othello has
repeatedly said he isn’t a jealous man, which is seen later in the rhetorical question “think’st
thou I’d make a life of jealousy’. Iago creates this malicious plan as a product of his own
jealousy that ‘Michael Cassio’ was chosen as Othello’s lieutenant rather than himself, and
therefore creates a plan to destroy Othello “into a jealousy so strong that judgement cannot
cure”. Iago’s spiteful plot does eventually begin to work as Othello yields to the darkness of
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