Jealousy in Othello

Jack 1

Victor Jack

English 3220

October 9, 2010

Jealousy in Othello

Jealousy is a profound and universal human emotion. It is capable of driving human behavior and destroying relationships. William Shakespeare is known to use powerful emotions as themes for his work; and jealousy is no exception. Othello is Shakespeare's examination of jealousy and its malignant effects. Shakespeare asserts that no good can come from jealousy; with jealousy comes only pain and destruction.

Shakespeare introduces his dominant theme in the very first scene of the play. In Act one, Scene one, the play's antagonist Iago reveals his feelings towards Cassio, the military's new lieutenant. Iago sees Cassio as “Mere prattle, without practise, Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election” (1.1.26-27). Iago admits to his friend Rodrigo that Othello recently gave Cassio the lieutenant's position he had been coveting and that he feels wronged by it. He believes Cassio is a foolish man with no practice or experience in the military and therefore unsuitable for the position of lieutenant given to him by Othello. Iago is obviously comparing Cassio's military background to his own and seems to think he himself deserved the promotion instead. Iago then despairs about his own mediocre rank in the military by saying “And I — God bless the mark! — his Moorship's ancient.” (1.133). Cassio has the position he desired while Iago has to remain being Othello's ancient, meaning a junior rank of a commissioned officer (“Glossary”, Absolute Shakespeare). Iago feels he should have been rewarded for his hard work in the military and instead he was rewarded with the feeling of inferiority to the young newcomer who stole his job. His feelings of resentment and jealousy towards Cassio lead him to hatch a plan. In Act one, Scene three, Iago reveals to Rodrigo his scheme to get Cassio fired by manipulation Othello. Involving his wife, Desdemona, Iago decides “to abuse Othello's ear/That he is...