February 6, 2018
Trust me, I want this to be over just as much as you do, and I promise, we have almost reached the end of our Othello/Shakespeare journey.
But before you go, lets have a little chat about JEALOUSY. . . We've ALL been there, and if you haven't, you're lying. Shakespeare stresses this theme on countless different occasions throughout Othello. The play dances around the topic time after time, and shows the disastrous nature that comes along with it. One of the biggest relations jealousy hops into is Iago and Othello’s. Although Othello doesn’t play with jealous rage until later on, Iago starts off strong from the beginning. Iago’s motive is quite unclear throughout the piece, but a common theory is that his motive is rooted in envy of Othello’s loved and respected character. Although Othello is just a “Moor,” (Act I, iii, 50) he is still the one and only “Lord” (Act V, ii, 260). Iago goes way too far in his jealous rage, spreading it as far and wide as a contagious plague.
The Next Victim: Othello. Othello catches it bad after a few little talk with Iago. Although lit by Iago, the jealousy was fueled by Othello’s wrath and insecurity. After Iago gave indirect “hints” about Othello’s cheating wife and best friend, Cassio, the fire ignited. Without confrontation or question, Othello couldn’t heal. His anger and assumptions piled up day after day, until finally he acted.
And then… Next on our list is a jealous stake that may not be as obvious. Emilia. A hidden love story, or lack there of, was Iago and Emilia's. Lets just get this out there. Iago treated Emilia like CRAP!! He was always making sly remarks about her sleeping around and being flirty (Act III, ii). Emilia was sick of it, she deserved more. When Othello and Desdemona first married, she struggled. Why was she getting the same love and affection from Iago? With that struggle unfortunately came jealousy. Luckily, Emilia's jealousy was more of a longing rather than rage like Iago and Othello, (must be an man thing). Regardless, Emilia stole the handkerchief hoping it would bring her relationship arise, hoping it would help Iago find worth within her. It didn't. Iago was too wrapped up in himself to notice Emilia for more than a second.
The list goes on and on, but as you can see, jealousy can happen in all sorts of ways, in so many different types of people, and in various situations. Jealousy just cannot seem to be avoided or controlled. Shakespeare shows this intensity of jealousy throughout many of his Othello characters beautifully, showing how disastrous it truly is.
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Author
Sierra- a morally obligated advasary of Shakespeare. |