He possesses an exterior glitter which is really sinister and which misleads everyone in the play. Iago’s jealousy and deception is brought about by Othello giving Cassio a promotion over himself and the play starts with Iago complaining to Roderigo, about ‘The Moor.’ Jealousy is a major theme in Othello and this is illustrated though characterisation and the use of imagery. From the beginning of Othello, it is established that Iago is driven by jealousy himself and uses it as his tool to bring about the downfall of Othello. Responders are immediately alerted to his scheming nature when he states “I follow him to serve my turn upon him.” The characterisation of Othello from the calm and reasoned military leader to the blind, enraged ‘blacker devil’ that responders witness in the end emphasises the potent poison that is jealousy. There isn’t a shred of the Othello from Act one left by the tragic ending of the play as highlighted by Lodovico “thou Othello, that wert once so good.” The mere possibility of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness and the question of her fidelity are unbearable for ‘valiant’ Othello, he would rather “the general camp, Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body” than to have doubts floating in his mind.
It is something that can destroy relationships and also consume the mind. Jealousy can be seen represented in the play a number of times and ways from suspicion to competition, and in every case, it can be very destructive. The jealousy theme in Othello is very interesting because Iago, an evil and destructive character, displays jealousy from the very beginning of the play. Iago has a mind where he feels that he should take revenge on those who he feels have done him wrong. Iago is jealous of both Othello and Cassio because of the same issue.
Othello, despite his noble characteristics and valiant conduct, is shown to have weaknesses vulnerable to Iago’s hidden agenda. Othello’s noble traits of being easily influenced leads into his own downfall, a De Casibus tragedy. Othello being the tragic hero who’s mental condition decays into their own downfall due to outside forces, in Othello’s case jealousy and hate which have sprouted
The character of Edmund in Shakespeare’s King Lear a complex antagonist whose quest for power, and the treatment he deserves from society fuels the subplot. Cunning, deceitful, and a villain, Edmund will do whatever it takes to achieve his objectives, even if it means betraying the people who love him most. Edmund plays a key role in setting the stage for the disaster waiting to unfold, which is the subplot. Initially, the audience sympathizes with Edmund’s character; society treats him poorly, and his own father publicly embarrasses him. In Act 1 Scene 1, when Kent asks Gloucester if Edmund is his Gloucester’s son, he replies “his breeding hath been at my charge” (1.1.9) yet Gloucester “blushed to acknowledge [Edmund]” (1.1.10).
In Othello’s case his jealousy can be directly linked to his insecurity, feelings of inferiority, faltering pride but most importantly, his skin colour. However, Othello’s path to destruction was not entirely his fault. The destructive words from ‘honest’ Iago brought out the worst in Othello. However, jealousy is shown earlier in the play through Iago, it is Iago’s professional jealousy of Cassio’s promotion which ignites the dilemma of the play. This jealousy is a direct cause of Iago’s hatred for Othello.
In Othello, both themes of jealousy and hate were amoungst the main characters and developed new accuasations throughout the play. A change in the way one would feel turns Othello jealous and angry at his own wife. Othello believed that Desdemona was being unfaithful to Othello with Cassio. Othello then turns his back on his own wife and does a rash decision to kill her for what she has done. When Othello is certain that she has commited adultry, he kills her softly.
It explains Iago’s insatiable desire for revenge against Othello, explores the theme of jealousy in the play, and gives light to Iago’s manipulative deceptions and dishonesties. The soliloquy highlights a lot of important facts about the central characters and themes in “Othello”. The extract explains Iago’s relentless desire for revenge against Othello. As Iago believes that the Moor has wronged him in many ways, he sees it somewhat appropriate to plot revenge against him and those close to him. Iago has many rather theoretical reasons for his revenge, one of which being his failure to receive the spot of lieutenant, and the other being that he “suspect[s] the lusty Moor” of sleeping with his wife, Emilia.
The reader sees the true evil of Iago and how he fools the other characters into believing he is an honourable man. Iago is the whole reason there is any conflict in Othello . Had he never entered the play Othello would have married Desdemona and they would have lived happily ever after. Right from the beginning of the play to the very end he causes conflicts. He is directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of Othello, Desdemona, Emilia, Cassio, and Roderigo, which happen to be all of the main characters.
In all the tragedies, the hero has to suffer the tragic flaw. He is the only responsible of his downfall. In Shakespeare's play Othello, Othello brings all his misfortune on himself. His actions are led by his jealousy, his stubbornness and his gullibility. One of the main factor which push Othello to his death is his gullibility.
The character of Iago is presented to the viewer early on as the obvious villain of the play. His initial exploitation of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage makes the viewer aware of his calculating and manipulative nature, which is further emphasized by his continual deceit of Othello. Despite the ease with which he enacts his controlled and cunning plans, Iago sometimes seems to the viewer as an irrational, vengeful character acting out of jealousy. This trait can make him appear illogical and unreasonable but emphasis his pure evil nature. Iago’s initial soliloquies reveal his deceptive nature, he is presented as Janus, the 2 faced man, as he reveals his plan which becomes more and more complex and reliant on his continual manipulation of the people around him.