Theme Of Jealousy In Othello

Jealousy is certainly a monstrous force in Othello. Rodrigo is jealous of anyone he thinks might be with Desdemona. He wants to be with her and is jealous when he hears the lie from Iago that she is in love with Cassio. This jealousy gets him to fight Cassio. Jealousy is Othello’s tragic flaw. When Iago insinuates that there may be something more than friendship between Desdemona and Cassio (due to his own jealousy of Othello appointing Cassio as his lieutenant and possibly sleeping with his wife Emilia), Othello’s jealousy takes over. Iago even pretends to tell Othello to beware of Jealousy, “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” (3.3.169-171). Othello firsts tries to soothe his own fears and overcome his feelings of jealousy, but when Iago brings up how Desdemona deceived her own father when marrying Othello. He makes Othello feel that if she would lie to her own father, she may be capable of lying to her husband …show more content…
Emilia suggests at one point that jealously is part of being a man, “But jealous souls will not be answered so. They are not ever jealous for the cause, but jealous for they are jealous. It is a monster begot upon itself, born on itself.” (3.4.180-183). I think that jealousy is part of human nature and something that can be taken advantage of when manipulated with. It’s something that everyone, in Othello’s time as well as our own, need to learn to live with and not let it consume us. I think that one of the reasons this play is so relatable even in present times is because most people can understand feelings of jealousy in their own lives. Jealousy relies on other feelings of pride, possessiveness, and ambition. Jealously assumes that people have strong emotions and will react when these feelings are