Iago, in Shakespeare’s Othello, is one of the most compelling, hateful, and manipulative villains ever created in a tale. His manipulation of people and events, leads to the downfall of many. Iago has one true motivation that makes him carry out his evil plan. Othello, a North African general, refuses Iago a higher position in the field of government. Iago is enraged by the rejection of the position. In addition, there have been rumors that Othello has slept with Iago’s wife, “For that I do suspect that the lusty moor hath leap’d into my seat; the thought whereof doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my innards (2.1.225)”, something that Iago takes in with great hatred for Othello. Iago, in return for vengeance, falsely portrays Desdemona, Othello’s most charming and beautiful wife, as an adulterous and dis-loyal wife. He is going to make it appear as if Desdemona is having a lustrous affair with Cassio, a young lieutenant and a close friend of Othello’s. Iago accomplishes this feat through jealousy. Jealousy plays a significant role in this play. It helps him, and also hurts him. Jealousy is used as a deadly weapon by Iago against Othello, when Iago falsely condemns Desdemona as adulterous, and it also slightly tortures Iago’s innards and mind, when he hears the rumors about Othello sleeping with his wife. Jealousy can be used as a deadly weapon against someone; it also can hurt the person using jealousy as a weapon because perpetration of evil inherently harms the perpetrator.
When people read this play, they begin to notice toward the end, that Iago uses jealousy to provoke Othello, and bring about his downfall. The words, “jealous” and “jealousy” appear many times throughout the play. The first time the word “jealousy” appears is when Iago narrates the introduction of his evil plan to the audience. Iago will “put the Moor/ At least into a jealousy so strong, that judgment cannot cure” (2.1.230). This comes all back to the rumors surrounding Othello that he slept with Iago’s wife, Emilia. Iago is implying here is that he will use jealousy in this way: When he tells Othello of the lustrous affair going on between his wife, Desdemona, and Cassio, Othello will be blinded by tremendous grief and sorrow, but most of all he will be blinded by strong jealousy. Othello will feel a mental pain that will become unbearable. His mental state will slowly weaken, as he hears more and more of the poison which Iago tells him. For example, Iago recounts false tales like how Desdemona and Cassio, spent time in bed, all of which are false. Iago also tells Othello of how he and Cassio once had to share the same bed, and Cassio had a dream in which he moaned Desdemona’s name, and in a dream began kissing and rubbing Iago, thinking that he was Desdemona, “Sweet Desdemona, let us be weary, let us hide our loves” (3.3.430), and “then kiss me hard, as if he plucked up kisses by the roots” (3.3.435). That was comic relief from what was otherwise a very grim and serious tale, but nevertheless it was false evidence of Desdemona’s “adultery”. This jealousy will slowly self-destruct Othello in due time. Othello will obviously be jealous that Cassio has also gotten the full extent of Desdemona’s beauty and physical nature. Previously of course only Othello was permitted to Desdemona’s enchantments. This due to the fact that when a man and woman are married, they are truly bound to each other’s love, and no one else. Now, there is no limit to who will be permitted to make love with her. Desdemona is already falsely acquitted with the tile “whore” in just the beginning stages of the play. Iago has chosen his weapon against Othello, and he has chosen well. Jealousy it will be.
As we know, one of the reasons behind this plot is Iago’s suspicions about Othello seducing Emilia. “For that I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leap’d into my seat; the thought wherof doth gnaw my inwards”. (2.1.225). Here, in this occasion, Iago’s weapon has turned against him. Now, jealousy is hurting Iago. The rumors have not been deemed true, but Iago has already jumped to the conclusion that Emilia cheated on him with Othello. Iago has gotten a “double-dose”. This meaning that he was rejected a position, and Othello is cheating on Emilia, his wife. When marriage is committed between a man and a woman, those two individuals have a sense about each other that they are their own person, and nobody else can have them. For example, a man feels that his wife is his, and his own to love. No other man can take her away and love her in a sexual way, because she, in a sense, “belongs” to him, for they both made a vow to each other. This is probably how Iago feels, when he hears about the rumors. That is why Iago says that he will get Othello, “wife for wife” (2.1.230). Othello presumably stole what was Iago’s, and Iago will in a sense “steal” Desdemona away from Othello. Iago will be the “brains” of the plot, and Cassio will an indirect henchman, along with Roderigo.
Othello’s jealousy is an emotion that is probably the most deadly. There are different types of jealousy. Jealousy that has to do with sports, looks, and other certain aspects. But, this jealousy has to do with marriage, and the fidelity between a married man and woman. This is the type of jealousy that is seen in this play. Othello becomes jealous that some other worthless man is taking his beautiful wife. In addition, what makes it even more unbearable is the fact that Desdemona is falsely portrayed. All of this is not true. But of course, Othello and everyone else have no idea. Whereas other forms of jealousies may not amount to any serious consequences, this type of sexual jealousy can lead to grave disaster. For example, Othello becomes so blinded by grief and mostly of jealousy, he decides to end both of his and Desdemona’s lives, and to end what could have been a peaceful and very happy marriage. Finally, this type of jealousy can make a person jump to conclusions. Once this deadly emotion enters one’s mind, it will slowly take over, and make one jump to conclusions and not think clearly. As it happened with Othello, in which he directly assumed Desdemona was cheating on him, just because Iago told him. This jealousy is like a poison, once inside one’s system, that person’s mental stability is in severe danger.
Jealousy is a consumptive force, which feeds on the victim it mocks, so in this case it feeds on Othello and at the same time toys with the victim. Many mistake envy and jealousy. Envy is a term used to describe longings for someone else’s possessions. Jealousy is confined to suspicions or resentment due to actual or supposed relationships that has to do with the nature of love. Jealousy is an intense personal emotion, that has the ingredients of rage, betrayal, and shame mixed into it. As mentioned earlier, jealousy can be very deadly. It rules the mind like a terrifying beast that will not be satisfied until it destroys everything in its wake. Beware of jealousy, for it has the quickness of a cheetah, and the terrifying deadly strike of a cobra.
The only thing that I would suggest is explain the plot of "Othello" at the beginning for those who haven't read it (like me). Just give a little background as to who is married to who.
