Adriana Briceno
July 7, 2008
Research Review Competition
Jealousy
Everyone in their life has experienced jealousy. People feel this emotion when they think
they may lose something they have. Also when a person feels jealous about someone or
something, other feelings can be combined with this emotion. Some people may experience the
feelings of betrayal, insecurity, sadness and anger when they feel jealous. However, jealousy is
commonly described as an expression of love. Many people believe that if someone is jealous of
a person it is because they feel love for them. People can feel jealous for different reasons. This
feeling is not only related to relationships and love. In many cases, even friendships and any
social relations are also affected by this emotion. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare,
the word jealously is constantly used. The character Iago destroyed a circle of close friends by
manipulating their lives. His actions are driven by his envy against everyone around him. In the
play the characters Iago and Othello are the perfect example of how a person’s extreme jealousy
destroys any type of relationship, a marriage, friendship and even themselves.
Extreme jealousy can be more dangerous than a sharp knife. In the play Othello, the
marriage of Othello and his wife Desdemona is harmed by the extremely jealous behavior of
Othello. He was poisoned with words by Iago. He was his honest and faithful friend. Iago said :
“Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio / Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure /
I would not have your free and noble nature, / Out of self-bounty, be abused. Look to ‘t…”
(3.3.207-255). In this quote Iago mentioned to Othello that he should watch his wife’s behavior
closer with his Lieutenant Michael Cassio. Othello listened to his words because he considered
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Iago an honest man. Iago planted the seed of doubt in Othello’s heart. He also created fake
evidence that would seem to confirm Desdemona’s infidelity. Iago talked to Othello: “She may
be honest yet. Tell me but this: / Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief / Spotted with
strawberries in your wife’s hand? / Othello: I gave her such a one. ‘Twas my first gift./ Iago: I
know not that; but such a handkerchief I am sure it was your wife’s- did I today / See Cassio
wipe his beard with…” (3.3.445-455). He made Othello believed that his wife gave Cassio the
handkerchief as a gift. This handkerchief was the symbol of Othello’s love for Desdemona. And
by giving the handkerchief to Cassio, Othello believed his wife had cheated with him. One critic
described their love as magical because it defied Iago’s wit and wisdom (Stockholder 265).
However, the critic also states “It is even more dangerous to confuse the handkerchief, which can
be lost, copied, stolen, with the human love it represents; for their love was more than the
handkerchief”(Stockholder 265). I agreed that Othello and Desdemona loved each other, but it
was very ironic to put all those feelings that they had for each other in to a material thing such as
the handkerchief. I agree with the author’s words because love cannot be materialized in to
anything, a ring, chain a handkerchief are all gifts and they are given to make some one happy or
to show the love that they have to one another, but gifts are material. I believe that a material
thing can be replaced, however, love is irreplaceable. Othello’s jealousy and hate was so intense
that he failed to differentiated their love from the symbolic object such as the handkerchief.
At the end Othello believed Iago’s lies instead of his wife, Desdemona. In this case words
and intrigues from another person outside of the marriage created many conflicts of trust and
jealousy. When Othello thought that his wife cheated with Cassio, he decided to take justice with
his hands and kill him and his wife. Othello asked : “How shall I murder him Iago? (4.1.158).
Iago advised Othello how to kill his wife and Cassio. He said that because he wanted Othello to
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make an irrational decision, Othello was vulnerable and angry. And Iago’s intentions were to
make Othello’s fall to the ground and to see him defeated. Iago said to Othello: “Do it not with
poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated. / Othello: Good, good! The
justice of it pleases. Very good. / Iago: And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker. You shall hear
more by midnight ”(4.1.158-198). By advising Othello on how to kill his wife, he reminded him
the rumor that Desdemona cheated on him in his own bed, and those words increased the anger
and irritation in Othello, and in a way it gave him more courage to kill his wife. Iago on the other
hand would satisfy his revenge against Cassio. Once again Iago proved to Othello his loyalty and
friendship by keeping his secret and by trying to kill Cassio. Othello: “ ‘Tis he. O brave Iago,
honest and just,/ That hast such noble sense of thy friend’s wrong!”(5.1. 32-33). In this quote
Othello believed Cassio was dead, by Iago’s hand. He spoke of Iago as a brave and honest friend.
He thanked him for this action. In his critique Derek Cohen described this scene:
The sinister delight Othello takes in the poetic beauty and rightness of this exaction
savors of sexual excitement. The thoughts the image arouses center on Desdemona’s
sexuality, the contaminated bed and the lying throat being encircled by his strong hands,
the surrender of that body to the greater power of his own. (98)
Othello was a man that saw in his head the picture of his wife sleeping with another man
in his bed. Also he imagined himself choking her with his hands. By doing that the two
situations are connected in the same location. The author suggested that by choking Desdemona,
Othello recovered the male power he had lost. I agree with the author because in a way Othello
was encouraged by his tormented emotions to have revenge on Desdemona’s infidelity. And by
killing her in the same bed he would destroy these actions by taking her life. However, I don’t
agree with Othello’s decision, because he let Iago’s words disturbed his reasoning. Othello
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though the worst of his wife because of Iago’s comments and rumors. He let a person who was a
stranger inside the marriage to had control over his relationship.
Extreme jealousy can destroy a marriage. It is normal to feel jealous about your
significant other, because when people get married, they create a commitment to one another.
And this sometimes is put to the test by different situations. Othello’s jealousy created a gap in
the relationship with his wife. The simple thought of her breaking the commitment to the
marriage by having an affair with another person created the feeling of anger and resentment.
Othello judged his wife and disrespected her with words. “ Othello: I took you for that cunning
whore of Venice/ That married with Othello. [Calling out.] You, mistress, / That have the office
opposite to Saint Peter/ And keep the gate of hell!”(4.2.93-95). He called her a whore, a mistress
and he even called her a demon. By doing this action Othello not only judged her actions, he also
found her guilty of an hypothesis of a infidelity. One critic blamed Desdemona for Othello’s
behavior with her. She suggested that Desdemona has, of course, the gifts of a natural virtue, but
they are not enough, because, as was said of Caesar’s wife, “A woman must not only be free
from that fault, but also from all suspicion thereof”. And it is on the evidence of her
misinterpreted actions that Desdemona is convicted at the tribunal of Othello’s justice (Loftus
134). However, Desdemona was innocent of all the accusations from her husband and Iago. But
her guilt was based on that she was suspected of the accusations based on the evidence, and it
made her responsible in her husband’s eyes. These allegations affected the couple’s relationship
in many ways. It broke the bond of trust and respect that they had built during the relationship,
and made the situation escalate to a tragic end.
Friendships between men are affected by the emotion of extreme jealousy. Men also have
suffered in one way or another the consequences of a jealous person or a friend. Iago was
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jealous of his friend Cassio, because, he was not promoted to a lieutenant like he thought he
would be. Cassio was promoted instead of him. In McCloskey’s article he states “Iago, a
Venetian soldier of so good reputation that he is know to everyone as ‘honest Iago’, feels bitterly
and deeply that he has been done a gratuitous injustice”(25). Iago felt that Othello was unfair to
him. And in a way his jealousy was also driven by the injustice of losing the lieutenancy to
Cassio. I agree with the author because Iago was more prepared for this job. He had more battle
experience and he deserved to be lieutenant more than Cassio did. Iago said: “Nonsuits my
mediators. For, ‘certes’ says he, / ‘ I have already chose my officer’. / And what was he? /
Forsooth, a great arithmetician, / one Michael Cassio, a Florentine, / A fellow almost damned in
a fair wife…” (1.2.15-34). In this quote Iago expressed his anger towards Othello’s decision, he
was furious that a foreign person was chosen to be a lieutenant. Iago’s anger and envy sent him
in to a jealous rage. He was so angry that he wasn’t promoted by his friend Othello, Iago planned
a strategy to destroy the lives of all Othello’s closest friends. He also notes that “In pursuit of his
end of justice Iago employs the method of craft and intrigue, and in pursuit of revenge, the
method of psychological suggestion”( McCloskey 27). The author and I agreed with the idea that
Iago uses a plot against Othello. Iago uses his skills and intelligence to obtain his revenge
against Othello. He hated Othello the most that he decided to get even with him for his unfair
decision. Iago said “But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor; / And it is thought abroad that
twixt my heets. He’s done my office” (1.3.365-367). In this quote he states once again that he
hated Othello. However he also mentioned that Othello had some affair with his wife Emilia.
Iago also said : “And nothing can or shall content my soul / Till I am evened with him, wife for
wife, / Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor / At least into a jealousy so strong that a judgment
cannot cure…”(2.2.262-288). I don’t agree that Othello slept with Emilia before; it was just a
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false rumor that Iago invented to have more reasons to hate Othello. However, McCloskey
pointed out that this is one of the main reason Iago’s revenge was so powerful (27). He also
states “Without difficulty he soon has Cassio’s place, and then he goes on to satisfy the second
reason of his hate, that is, jealous suspicion of his wife’s fidelity, which becomes the more
powerful as he cannot control it”(27). In this quote the author blamed Iago’s jealousy toward his
wife to be blamed for Iago’s uncontrollable behavior. For this reason I don’t agree with his
statement. Iago was a person that did not care or love his wife. He never showed any feelings or
respect for her in the play.
Iago’s jealously was also present in the close friendship between Cassio and Othello.
When Iago made a plot against Othello he included Cassio as one of his players. The irony was
that Cassio didn’t know his role almost until the end of the play. He did this so that way he could
take away Othello’s trust and respect from Cassio. McCloskey also states “To satisfy his hate he
has two ends to accomplish: to get lieutenantship away from Cassio and to abuse Othello with
the same suspicious jealousy which corrodes his own soul”(26). In this quote the authors
reaffirms that Iago’s jealously was because of his wife, but also he said that Iago needed to
satisfied his anger and hate against both of these characters.
Many feelings described what jealousy did to the relationship between Iago and Othello.
Iago felt that his boss and friend was doing better than him. Othello was a general, who had the
respect of others. He had a beautiful wife who loved him. And he also had Cassio, a loyal and
sincere friend. Nonetheless, many critics looked at this jealously and concluded that the reason
why Iago hated Othello with that passion it was because Iago had a homosexual feeling for
Othello. Frank Gatan agreed with Robert Rogers that Iago indeed was a homosexual who was in
the closet and didn’t know he had this sexual preference. “According to Wangh the real reason
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why Iago seeks revenge is a unconscious one: he is paranoid personality suffering from repressed
homosexuality who unknowingly regards Desdemona as a rival for the love of Othello”(Rogers
206). The author explains that I ago created a mechanism of protection against his feelings for
Othello. And in a way that’s why he imagined jealousy of his wife (Rogers 206). I disagree with
both of them. Iago was not a homosexual. When he spoke about his love to Othello, he meant to
gain his affection and trust. Iago: “My lord you know I love you / Othello; I think thou dost; /
And, for I know thou’rt full of love and honesty…”(3.3. 129-131). In this quote Iago repeated his
love for him, but as a friend. Othello answered with the same affection. And that’s why he
believed his words, because, Iago was for Othello his best friend and his right hand man. Also
Othello expressed his love and care not only to Iago but also to Cassio and in the same way.
Othello: “I know, Iago, /Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, / Making it light to
Cassio. Cassio I love thee, But nevermore be officer of mine”(2.3. 220-223). Othello said to
Cassio that he had affection for him. But his actions were wrong he was not going to be able to
work for him anymore. I wanted to illustrate with those quotes that Othello treated his close
friends with respect but also with affection. In the play there is no physical evidence that implied
that Iago, Othello, and Cassio engaged in homosexual behavior.
Iago was the perfect example of what jealousy can do to a man. He had everything in his
life: Good friends, a good job and a wife. However, he envied everything around him. “Iago
becomes an Elizabethan Machiavel, who is not bothered by moral values in the ordinary sense”
(McCloskey 28). And he is “possessed of a keen intellect and cold emotional nature, a practical
knowledge of psychological processes and a ability to manipulate men, an opportunistic boldness
and a unmoral attitude toward things, he has precisely the qualities best fitted to success in
battle” (McCloskey 28). I agree with this statement because the author compared Iago’s actions
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in his personal life with the ones he used in battle. And that’s why those battle skills are so
important for his role in the play, because Iago was intelligent in control, and an influential man
that changed everybody’s life after they met him.
Iago did not stop his revenge until he got what he wanted, which was damaging the
relationship between Othello and his wife. He drove Othello into a crazy jealous state of mind.
He also destroyed the special friendship between Cassio and Othello by creating a rumor of an
affair among Othello’s wife Desdemona and Cassio. He damaged the trust and respect between
all the characters in the play. Iago even lied to himself in order to feel that he was doing the right
thing by taking revenge on Othello. As I discussed before, he mentioned that Othello slept with
his wife, that way he had more reasons to hate Othello. Iago talked to himself: “And nothing can
or shall content my soul / Till I am evened with him, wife for wife, / Or failing so, yet that I put
the Moor / At least into a jealousy so strong that a judgment cannot cure…”(2.2.262-288). Iago
convinced himself to damage Othello’s life. In his mind and in his heart he believed he had all
the reasons to be against him.
In the end, the play describes how extreme jealousy corrupts both men’s life. Othello let
his emotions control him, his intense jealousy not only damaging his relationship with
Desdemona, but it also pushing him to his limits. He was so blinded with hate and repulsion
towards his wife that he killed her without compassion, even after she begged for her life “O
banish me my lord, but kill me not!.../ Kill me tomorrow; let me live tonight!”(5.2.78-82). She
fought for her life with these words, but in that scene Othello’s hate won against his love for her .
After knowing the truth of Desdemona innocence he blamed himself for been so foolish, but also
blame Iago. He judged himself for his actions and killed himself. Before his death Othello said to
everyone: “Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, / Nor set down aught in malice. Then must
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you speak/ of one that loved not wisely but too well; / Of one not easily jealous but, being
wrought…”(5.2.352-365). In his speech before his death Othello blamed his actions to jealousy.
He died knowing that he was tricked by Iago’s words, but most importantly he recognized that
he let that evil seed grow into a powerful tree in his heart and mind. Othello wasn’t the only one
to blame for his tragedy. Iago blinded Othello and guided him in to his trap. Iago also destroyed
himself driven by greed and resentment against Othello. His feeling for revenge was
overwhelming that he lost all the values that he had that everyone admired about him, especially
Othello. However, McCloskey gave Iago credit “There is, nevertheless, something magnificent
about Iago... He is so consistent in his drawing from start to finish, so plausible in his motivation,
and so in character in his actions that he is artistically a great creation”(30). I have the same
opinion about him. I could hate, blame and disagree with everything that Iago did in the play, but
it can’t be denied that he was a very clever person in the play. Iago succeeded with his plans, he
destroyed the love, lives and marriage between Desdemona and Othello. He also broke the
friendship, trust and admiration between Cassio and Othello. And without knowing it, he
destroyed himself driven by a non stoppable thirst of jealousy and he was left with nothing.
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Work Cited
Cohen, Derek. “Patriarchy and Jealousy in Othello and the Winter’s Tale.” Shakespearean
criticism. Ed. Michael L. LaBlanc. Volume 72. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 98.
Loftus, Margaret Ranald. “The Indiscretions of Desdemona.” Shakespeare Quartely 14:2
(Spring,1963). 05 May 2008. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2867775>.
McCloskey, John C. “The Motivation of Iago.” College English 3:1 (Oct, 1941). 29 April 2008.
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/371329>.
Rogers, Robert. “Endopsychic Drama in Othello.” Shakespeare Quartely 20:2 (Spring, 1969). 28
April 2008. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2869005>.
Shakespeare, William. Othello. Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, And
Writing. Compact 5th ed. Eds. X.J Kennedy and Dana Gioia. New York: Pearson
Longman, 2007. 938-1038.
Stockholder, Katherine S. “Egregiously an Ass: Chance and Accident in Othello.” Studies in
English Literature, 1500-1900, 13:2 (Spring, 1973). 05 May 2008.
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/449738>.
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