Mahima Faruque, 12OHI.
Explore how Shakespeare presents the consequences of envy in Othello.
Shakespeare uses envy as a central theme throughout the play, that creates a solid plot and drives
the narrative forward.
Shakespeare demonstrates how terrifying envy and jealousy can be, often referring to jealousy as an
aggressive, devouring emotion, “O beware, my lord of jealousy! It is the green eyed monster which
doth mock, the meat it feeds on” Shakespeare uses this to give the emotion a sense of being
monstrous and devouring. This fits in with Iago’s description of Othello as being “eaten up with
passion” suggesting exactly how strong Othello’s monumental jealousy really is. Once Othello
becomes convinced that his wife is unfaithful Iago continues to feed his jealousy which causes him to
indeed behave like a monster, just like how prejudiced others stereotype him to be because he is a
‘moor’. However, it’s dramatically ironic that Iago says this to Othello; the audience knows that Iago
is perhaps one “eaten up” with jealousy, hence his diabolical plans to ruin others for his own benefit.
However, unlike Othello, Iago has a different form of envy- one which is more contained and well
kept. This is linked to a feeling of envy which sets the play in motion. Iago says the hatred and
jealousy “gnaw at his inwards” like poison, however his ultimate aim is to poison Cassio and Othello
and make them suffer as he is. He believes that he has been “cuckolded” by his wife Emilia, “For I
fear Casio with my nightcap too.” however we are never told if Iago’s suspicions are true, yet
jealousy seems to absorb him until he has destroyed everything in his way.
As an audience we feel that Iago uses jealousy to rationalise his devilment like Othello does,
however unlike Othello, Iago is cool and calculated when he decides to act upon his suspicions.
When the audience looks further into Othello's jealousy, in between Othello’s lines we soon discover
that perhaps he could be the nobler man than Iago; Iago’s language is rough and course throughout
the play whereas Othello speaks in iambic pentameter in several of his soliloquy’s, speaking with a
soft tone throughout. Othello even constantly asked Iago for proof before he decided that he
wanted to kill Desdemona; this proof eventually comes in the form of the handkerchief multiple
metaphor for the whole play.
The handkerchief’s meaning changed throughout the play: initially Othello gives the handkerchief to
Desdemona as a token of their love, but it's ironic that later it's the same handkerchief that
eventually destroys their love. Something so small and insignificant turns out to be the downfall of
Othello and Desdemona’s relationship. A.C. Bradley suggests that Othello should also be absolved
some of the blame of the destruction of their love, as he is not ‘a husband who had lived with a wife
for months and years and knew her like his sister’ and ‘cannot have known much of Desdemona
before his marriage’, so sees his jealousy as credible due to the newness of their marriage. As an
audience we are left to feel that Othello’s jealousy is motivated not by hatred but by affection to his
love Desdemona. This Is different to Iago’s jealousy; he is motivated by Cassio’s promotion and the
feeling he's been “Cuckolded” by Cassio.
Despite this, Othello and Iago do have a similarity that they are both led by possessiveness. Both
men become jealous because they have lost something that they hold dear to them. In spite of this
both Emilia and Desdemona insist they are faithful to both their men, Emilia even described jealousy
as “monstrous” an emotion that destroys love, honour and nobility to those who it effects. it seems
that within the play the nature of jealousy is not one to gain contentment.
Mahima Faruque, 12OHI.
Shakespeare uses envy to display how terrifying an average man can become when jealousy takes its
firm grip on both Othello, who wants to kill his own wife, and Iago who is ultimately responsible for
the destruction of several characters and their honour, dignity and most importantly, their minds.
Jealousy seems to take more of a hold on Othello than Iago, Othello’s opening speech in Act 1 Scene
2 is clear, purposeful and authoritative. “Keep Up your swords your bright swords, for the dew we
will rust them”. Othello demonstrates his authority; he's calm in the chaos. As an audience, Othello’s
sophisticated language early on in the play suggests he will be a hero of the play and carry a very
important role throughout. We align ourselves with this character and expect him to be the same
until the end. Othello uses his sophisticated and powerful language, again with the Senate, not only
to defend his marriage with Desdemona, but also to enable him to stay with her, demonstrating his
articulate rhetoric to win people over. As Othello leaves the Senate, the Senator of Venice describes
Othello as being “much fairer than black”. Othello’s language impresses the Senator and even
Brabantio. However, unfortunately, Othello begins to see his wife through Iago’s eyes causing
jealousy to kick in and corrupt his mind completely. This is noticeable in the change in Othello’s
language. For example, the iambic pentameter in his first soliloquy seems to disappear as his
jealousy grows. In Act 4 Scene 1 Othello says, “Lie with her, lie on her? We say lie on her when they
belie her! Lie with her, zounds! That’s fulsome! Handkerchief- Confessions- Handkerchief! To confess
and be hanged for his labour. First To be hanged and then to confess. I tremble at it. Nature would
not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not words that shakes
me thus. Pish! Noses is and lips. Is’t possible? Handkerchief-Confess-Handkerchief? O devil!”
Othello is overcome with images of the handkerchief (which now represents deceit and the downfall
of their love) and Cassio with Desdemona and is unable to organise his own thoughts resulting in a
fit. Othello’s language becomes unclear as he grows frantic. His fit robs him of his ability to speak,
the trait that distinguishes humans from animals. Consumed by jealousy, without his honour, he has
become the beast or animal that the prejudiced characters have associated him as being due to him
being a ‘moor’. These lines demonstrate that jealousy has not only degraded his attitude but has
broken down a strong willed man's language.
Shakespeare utilises the theme of envy in Othello to demonstrate just how powerful and destructive
the emotion can be within our lives thus revealing the dangerous consequences of it. Envy and
jealousy results in the downfall of one man and almost all of those around him. Shakespeare
integrates the emotion into the play as if it had been experienced by himself, this allows the
audience of ‘Othello’ to have empathy and relate to the characters and take note to not let the toxic
feeling of envy drive their actions, as it may end up doing them harm.
This is a strong dramatic device which draws the audience into the play to observe firsthand, the
jealous destruction of Othello, through his own and Iago’s emotion.