Othello Themes: Jealousy
- Created by: mhannah
- Created on: 27-04-18 00:20
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- Othello Themes: Jealousy
- Sexual jealousy
- Bianca, Iago and Othello all believe that that they have been betrayed by those they love and they are all wrong
- Unlike Othello, Iago is cool and calculating when he chooses to act on his suspicions, suggesting jealousy follow on naturally from hatred in his characterisation
- This is not the case with Bianca and Othello
- Their sexual jealousy is a response to feelings of genuine love when the believe their partners have been unfaithful
- Perhaps Othello's insistence on proof might suggest that this jealous husband is a nobler man than Iago
- This is not the case with Bianca and Othello
- In 'Othello' sexual jealousy seems to be the flip side of boundless
- 'Othello' suggests jealousy is ridiculous, humiliating, terrifying and corrosive
- Iago's motives for revenge are inadequate and the proofs he provides flimsy
- Humiliating that Othello, a renowned and experienced soldier, should kill himself and his wife over a handkerchief which has absurdly come to symbolise his own and Desdemona'shonour
- Professional jealousy
- Iago's professional jealousy, which can be linked to the sin of envy, sets the tragic events of the play in motion
- Iago envies Cassio primarily because he is promoted to a post Iago has coveted
- Iago is also envious of Cassio's superior manners and social status
- Marxist approach could say that Iago is pushed to immorality due to the overwhelming/overbearing pressures of Venetian society
- Does Iago wish to destroy Othello's military reputation, as well as his marriage?
- Iago's professional jealousy, which can be linked to the sin of envy, sets the tragic events of the play in motion
- Jealousy and madness
- Iago makes explicit connections between jealousy and madness
- When Othello is overcome by jealous thoughts he falls down in a fit
- "he foams at mouth, and...Breaks out to savage madness"
- "As he [Cassio] smile, Othello shall go mad"
- Emilia makes a connection between madness and jealousy when she describes how husbands "break out in peevish jealousies"
- If jealousy is associated with madness, to what extent is Othello responsible for the actions he commits when he is under its influence?
- When Othello is overcome by jealous thoughts he falls down in a fit
- Iago makes explicit connections between jealousy and madness
- The imagery of jealousy
- Imagery associated with jealousy suggests it is an all-consuming, irrational emotion
- "green-eyed monster"
- Strong sense of devouring and being devoured in these images
- Fits with Iago's description of Othello as being "eaten up with passion"
- Imagery associated with jealousy suggests it is an all-consuming, irrational emotion
- Jealousy and destruction
- Jealousy is a form of tyranny; destroys love, honour and nobility in those it afflicts
- Jealousy makes both male protagonists murderous and violent
- Othello wants to torture and kill his supposed rival Cassio, and once his jealousy has been proven false, Othello turns the sword on himself
- In 'Othello' it is the nature of jealousy to not be satisfied
- Iago continues plotting against Cassio after he has disgraced him and is not content with disturbing Othello's peace of mind: he must continue until Desdemona is dead
- Arguable that Othello is not a naturally jealous man
- Othello puts his "life upon [Desdemona] her faith"
- Othello's trust in cunning Iago, and his own quick decision making all conspire to make a jealous man out of him
- Sexual jealousy
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