Shakespeare Essay: Othello Theme: Jealousy
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“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy
It is the green eyed monster, that doth mock
That meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what damned minutes tells he oer,
Who dotes yet doubts, suspects yet fondly loves!
Here Iago outlines the psychological effects of the passion of jealousy. Iago knows the emotion well and this passage reveals Iagos deep knowledge of the psychology of jealousy. Jealousy is the motivation for Iagos destruction of Othello, Cassio and Desdamona. It is also, ironically, the tool he uses to “perplex” Othellos mind “in the extreme” and drive him into savage madness. Iago says that jealousy is a monstrous disease that mocks those poisoned by it. Iago is introducing the concept of a mans reputation and warns Othello to beware of jealousy. Without making any direct accusations, Iago hints that there is need to be jealous. “That doth mockThat cuckold lives in bliss who..” Because a jealous man is mocked and without directly accusing, he cunningly implies that Othellos wife has been unfaithful.
We learn of Iagos jealousy toward Othello and Cassio earlier in the play. Iago is jealous of Othellos ability to woo the young and alluring Desdemona. It is possible that Iago has his own secret passion for the Moors new bride, and he is enraged at the idea of the “old black ram” attaining what he himself desires. “It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor She must change for youth. When she is sated with his body, she will find the error of her choice.” Iagos jealousy of Cassio is the more obvious is that he has just been passed over for a promotion which has gone to Cassio. He confesses to Roderigo that this is the reason for his hatred; the reason for his desire to ruin Othello. “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine , (A fellow almost damnd in a fair wife), That never set a squadron in the fieldBut he, sir, had th election ”
Othello recognises the misery in Iagos warning about jealousy yet he attempts to shrug off his fear of it with the rational argument that once he in doubt he will seek the ocular proof and so solve the dilemma. ” Ill see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; and on the proof there is no more but this: Away at once with love or jealousy!” Iago is quick to seize in Othellos need for visible proof and immediately places Othello into jealous doubt by suggesting that Othello “observe” Desdamona with Cassio. He suggests he observe her with an “open eye” yet an eye that seeks the proof of her fidelity. He then feeds the meat of his suggestion with further insinuations as to Desdemonas deceiving and oblique nature. “She did deceive her father, marrying you;
 And when she seemd to shake and fear your looks, 
She lovd them most.” To Iago this is a sign of her ingenious deception. He claims that even in the very act of falling in love with Othello, Desdemona deceived. She seemed to be afraid, but she was, in fact, in love. Now Othello has adopted that kind of logic.
Iago works on all the vulnerable aspects of Othellos nature; his fatal flaw that he judges according to appearances, that he is unsure of Venetian women, and that he has a degree of self doubt as a foreigner and a black man.
Jealousy relies on a degree of ignorance (even Iago is not entirely sure that Othello has cuckolded with Emilia.) “I know not if it be true but I for mere suspicion in that