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Similarities of Love and Jealousy in today's society - Dreaded Shakespear [42]
Thats what I usually score but I'm trying to get into University so its not good enough. Heres the essay:
Jealously Consumes
Jealousy has been part of human existence since centuries ago, and can affect all kinds of people, from the poorest beggar to the wealthiest king. It's powerful enough to lead men to steal, lie, cheat and display other horrible acts towards their friends. The emotion has the ability, if used by the right individual to change insecure people's minds into thinking the truth. In this case the truth was deceit. Furthermore the feeling can also cloud ones thoughts so that jealousy overpowers all other feelings. In William Shakespeare's play Othello, he portrayed and developed the topic Jealousy consumes people through hatred, misplaced trust and revenge which eventually leads to tragedy. The first step towards jealousy in Othello is hatred against a Moorish general.
Hatred in this play was one of the initial emotions in the characters that lead to tragedy. Iago, who was currently third lieutenant of the army in Venice was jealous that Othello promoted Cassio to second lieutenant. This act caused Iago to hate Othello and think of a way to get back at him.
"Despise me
If I do not. Three great ones of the city,
In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,
Off-capped to him; and, by the faith of man...
Nonsuits my mediators For 'Certes,' says he, (Shakespeare I,I 8-11/17)
Iago was jealous because he thinks he deserves that rank much more than Cassio. Cassio only learned battle techniques from books Iago mentioned. In addition three important noble men from Venice asked Othello to promote Iago, but Othello still went with his decision. This jealousy was only the beginning of what's later to come and what was ultimately going to destroy Iago. Iago's jealousy and hatred increase when he suspects that Othello slept with his wife.
"I hate the Moor,
And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets
He's done my office. I know not if't be true,
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety" (Shakespeare I, III 430-434).
Iago doesn't really have any proof of this happening, but he believes it anyway. His hatred for Othello made him believe this vague rumour being spread. Clearly his jealousy from previous scenes has made him gullible to believe anything Othello did, even if it was a rumour. Near the ending of the play, when Emilia realizes that Iago used his jealousy induced scheme to cause all the horrible acts he committed, she had great hate for him. ."If he say so, may his pernicious soul Rot half a grain a day! He lies to th' heart." (Shakespeare V, II 190-192). Emilia knowing that she helped her husband do these terrible deeds she blabbered out everything which then in turn made Iago stab her out of hate for the truth knowing his scheme was ruined. His evil plan was created in the first place when he persuaded people to believe him, which he used misplaced trust, to attack people's weak points.
The plays tragic flaw was caused when mistrust was used against Othello and Cassio which leads to jealousy. Earlier on in the play in Iago's soliloquy he states that Othello was of free and open nature. "The Moor is of a free and open nature, That thinks men honest that but seem to be so" (Shakespeare I, III 442-443). Iago was speaking about Othello and telling that he was an honest and open minded man, and that his plot will work to his advantage because of that. Also, Othello already knows that Iago was fairly honest since he probably worked with Othello for sometime; hence he was third lieutenant and has earned respect. Iago uses Othello's honest spirit against him so that Othello rewards Iago with a promotion to second lieutenant. "Come, go with me apart I will withdraw, To furnish me with some swift means of death For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant." (Shakespeare III, III 543-546). This was a major mistake made by Othello since his trust for Iago has risen even though what Iago told him about his marriage was untruthful. Iago can now cloud Othello's mind with jealousy which overpowers his love for Desdemona. Later on, in the play when Iago proves to Othello that Cassio was indeed cheating on him Othello's jealousy skyrockets. Ironically this entire plot was created by Iago and his ability to be perceived as an honest man when his reality was full of lies. As Othello listens to the conversation of Iago and Cassio, Othello was influenced by Iago's mistrust because of what he was told earlier on about the affair. "I marry her! what? a customer! Prithee, bear some charity to my wit: do not think it so unwholesome.Ha, ha, ha!" (Shakespeare IV, I 137-140). As Othello was interpreting what was going on, he has no doubts not to believe what Iago was say earlier was true. Not only was Othello's mind clouded by mistrust but so was Roderigo's. He was also foolish and easily manipulated by Iago's false honourable nature. Iago also states that he's a fool and it's easy to gain money this way. "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse: For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane, If I would time expend with such a snipe. But for my sport and profit."
(Shakespeare I, III 426-429). Since Roderigo was jealous of Othello marrying Desdemona he was willing to sell all his land. Then they will both to go Venice since booth of them have issues their. Both of these dishonest despicable schemes forced Cassio and Othello to plan their revenge, ultimately killing them.
In Iago's final steps towards domination he gets rid of Cassio, while Othello is fuelled with false revenge, thus leading to his death. Iago has made Roderigo jealous through revenge, when he tells Cassio has been sleeping with Desdemona. "Besides, the knave is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in him that folly and green minds look after: a pestilent complete knave; and the woman hath found him already." (Shakespeare II, I 267-270). Rodrigo finally believes that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair he will pick a fight with Cassio which also conquers a bit of Iago's revenge since he heard a rumour that Cassio slept with his wife. Roderigo also does this act out of revenge since he loves Desdemona. So he does carry though with the plan and frames Cassio. "Beat me?/ Dust thou/ prate rouge?" (Shakespeare II, III 157-158). Roderigo successfully got Cassio fired and extinguished a bit of Iago's jealousy in the process. The next crime Roderigo commits will be his last. Iago, still fuelled by revenge plans a scheme with Roderigo to eliminate Cassio so that he cannot take Othello's place and Desdemona will not leave Cyprus. Really Iago wants both Cassio and Roderigo to kill each other since if any one of them lives it will jeopardize his plans. "I know/ his gait/, 'tis he/.-Villain/, thou diest!" (Shakespeare V, I 124). Roderigo was pumped with lust and revenge when attempting to kill Cassio since of the alleged rumours that he was sleeping with Desdemona. Iago was so focused on revenge that he kills Roderigo to hide he truth and keep his treasures. On the other hand Othello, blazing with rage and revenge heads to Desdemona's room. Once he arrives he cannot believe what she was saying and thinks she's was lying, even though Desdemona truly loves him. Her love for him was exaggerated when she went against her father word to marry him, but Othello was too jealous and it has consumed the love and truth that Desdemona was trying to show. He smothers her and then when he learns the truth he cannot take the truth of what he did and stabs Iago out of pure revenge. Not successful in killing the villain he commits suicide. "Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought Perplexed in the extreme" (Shakespeare V II 405-406). He could not take the guilt of what he had just done. Othello could now live with the lies that lead him to this horrid vengeance.
The play Othello, William Shakespeare described jealousy through hatred, misplaced trust and revenge which all eventually lead to tragedy. Initially hatred against Othello began when he promoted Cassio instead of Iago, as well as the rumours that he was sleeping with Iago's wife. Emilia also hated her husband for the jealous plot he planned. Next Iago uses Othello's open and free nature to cloud his mind with lies of the affair Cassio was having with his wife. He also gains Roderigo's trust and tricks him into thinking that he will help him be with Desdemona, since their both against Othello. Lastly, jealousy leads to revenge when Othello kills his wife even though she was truthful, Othello was brainwashed by lies and his love was overpowered. Iago's revenge was going as planned until his wife tattled the truth. Othello's revenge leads him to kill himself, because he couldn't continue to live with the deeds he committed. Jealousy was an evil emotion and one should be careful who he or she trusts, and have an independent mind which cannot be manipulated by lies.