Jealousy in Iago

Green Eyed Monster

Jealousy is a central theme in the tragic Shakespearean play Othello to a very large extent. It is the detrimental consequences of jealousy which drives the plot forward, and ultimately leads to some of the main characters’ tragic demises at the end of the play. Iago, consumed by jealousy, masks this feeling through his hatred towards Othello as he was overlooked as a potential lieutenant, and his sneaking suspicion that Othello is sleeping with his wife. Iago engineers a plan in order to project this feeling onto those involved, which utterly corrupts their lives as it causes Iago to show his true self, and triggers Othello to undergo an absolute conversion.

Jealousy can be defined as an emotion whose effects frequently get out of control. In the play, its devastating properties are referred by Iago to that of a ‘green ey’d monster which doth mock/the meat it feeds on.’ Indeed, it is this ‘monster’ possessed by all human beings that acts as a catalyst for the play’s dramatic plot of revenge, betrayal and destruction, which is why jealousy is, to a very large extent, a central theme in Othello. In fact, the play opens with a discussion of this central theme. Iago is upset because Othello has chosen Cassio, ‘a great arithmetician…that never set a squadron in the field’ as his lieutenant, when Iago himself believes that that he was ‘worth no worse a place’. It is this initial professional jealousy that seems to serve as Iago’s starting motivation to manipulate others around him, in order to take his revenge on Othello.

Through subtle and consistent insinuation from Iago’s part, Othello gradually grows suspicious of Cassio’s and Desdemona’s relationship. From ‘I do not think but Desdemona’s honest,’ and demanding ‘the ocular proof’, to asking Iago to ‘set on thy wife to observe’, then bursting with anger and wishing to ‘tear her all to pieces’, and calling her ‘devil.’ Sexual jealousy overrides Othello’s rational thoughts completely, and drives him to the point of smothering Desdemona. Othello first experiences this sense of jealousy when he and Iago enter the room, and