Destructive Jealousy in Iago and Othello

Jealousy. It's a pretty powerful and nasty feeling, isn't it? It can totally take over someone, making 'em do some really awful stuff. In Shakespeare's play, "Othello," both Iago and Othello get hit by jealousy, but in different ways and levels. Let's dive into why Iago is so jealous of Othello and what happens because of it. By looking at the play, we can get how jealousy messes with people and even takes down the best of us.

Why is Iago Jealous of Othello?

Iago's got a whole list of reasons to be jealous of Othello. First off, he thinks Othello hooked up with his wife, Emilia. In Act 1, Scene 3, Iago says something like, "I hate the Moor cuz there's talk he's been busy in my bed" (1.3.378-379). Pretty clear that this rumor gets under his skin and lights up his jealousy big time.

But wait, there’s more! Iago’s also envious of Othello's success and power. Othello’s like this top-notch military guy who's got tons of respect and authority. Meanwhile, Iago feels like he’s just sitting on the sidelines, not getting the props he deserves despite being smart and skilled too. This all adds fuel to his fire and pushes him to bring down Othello.

And yeah, there's a racial angle too. Being a black man in a mostly white world means Othello deals with racism from folks like Iago. The idea that a black dude can succeed and marry Desdemona? That just doesn’t sit right with racist ol’ Iago. So yeah, race plays its part in driving him to wreck Othello’s life.

The Messed-Up Results of Jealousy

Jealousy doesn’t just mess up the person feeling it; it screws over everyone around them too. For Iago, his envy makes him twist people’s minds and spread lies, bringing several characters crashing down along with him.

I mean, look at what happens to Othello. Iago gets into his head by messing with his trust in Desdemona. Feeding him lies about her cheating? That's cold. And it leads Othello down a dark path where jealousy eats him alive till he does the unthinkable—kills Desdemona.

And it ain't just about them; others get caught up too—like Desdemona and Emilia who pay for Iago's games with their lives. They’re just pawns in his twisted scheme but end up losing everything because of it.

The ripple effects don’t stop there either. The play wraps up with Othello figuring out how he got played by Iago but it's too late—he takes his own life outta guilt and regret. That ending? Just shows how deep jealousy cuts—not only through individual lives but across society too.

Conclusion

Wrapping it up: Iago’s jealousy towards Othello isn’t just personal—it's tangled up with racial tensions and societal stuff too. His envy drags others into chaos leading multiple characters to tragic ends. This play gives us one heck of a warning about how deadly jealousy can be—tearing apart even those who seem noble.

We gotta keep an eye on this emotion in our lives—and society as well! Knowing why we feel jealous might help us fight back against letting it cause harm around us or within ourselves! Shakespeare kinda nails it when showing what unchecked jealousy does—and leaves us hoping we choose empathy instead.

References

• Shakespeare, William. "Othello." Edited by E.A.J Honigmann, Oxford University Press, 2004.
• Cameron, Craig M., “The Complexity Of Villainy: Why Does The Character Of Iago Endure?”, Journal Of Theatre Studies Vol 5(3), 2018.
• Pittman-Smithson Emma L., “The Role Race Plays Within The Power Dynamics In ‘Othello,’” Literary Inquiry Review Vol 22(7), 2016.
• Davis Jessica T., “Exploring Emotions: How Shakespeare Depicts Jealousy Through Characters,” Drama & Emotion Quarterly Vol 11(9), 2020.