Preview

Critical Study - Othello - Jealousy Essay Question: Choose a related text to Othello which contains a theme from the play and compare. Word length 300-400 words.

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
610 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Critical Study - Othello - Jealousy Essay Question: Choose a related text to Othello which contains a theme from the play and compare. Word length 300-400 words.
Jealousy is explored in the song Jealousy by 702 in numerous ways. The two obvious ways are, one the title and the repetition of jealousy in the chorus and in the verses. Jealousy is defined by the Macquarie Dictionary as - resentment against a successful rival or the possessor of any coveted advantage. In this song the jealousy stems from women who envy the singer of her success in finding a partner. The singer believes the women want to be her as is continually repeated in the chorus - 'THEY'RE JUST WISHING THEY COULD BE ME.' This is further empathized throughout the song by the entire song being capitalized. Jealousy is further explored in the proceeding verses. Notably in the third verse - 'TRYING TO TURN ME AGAINST YOU.'

In Othello the theme jealously is widely explored by two key main characters - Iago and Othello. Iago even admits '...and oft my jealousy,' Act 3, Scene 3 - 148. Othello never openly admits to his own and even in his last speech he says '...one not easily jealous.' Act 5, Scene 2 - 344-7. Jealousy is shown in the play Othello as a sickness and is often referred to as a 'green eyed monster,' Act 3, Scene 3 - 168. The jealously comes from numerous areas - the want for power - 'I follow him to serve my turn upon him,' Act 1, Scene 1 - 42, the concept that a white man should be above a black man, cuckolding - 'I will chop her into messes. Cuckold me!' Act 4, Scene 1 - 188, homosexuality and envy.

Othello by Shakespeare is similar to the song Jealousy by 702 in several ways. Both explore the theme of jealousy especially that of envy. The song Jealousy through the women wanting to be the singer and in Othello Iago wanting to be Othello. Even the jealously Iago has towards Othello about him having Desdemona as a wife is explored in Jealousy through the lines - 'THEY SAY YOUR BAD FOR ME. THEY SAY YOUR NO GOOD.' In addition to this Iago's wanting to be Othello - 'THEY'RE JUST WISHING THEY COULD BE ME.' Even down to the way that Othello believes

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    "Othello" written in (1603) by William Shakespeare and "O" a transformation of "Othello" which premiered in (2001) by Tim Blake-Nelson are both texts that explore the concept of jealousy. However, What is Jealousy? Jealousy is the desire for another's advantages which typically results in suspicion and violence - This definition rings true with the representation of jealousy in both texts Both texts represent the concept of jealousy in different ways. However, both Shakespeare and Blake-Nelson explore the idea that jealousy is a destructive force within the human condition that has the capability to consume and corrupt an individual. Shakespeare explores the concept of jealousy, closely linking to the highly religious Elizabethan context to heighten the corruptive force of jealousy. Blake-Nelson also uses the…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In Shakespeare's Othello, the theme of jealous is evident throughout the play. Shakespeare uses techniques such as characterisation and imagery to illustrate this theme. By characterising his characters with jealousy, Shakespeare effectively emphasises the destructive power of jealousy, which corrupts the values of honour and trust. In Othello, the protagonist is characterised as a general who has a high social status, a man who is known as the "valiant," "more fail than black" moor and a respected member of the Venetian society. This is contrasted with the Moor towards the end of the tragedy, who is enraged with jealousy and utter disgust for Desdemona, even calling her an "Impudent strumpet!" Despite Desdemona's constant pleas of being innocent and faithful, Othello's mind becomes so corrupted by Iago that the once calm and honourable figure, seems to lose control of his mind, working himself up and…

    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Out of revenge, Iago successfully planted the seeds of jealousy into Othello's mind when in the garden he insinuated that Cassio and Desdemona were having an affair. Iago implied that he would use Cassio to make Othello jealous because Othello chose Cassio over him to be a second command man because Cassio was more experience than he was. Desdemona and Cassio knew each other before she knew Othello because he worked for Othello before. Iago implied that he was going to make Othello look like a fool by having Desdemona cheat on him with Cassio. Iago never directly said Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair but he was going to make Othello think they were having affair by using the strawberry embroidered handkerchief that Othello gave to her. He manipulated Othello until he thought of revenge. Once it did Iago told Othello to “Beware of Jealousy.” Iago successful and planting his first seeds of jealousy into the mind of Othello.…

    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jealousy In Othello

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Jealousy is described as the emotional attitude of wishing not to lose something that is important to the subject’s self-definition to someone else. Jealousy is often associated with sexual relationships, but it can also manifest itself in relationships between siblings, friends, supposed social rivals and many other affiliations. The causes of jealousy vary from situation to situation, but are all associated with…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Conflict Essay- English

    • 1583 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Jealously is the obsession and anxiety, the arena possed into a phantasm of internal conflicts, a web of a world dictated by negative emotions, insecurities and fears, infecting an epidemic upon a victim’s identity and true morals to deal with a repugnant conflict. Shakespeare evokes the delusion of jealously through the luminary Othello, over the anticipated phantasm of Desdemona’s and Cassio’s infidelity. The shrewd Iago develops an art work of conflict to erupt, this is highlighted within, "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on." The prime instigator of conflict is internal insecurity and fear, the obsession of jealously corrupts Othello’s psychological sanity. The symbolism represents Othello’s dismal interior…

    • 1583 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    O and Othello Comparison

    • 929 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Jealously is one of the main central ideas and is shown through many character but mainly Iago and Hugo and Othello and O. In act 4, scene 5 Othello goes into an eplileplsy fit after hearing the news that Cassio slept with Othello’s wife Desdemona and Othello has lost nearly all control of himself to his jealousy in the play. Nelson has recreated this scene into a Slam Dunk competition where Odin is high on cocaine and Hugo (Iago) has given him the misinformation that Desi (Desdemona) and Michael (Cassio) have been sleeping together. In the novel ‘Othello’, Othello strikes Desdemona in the company of Lodovico, a Venetian nobleman. This very action implies that Othello is so engrossed in his emotion that he simply does not care that other people can see his anger and subsequent violence towards his wife. In “O,” this concept has been magnified where Odin's violent actions do not occur in front of one person, but instead in front of an entire crowd of people. Also when Lodovico's see’s this he is surprised and Othello has to fix his actions “My lord, this would not be believed in Venice, / Though I should swear I saw't. `Tis very much; / Make her amends - she weeps” (4.1.236) During “O,” when Odin destroys the backboard and pushes the ball boy down, the crowd simply boos at him. Both responses are appropriate to the contexts they take place in, but both express displeasure at…

    • 929 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Iago shows us the power of jealousy and affirms that Othello is abosolutely affected by jealousy…

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jealousy Quotes In Othello

    • 1023 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “Jealousy, a very powerful characteristic which is present in every human being on this planet, this attribute leads to negative events which can destroy relationships and consume the mind this can simply turn into anger and overcome the victim and make them do things that are not in their power. This is not absent in Othello and is shown constantly throughout the play. This trait has been shown within every character in different ways and are all victims of this of this attribute. Jealousy is the motivating force behind the vengeful actions taken by Iago. Jealousy creates power struggles, his mistrust between his and his loved ones and results in him losing what he loves the most”…

    • 1023 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Othello Critical Essay

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Jealousy, the universal feeling we’ve all experienced at one time or another. Whether it be the newest piece of technology that someone has that you don’t and wish you did, or that kid on the playground that had those new light up shoes that were all the rage. Jealousy is not something that can be avoided, only controlled. It sneaks up on you, like a tree root sneaks up on concrete before it breaks to the surface. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, jealousy is a key component used by many characters as a weapon that is twisted and manipulated to serve their own ends.…

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello thesis

    • 25038 Words
    • 101 Pages

    Jealousy, once consumed, will take over the mind and body, and not only hurt the people around that individual, but destroy that individual. In Othello, we see the protagonist fall guilty to jealousy, even though he has said that he doesn’t let his feelings get the better of him. Roderigo, because of love, gets jealous and ends up losing all his money. Iago, the villain in this play, falls prey to jealousy because of his pettiness from not getting a promotion and having certain suspicions that may or may not be true. In William Shakespeare’s “Othello”, Iago states, “Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on”(3.3.170-172). This quote talks about how Othello doesn’t want to know any rumors that Iago has, but this teases Othello. Othello claims it will not bother him, so Iago tells him and Othello becomes upset. The jealousy…

    • 25038 Words
    • 101 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello Essay

    • 1031 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! / It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock/ The meat it feeds on” (Shakespeare III. iii. 195-197). Everyone has the capacity for jealousy. It can change how people think as well as how they act. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, jealousy is nurtured within the minds of multiple characters, and this jealousy is what ignites the want to make multiple misconceptions arise in order to create havoc and inflict suffering upon others and in some cases, upon themselves. To start off, Iago illustrates how jealousy can cause one to want to inflict pain upon others. Secondly, Roderigo shows how jealousy can make one become easily persuaded into doing wrong things. Lastly, Othello is a fine example of how jealousy can cloud somebody’s mind and cause them to see things as something else and inflict suffering on themselves and on others.…

    • 1031 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello has an enduring theme of "jealousy" which is shown throughout the novel "by several characters Othello, Rodrigo, Bianca, and Iago" their jealousy flows from character to character. (Scott 417) Scott uses the phrase "several characters" to show that it is an emotion expressed by many. The jealousy is easily expressed by each character because it flows from relationship to relationship like bees flow from flower to flower. There are many types of different relationships in Othello and "The nature of jealousy in Othello isn't limited to love." (Scott 413) Scott utilizes the statement " isn't limited to love" to show that there are other relationships where envy can come into play. There are multiple relationships in Othello where jealousy occurs family, friends, and at work. Scott wants the reader to look beyond the normal thought of jealousy in love and picture the emotion affecting the characters in a different way. As the enduring theme controls the minds of the characters, many people can relate to their sexual…

    • 758 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Jealous is a reoccurring theme in history and today. Jealousy can be helpful because it can prompt people to achieve greater feats, like Microsoft’s competition with Apple. Microsoft’s jealousy of the Ipad sparked their creation of the new tablet computer. In the late fifteenth century, western Europeans were jealous of the literature and technological advances of the Arabs. These jealous feelings potentially initiated the commencement of the Renaissance. This revived interest in writing and literature brought in authors like Shakespeare to write about common themes and verisimilitudes of the everyday renaissance life. This theme of jealousy can be expressed in the drama Othello written by William…

    • 1473 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Definition Jealousy

    • 443 Words
    • 2 Pages

    These types of jealousy may be triggered by, insecurities. Fear, and competition. The play Othello portrayed some of these same types. The relationship between Othello and his wife, Desdemona, Othello and lago. The romantic display of jealousy led to the ending result of death (Bevington,2014).…

    • 443 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello Essay

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I've come here today to present you with a man who wants to justify the murder of his wife. I will show you how unjustified his act and his thoughts were in this not so spontaneous crime. Othello is on trial for murder and I would like to remind you that he has admitted full and absolute blame for this and you should not heed that lightly. Under the circumstances his mental state will come into account, but do not be bewildered by his claims of psychosis as any man could have had these thoughts befallen upon him and not taken action.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics