Jealousy In William Shakespeare's Othello

When one feels isolated from society, jealousy sometimes will overcome their morality and can cause a disastrous ending. William Shakespeare's classic Othello tells a story of a moor part of the Venetian army who is tricked by his conniving ensign. Othello has just recently been married to a Venetian noble woman Desdemona. After the secret marriage is revealed to Desdemona's father Brabantio he immediately rejects the nuptials due to Othello’s race. Othello is then sent to Cyprus to stop the Turkish Fleets sailing to the island. Along with Othello on this journey is his “trusty” ensign Iago who hates Othello for choosing Michael Cassio as his lieutenant. In order to steal Cassio’s job and get revenge on the Moor, Iago devises a plan to use
When Othello was the idea of Cassio and Desdemona put into his head by Iago he is quick to believe the lie. When Iago states, “And yet, that someone should act so contrary to nature...”(III.230). When this seed of doubt is planted Othello questions his connection with Desdemona. He begins think that Desdemona easily will cheat on him due to his suspicious that she only loved him physically and would soon become tired of him. After the plot thickens, Othello begins to observe interactions between both Desdemona and Cassio. This leads him to become jealous of
The object of the handkerchief is used as proof that Desdemona is cheating with Cassio. Iago lies and states that he, “saw Cassio wipe his beard with just such a handkerchief. I’m sure it was your wife’s.”(III.437). Othello responds to this by exaggerating, “I will contrive some way to speedily kill the beautiful devil.”(III.478). This refers back to the handkerchief because its appearance is a white background with red strawberries on it. White is often associated with purity which embodies Desdemona and the red is the blood slaughtered on the innocent. In the end her blood is shed on her wedding sheets and is related to the handkerchiefs