Othello

‘Jealously remains the ultimate corrupting force within action.’ To what extent do you agree with this? Within the play Othello, jealously remains the ultimate corrupting force, as it is through jealously that dramatic conflict occurs and the tragic events unfold. The consequences of jealously have a catalytic impact on the characters of the play and their mutual relationships. This is clearly demonstrated through the machiavellian villain of the play, Iago, whose actions and dialogue are driven by his jealously. It is Iago’s manipulative conduct that brings about Othello’s ‘green monster’ which results in the tragedy of the play unfolding.
In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare opens with the audience viewing the jealously Iago feels towards Cassio, after he was promoted to Othello’s first lieutenant over himself. Iago believes that he's far more qualified than Cassio, who lacks Iago's experience on the field of battle, ‘as masterly as he: mere prattle, without practise, is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election.’ Shakespeare alerts the audience of Iago’s jealously towards Michael Cassio early on in the play, as it is jealously, the corrupting force, which drives his manipulative and deceitful actions towards Cassio and Othello.
In Act 2, scene three, it is apparent that Iago’s plans of betraying Cassio, out of jealously, in order to ruin his reputation and status within society. Iago, knowingly betrays Cassio by planning on getting him drunk , as he knows he will start a fight, ‘if I can fasten but one cup upon him, with that which hath drunk tonight already, he’ll be as full of quarrel and offence as my young mistress’ dog.’ It is at this point in the play jealously begins to take its toll; Cassio’s reputation, which was regarded highly during the Elizabethan era, has been completely destroyed ‘Reputation, Reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my Reputation.’ Shakespeare uses strong dramatic irony throughout this scene and the play, to retain the audience’s sympathy for Cassio along with Othello; victim’s of Iago’s constant jealously and manipulation.
Othello is another character that experiences the consequences of, Iago’s, jealously and its catalytic impact it has on his relationship with his wife Desdemona. With the fall of Cassio, Iago begins to plant the seeds of jealously, within Othello’s mind, regarding the loyalty of his dear wife Desdemona, ‘Piles Desdemona to repair his fortunes, and she for him pleads strongly to the Moor, I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear.’ At first Iago’s, scheming ways do not have an effect on Othello, as he will not believe without proof, ‘I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove.’ Unfortunately out of jealously, Iago acquires Desdemona’s handkerchief. This handkerchief symbolically represents Othello’s love for Desdemona and is a key motif of the play. It is through this handkerchief that Iago is able to deceive Othello into believing that Cassio and Desdemona are having a secret affair. The anguish, violence and uncertainty that can be seen through Othello’s dialogue is representational of the jealously he is feeling. It is this jealously that propels the play forward and ultimately results in the tragic ending.
Othello bursting with anger and jealously seeks to fix the problem that is at hand. Shakespeare uses strong foreshadowing, throughout this scene, Act 5 scene 2, and the character of Desdemona, to reinforce that her death is upon. It is through subtle hints such as, the mentioning that her mother happened to be signing the same song, “the willow song”, on the night of her death, and the changing of the bed sheets, to the one’s the same as the night of her wedding, that Desdemona’s death is foreshadowed. This helps to create the rising action of the play and ultimately the tragic ending; resulting from the jealously Othello feels, as a result of Iago poisoning his mind.
It is in the dramatic climax of the play when it becomes clear that Iago’s jealously and deceit was the driving force behind his actions which lead to this point. After Othello’s ‘green-eyed monster’ killed his wife Desdemona, he realises just how corrupt his jealously was when, Emilia enlightens them about in fact it taws’ Iago’s jealously that had put them here, ‘o, the more angel she,....he lies to th’heart.’ Shakespeare uses Othello’s following monologue to express how he was perplexed and did not understand what he was doing as he had been poisoned with jealously, before terminally stabbing himself.
As it has been clearly demonstrated, in Othello, Jealously remains the ultimate corrupting force within action. It is through Iago’s jealously that the play progresses, before reaching the dramatic climax and tragic ending. It is jealously that corrupts the character’s minds causing a catalytic impact on their mutual relationships; which is clearly seen through Desdemona and Othello. These are the reasons that jealously is ultimately the corrupting force within action, as without it the rising tension and climax would not be achieved.