The Green Monster Othelo

The Green Eyed Monster
The tragedy in Othello is caused by jealousy between many characters in the play. From the beginning of the play you can witness how jealousy ruins each character lives. It is the “green eyed monster” that fuels Iago passion to create jealousy in Othello’s heart. Iago and Othello fall victim to the green eyed monster which is demonstrated throughout the play. Cassio is the only person that did not fall victim to the green eye monsters path of destruction. Many times before Othello, Shakespeare used the theme of jealousy but not as apparently as in this play. Since it is something that everyone shares, we witness the destructive influence on all the characters with horror and sympathy.
The battle of good and evil is not apparent in Othello but what the realization of jealousy and murder is. To include green eyed monster poison, blackness and hate tread. Othello is direct and immediate play. The downfall is within him. Othello believes that he is not deemed lovable by others so he assumes that the worst must be true. His thought process is fueled by Iago’s planting illusions that he is an alien in Venice. And woman that loves him do so perversely. The hate treads in Othello rest solely on horror and pity where once love blossomed.
Iagos Jealousy
At first sight Iago seems to be friends with all in the play. He is Othello’s trusted “ancient” Roderigos friend and a counselor to Cassio even an advisor to Desdemona. Throughout the play the audience is the only one to know his true self. Many praise his loyalty to them until they realized his evil. He sees their weaknesses and exploits them. The fact that he became jealous of Othello’s preference to choose Cassio as his Lieutenant sparks Iago as the initiator to create a chain of events that destroys all the characters and leads to the downfall and death of Othello and most of the significant characters in the play. Iago is the expert that produced a virtual reality in Brabantios mind of racist fury by utilizing Roderigo. “Even now, now, very now, an black ram is tupping your white ewe, arise arise.” (Roma 1.1.89) This verse intensifies a vision of a black man having sex with Brabantios daughter forcing him to action and call for a summons among his daughter and Othello. This is the beginning of a plot to destroy Othello for passing him over as his Lieutenant.
Throughout the play Iago goes to many measures to accomplish his goals. He uses confusion to maneuver people as he pleases. He is the most manipulative character in the whole play. Iago will keep travailing Othello jealousy to promote a vision in Othello mind will set forth the image of betrayal from Desdemona. Even though, Othello fights this vision in his mind. He is asking for evidence. “I’ll see before I doubt, when I doubt, prove.”(Roma 3.3.192) In devouring discourse Bernard O’Keefe illustrates that “Iago there is a clear sense of physical enjoyment.” This quote demonstrates Iago skills for using the green envy. Iago plants a cancerous seed in Othello’s mind. Although Othello is a strong leader is blind eye does not see the truth in Iago who with his clever mind has found ways to manipulate him.
Iago is extremely good at manipulating people, misinforming them in order to get them do as he pleases. This is exactly what he is doing to Othello. For example in a conversation with Othello he points out that his wife Desdemona deceived her father in order to marry him, so it is apparently that if she deceived her father she would deceived her husband. Othello does not agree with Iago and denies that he would give himself over to the green eye monster. But it makes him begging to doubt.
The cancerous seed planted by Iago starts to blossom when he is forced to witness Cassio and Desdemona together innocently speaking. But Iago forces Othellos to see something that is not there. He insinuates that his wife is unfaithful in order for Othello to have remorse on his choice of Cassio. The icing on the cake was when Iago insist on seeing Cassio wife his brows with a handkerchief with strawberries embroidered in it. Immediately Othello recognized it as one he has given her as a gift. Finally the cancer has consumed Othellos mind forcing him to react in a rage that destroys him and his wife.
W.H. Auden calls Iago a “wicked man” in his article. He sees him as a joker questioning the derivation of scientific enquiry. He states that if someone would have asked Iago “what are you doing?” “Iago could not answer with a boys giggle.” “Nothing I’m only trying to find out what Othello is really like.” Why would Iago do something of his nature? The green monster has taken over him.
Iago is like the devil with powers over men that are powerless especially their eyes. Meaning that men who follow others without coming up with solutions themselves, fall victim to the green eye monster easier than others, men that are also blind to reality. He creates illusions in minds to have them see what he wants them to see. Iago uses this strategy with all that come in contact with him.

Othello Jealousy
The paramount subject was Othellos himself like a plague spreading with himself. Iago has created a sense of insecurity that he is in a state of despair. At this point Othello feels uncertain of his wife’s loyalty. For the first time he is corner and fells vulnerable to Iago.
Up to this point Othello was a feared and respected leader. A preliminary assumption maybe that Othello was a victim himself after killing Desdemona. Some may dispute that Iago was the sinner in the murder of Desdemona. But in reality Othello was the one that did the killing blinded by the pain and hurt. In order to justify Desdemona death he needs to create a vision of his wife with Cassio and mistakenly believe that she did not love him. He killed her because of his pride and rushes to judgment, and must be held accountable.
Using all types of brain washing tactics on Othello, Iago succeeds in getting Othello’s to see what is not apparent. Othello’s said to Iago “Villain, be sure thou proof my love a whore.” (Roma 3.3.360) When Desdemona pleads for Cassio does not help her cause. Othello has fallen prey to the cancer Iago has planted. He is a man of public figure worthiness of command of self-assurance. In the beginning Othello’s and Desdemona represents married love at the best, spiritual and honesty. He cherishes her beauty while she worships his manliness. “Husband and wife are bound happily in one of Shakespeare few detailed portraits of serious commitment in marriage.” (Bevington 571)
And so he allows Iago to influence him bringing out his must evil part. To understand Othellos motive we must first look at his state of mind during his actions. He is a strong leader in a new city with different customs. He has a new bride whom he is not as familiar with. His love for her is not measurable. Yet he assumes that she may have loved him for his past experiences. “She lov’d me for the dangers I had passed.” (Roma 1.3.166)
Othello is sure of the prejudice among his own city and yet he is uncertain that Desdemona would marry and defy her own people by engaging with a marriage not within her race. Deep within himself he struggles to believe that his new companion is disloyal. By allowing Iago to create suspicion in his mind, Othellos barbaric nature will surface and call for action. He seems comfortable as the aggressor rather as a follower. Othellos settle’s for Iago’s words and no the proper evidence that should have being present. As he trusted Iago as a friend and a proven soldier he has condemned Desdemona to her death. During a conversation with Iago the reader can notice that Iago so desperately wants to poison in Othello’s head. This lies created by Iago only influences Othello’s mind set.
Othellos emotional attitudes illustrates in a personal way that it really shows how fragile man really is. Emotions like jealousies, greed, and prejudices enable the audience to identify themselves in the play. As Carol Neely wrote in her critical essay “The play develops out of the oppositions of attitudes, viewpoints and sexes.” (Neely 70) Understanding Othellos emotions are critical in understanding the play. Love is the emotion that is tested the most and the emotion that carries all to their horrible death.
Othellos is a character that seems to see himself as a hero and an administrator. He has proven himself already to the world, but he falls to his previous successor. From the beginning of the play Othellos is bombarded by “the green eyed monsters.” Othellos jealousy is a certain factor that destroyed him.
The shameful part is that Iago even attempted to brain wash Othello with ideas on no to think about adultery in which caused Othello to think of adultery in his head. A major mistake that Othello makes is that he does not look for evidence. Bu him not asking his wife directly he only creates more tension for himself about his marriage.
Roderigo Jealousy
Roderigo is a man who also falls prey to Iagos green envy. After been rejected by Desdemona he becomes very vulnerable. His love for Desdemona is so mighty that he turns hateful towards Othello. The difference between Roderigo and Iago is that he is a coward, a follower unlike Iago. He also later in the play he falls victim again to Iago’s and he is murder by him. He is extremely easily manipulated as well as a gullible man. A man that believes everything Iago says.
At the start of the play you can witness Roderigo gullibility. He alerts Barbantio under Iagos spell like manipulation. He is foolish to believe that by given Iago large sum of his purse in order for Iago to praise his existence to Desdemona. Roderigo is in hopes to win her and married her. However it comes up to his surprises that she has eloped with Othello. He has lost the girl of his dreams as well as his money. For how long has Iago manipulated this ignoramus capitalizing on his witness. What is clear is that Iago has no shame and is clever enough to show no respect for Roderigo. Even though he was clever in misleading him to believe that he would cause Othellos down fall so that Roderigo would be with Desdemona. Roderigo may have been victimized by everybody. He is weak matter kind of man and so we give him pity during the play. Roderigo is too dumb to pity.
Roderigo was rejected by Barbantio as a candidate for his daughter. “My daughter is not for thee.” (Roma 1.1.99) Iago notice Roderigo failure and interrupts his patron to increase the resentment towards Othello. Finally Barbantio calls for action and yet at the end he blesses his daughter marriage but he is not happy with it. Roderigo ends come in the hands of the one he admired and follows. Iago convinces him to start a fight with Cassio who is intoxicated. Iago said to Roderigo that he have seen him holding hands with her in order to sparks a hatred with the same man Iago hates. This was part of a plan to eliminate Cassio for once. If he eliminated him Othello would be force to appoint Iago as his right hand man but the attempt fails; now Iago takes matters into his own hands stabbing Roderigo in the chest. Ending his life without returning what he has promised and so Roderigo end is here.
Cassio the Victim
Cassio is nothing like any of the other characters in Othello. He has physical beauty, grace, and wisdom. On the other hand he is a love slave and has passion for love, life. He is one that trout happily among very one. He is a Casanova with a mistress on the side. This may be the reason why Othello chose him over as his right hand man. He is apparently a man of values. He only lacks true respect for woman as a whole. Cassio’s background is not visible. The only thing we know is of what Iago speaks. His description is of one that knows little of his trade and who has a mistress. He is as mysterious as Othellos is reserved. The fact is that he is not of royal bloodline because of his stature in the higher courts. He is a man who has gained his reputation and favored by those he serves.
In the end he is the better man in the eye of many to include Othello himself. A man with moral balance, positively and negatively. His character is exceptional in where the audience can admire and identify with proving his loyalty to his leader and friend. He is the only victorious person within the play resulting as a victory among good and evil.
In conclusion it is apparent that Othello will be successful in a world that there is a little pressure as a leader he is great, but as a man he has failed. He allowed peer pressure from the most evil character in Shakespeare plays. The victims in Othello where all manipulated by the same person, Iago. The person who cancerous seen consumed him as well. His goal was to be sympathetic and helpful and yet destroy Othellos world. This is a goal which he becomes successful using manipulation. Iago is the most famous villain on any of Shakespeare writings.
His conveys lie which drove many over the edge with a fatal outcome. At the same time he is the one that they turn to in order to express themselves and confined in. The frightening part is that every character comes in contact with him without raising any suspicion. Jealousy is filled within him and like a cancer he spread it to all. Jealousy causes the death of many as well as the downfall of Othello and Iago.

Work Cited

Bellington, David; et al. eds. “The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare” Vol. IV. New York: Bantam Books, 1988. Print
Keeffe, Bernard. "Devouring discourse: swallowing stories in Othello: Bernard O 'Keeffe considers the importance in Othello of the stories characters tell about themselves and about others." The English Review 21.3 (2011): 5+. General OneFile. Web. 29 Nov. 2012.
Neely, Carol. "Women and Men in Othello" Critical Essays on Shakespeare’s Othello”. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 68-90)
Roma Gill. Oxford School Shakespeare Othello. New York. University Press, 2007. Print.
W.H. Auden, “The Dyer’s Hand and Other Essay” (New York: Random House, 1962): pp 246-72.

Cited: Bellington, David; et al. eds. “The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare” Vol. IV. New York: Bantam Books, 1988. Print Keeffe, Bernard. "Devouring discourse: swallowing stories in Othello: Bernard O 'Keeffe considers the importance in Othello of the stories characters tell about themselves and about others." The English Review 21.3 (2011): 5+. General OneFile. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. Neely, Carol. "Women and Men in Othello" Critical Essays on Shakespeare’s Othello”. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 68-90) Roma Gill. Oxford School Shakespeare Othello. New York. University Press, 2007. Print. W.H. Auden, “The Dyer’s Hand and Other Essay” (New York: Random House, 1962): pp 246-72.