What Is Jealousy In Othello

In Othello many themes come to play, however I find the most prevalent is jealousy. Jealousy is a funny thing, because it spreads like wildfire. The story of Othello is an example about how one person’s jealousy can take an entire social group down with it. Iago is the antagonist in this story, as he formulates a plot not only to take Cassio (the man who was promoted over Iago to be Othello’s second) down, and in the process many others go with him. He plants his jealousy in Rodrigo, and Othello. Convincing Rodrigo to provoke Cassio in a fight Iago tells him “Provoke him that he may; for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio.” (2.1.269-272). Rodrigo’s fight with Cassio results in Cassio stabbing a man, and Othello demoting him from his second in command. Even though this is what Iago truly wants, he does not stop there. He continues to spread his jealousy and hatred by convincing Cassio that the only way to earn Othello’s good graces back is by talking to Desdemona. Iago then convinces Othello that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona by planting Othello’s handkerchief in Cassio’s possession. Othello spirals
As Lodovico says to Iago in the last lines of the play; “O Spartan dog, More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea, Look on this tragic loading of this bed: This is thy work. The object poisons sight; Let it be hid.” (5.2.367-369). Lodovico was explaining to Iago that all of the deaths that happened that day were the direct result of all of the things Iago did. To me, this shows that jealousy is a very dangerous thing, and can spread like a disease. Iago’s actions in this story show exactly why he was not fit to make Othello’s second, and how one mans insecurities can cause everyone else’s to come to