Jealousy, Love, And Death - 964 Words

Shakespeare is known for his use of recurring themes, particularly those of betrayal, love, and death. These themes are present in Othello. However, the most dynamic of themes in this play is jealousy. White describes jealousy as a â€Å"complex of thoughts, feelings, and actions which follow threats to self-esteem and/or threats to the existence or quality of a relationship† (qtd in UK essays par 1). Two types of jealousy are presented to the audience in Othello; the kind of jealousy that is fear of losing what one has, and the kind that is envious of what others have. Jealousy is a prevalent theme in Othello; it is rooted by love and hope, and it leads to betrayal and death. Because of the evil nature of jealousy, the play unfolds under the authority of Iago, who uses jealousy to drive the characters’ actions, and ultimately concludes in the downfall of a noble man (UK Essays par 1). The audience is presented with examples of both forms of jealousy as themes in Othell o. The two themes of jealousy differ, but are also quite similar. The envious jealousy is portrayed by two of the main characters, Roderigo and Iago. Both men are willing to do anything it takes to get what they want. In the beginning of the play, Roderigo, a rich gentleman, and Iago, the villain, are introduced to the audience. Iago is envious of Cassio, who was chosen by Othello to be his lieutenant. Roderigo is jealous of Othello marrying Desdemona, with whom Roderigo is in love. Iago’s jealousy leads him toShow MoreRelatedWho Destructive Jealousy : The Side Effect Of Love937 Words   |  4 PagesDestructive Jealousy: the Side-effects of Love in King Lear While love is a very common element in literature, it is not always presented in a good light or with a happy ending, but can rather be seen as underlying a certain darkness, as Shakespeare does so well in his tragedies. Insert transition about jealousy. 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