As mentioned previously, Othello is not affected by the jealousy instantly. It is apparent that his love for Desdemona is true. Although people have doubted if their love is true for each other. Brabantio refers to Othello’s love for Desdemona as “if she in chains of magic were not bound” this shows that Brabantio is also feeling jealousy. Brabantio’s relation to Desdemona is her father and he thinks that Desdemona is showing Othello more love than she is showing to him. He is saying that Othello has used some sort of “magic” to make his daughter fall in love with him. Nevertheless, Othello has only used nothing as their love is true. Othello says “she loved me for the dangers I have passed, and I loved her, that she did pity them. This is the only witchcraft I have used” Othello says that Desdemona fell in love with him because of the dangers and the adventure in his life. He says that this is the only form of magic he has used. Here he refers to charm. When Othello is referring to Desdemona, he is always gentle and delicate which shows his deep passion for her. “That I love the gentle Desdemona.” Othello treats her like she is his most precious possession and never wants to loose her.
Iago is very unhappy with the decision that Othello made to make Cassio Lieutenant. He is also jealous that Othello is a general and Iago will not ever have such a high status. However he could become lieutenant but Othello decided to give the job to someone else. This is the cause of many different consequences. These consequences were all very serious. The first reaction that Iago thought of is revenge. “Poison his delight” this quotation is aimed at Othello by Iago. He is trying to say that he will get him back for not making him his lieutenant. He also says “plague him with flies.” This shows that he really does want to get revenge and will do anything to get it. The strong vocabulary shows how serious Iago is and how agitated this is making him. He finds many devious ways in which he can wrap Othello around his finger and get him to believe what he wants to. This is why Iago can be described as manipulative, cunning and very dishonest. He gets Othello to believe that he is an honest man. Othello soon refers to Iago as “Honest Iago.” However as the reader, I know that this is very ironic as Iago is totally the opposite of honest. Even Iago says “As honest as I am” which is also very ironic for the same reason.
Iago’s jealousy drives him wild literally. Out of this jealousy, Iago tells Roderigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio. He does this start off his scheming, “Desdemona is directly in love with him” this is Iago referring to Cassio whilst talking to Roderigo. This causes jealousy to catch on to Roderigo as well. Now that Roderigo thinks that Desdemona is after Cassio, he feels envy towards Cassio. This is the first example which shows that jealousy is like a “web” or a “mesh” as Iago describes it. People are getting caught up in the web of jealousy, and is almost as if the jealousy is contagious.
Iago expresses his jealousy with Cassio very deceitfully. He makes Cassio drunk by making him drink to his promotion. Cassio refuses at first, but Iago uses his skilled methods and persuasive manner to make Cassio drink until he is drunk. Here Iago calls for help, knowing that Othello will come. When Othello sees Cassio in such a state, he is entitled to take away his promotion. “Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter.” This is exactly what Iago wanted. And is one of the disastrous tragic consequences of jealousy. After this, Cassio still refers to Iago as “honest” which shows that Cassio has no idea that Iago is the character scheming his fall.
Now that Cassio has lost his position as Lieutenant, Iago is satisfied and schemes to bring Othello to the same sort of break down. “I’ll pour this pestilence to his ear” this is Iago referring to Othello. By this, he means that he will persuade Othello that there is something going on with Cassio and Desdemona. He starts this by a very important quote in the play. Iago says “Ha! I like not that” he says this when he is with Othello and sees Cassio with Desdemona in the distance. However, the technique he said this simple quote started to “enmesh” Othello in the net of jealousy. Iago says this and makes Othello believe that he is not in actuality meant to hear it, whereas in reality he is. This makes Othello’s trust in Iago develop and starts to become suspicious of his wife, Desdemona. After he has said this, he says to Othello “did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady know of your love?” this makes Othello even more suspicious and now. The word “honest” appears frequently and Othello realises and says to Iago “alas, thou echoest me” Othello feels as if there is something that “honest Iago” is hiding from him. As Iago has dropped some subtle hints, Othello thinks that he knows, but Iago acts as if he knows nothing.
Very ironically Iago says “men should be what they seem” however the jealousy that he is experiencing is causing him not to be what he seems.
Now that Othello is also feeling jealous of the Cassio and Desdemona situation, Iago takes advantage and says to Othello “I speak not yet of proof. Look at your wife; observe her well with Cassio.” This makes Othello’s jealousy grow even bigger. Othello now looks at Iago as a friend and believes what ever Iago says. This is exactly what Iago wants.
After all of the manipulating that Iago does, Othello says “within these three days let me hear thee say that Cassio’s not alive.” He says that out of the jealousy that has become very difficult to control in him. He now wants to have Cassio killed. He has also developed hatred for his wife, he says “O damn her” as he thinks that she is not being faithful to him. This makes Othello’s personality change. He goes through a time where he turns almost into a “monster” because of the jealousy.
Usually, when Othello addresses Desdemona, he does so delicately, however Desdemona has noticed that he is not acting as he usually does. “Why do you speak so startlingly and rash?”
Othello asks Desdemona for “the handkerchief.” this handkerchief plays a critical role in the play. The reason is this was the first gift given to Desdemona from Othello. Iago has got his hands on this handkerchief as his wife has given it to him as he told her to do earlier. Iago has placed this handkerchief in Cassio’s room. And when Othello is asking for it from Desdemona, she is unable to give it to him as she does not know where it is. While Othello is asking her about the handkerchief, Desdemona innocently says “you’ll never meet a more sufficient man.” Here she is referring to Cassio, and the lies that Iago has told Othello are all making him feel even more envious. Othello’s speech becomes incoherent and disjointed as al; he can say back to Desdemona is “the handkerchief.”
Othello becomes emotional distressed because of Iago’s scheming and ruthless mind. Othello falls into an “epilepsy” as a result of these lies. When he recovers, Iago says “have you hurt your head?” as Othello is completely wrapped in Iago’s lies, he thinks that Iago is referring to cuckold horns. Earlier on in the play, if Iago was to say such a comment, the thought of his wife being unfaithful to him would not have occurred to his mind; however it is clear and evident that Iago has had a substantial effect on him.
Othello becomes mentally distraught and anxious. He starts to think of ways to kill her. This is a major element of the play. “For she shall not live”. Othello says this in reference to Desdemona, and he also says “I will chop her into messes.” This is all a results of Iago’s evil scheming. This is the effect that is a consequence of the jealousy created by Iago. Eventually, Othello “smother” Desdemona with the pillow to death. This is the main tragic consequence of the jealousy.
In conclusion, it is fair to say that Iago did “enmesh” the characters in his net of jealousy and did so successfully. However, Iago’s lies caught up to him, as in the end, Othello knew what he had done, as he “strikes” Iago. He used carefully structured sentences to achieve this. “Ha. I like not that” is a very good example of this. It is clear that Iago is also capable of portraying what he wants in what ever character he pleases to do so in. he uses evidence that is not proper proof and makes it seem as real as reality. And example of this is “the handkerchief.”
After noticing what jealousy is capable of, it is clear why Iago says that jealousy is a “green – eyed monster.” Jealousy did not only acquire dead bodies like Desdemona, but ruined the true love that Desdemona and Othello shared.