Journal #3 Role Played By Jealousy in Othello
In the play Othello, By William Shakespeare, The plot revolves around the emotion of jealousy. Jealousy is the emotion that captivates many characters in the play and causes the plot to develop. Some characters who are captivated by jealousy are Othello, Iago, And Roderigo. Iago’s jealousy towards Othello is the cause for his revenge against him. He displays this jealousy from the very beginning of the play and spawns plots for revenge because of this. Iago feels jealousy towards Othello because he had given the role of lieutenant to Michael Cassio. Michael Cassio was much less qualified than him but even so, he had attained the position. Another reason for Iago being jealous towards Othello is because he had a suspicion that Othello had slept with his wife Emilia. Iago expresses “And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets/He’s done my office”(I.iii.380-381).This insecurity and jealousy he feels leads him to commit acts of revenge. As he becomes fixed on the idea of revenge, Iago speaks in a soliloquy he will not be satisfied "Till I am evend with him, wife for wife, /Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor / At least into a jealousy so strong / That judgment cannot cure" (I.ii.291-294).
