We are able to see that the person who influences Othello’s jealousy to become real is Iago. Although it is Iago that prompts Othello, the audience have an angered feeling against him as Othello doesn’t question Iago which is also absurd. It is ironic that Othello has so much trust in Iago yet Iago despises Othello so much. Also he is not able to see Iago as the destruction and this can be recognised as one of the tragic elements in Othello that make the novel a tragedy.
‘’Away at once with love or jealousy.’’ (Act 3, Scene 3, Lines: 194, Page: 68)
This quotation shows irony as Othello is denying that he will let himself be destroyed by jealousy yet although he is unable to see this, Iago is encouraging him to be jealous and convincing him into breaking his relationship with Desdemona. Through this quotation the reader is able to identify that Othello can be mislead easily and it suggests that it is inevitable that Othello will be lead through the path of jealousy. Shakespeare may have done this in order to be able to reveal Othello’s character to the audience to show Othello’s true self as someone who is deceived easily and through this the audience may be able to see a soft side to Othello and in many cases may also sympathise with him. Iago takes advantage of this by playing with one of the strongest human emotions and brings Othello to his downfall. Iago's warnings against jealousy have the effect that he was probably looking for: Othello denies that he is jealous. From Iago's point of view, this is a good sign, just as was Cassio's denial that he was drunk. Othello doesn't believe that he is the sort of person who can be jealous, because for him . Othello here uses the word "once" in both the sense of "as soon as" and in the sense of "finally." He means that as soon as he is in doubt he will resolve that doubt once and for all.
At first Othello was seen as a cautious character and the audience would interpret him as more annoyed than jealous. Iago presents Othello with ‘real’ evidence that suggests that there is a relationship between Cassio and Desdemona,which Iago does by offering many ‘proofs’ to Othello, most of which are created through deceitful means. There are weak points in Othello that make him think negative because of the influences around him and can create distances between him and Desdemona. However, this helps Iago to create true jealousy in a simple man such as Othello.
‘’Haply, for I am black
and have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have, or for I am declined
Into the vale of years,—yet that's not much—
She's gone. I am abused; and my relief
must be to loathe her’’ (Act 3, Scene 3, Lines: 265-70, Page: 70-71)
This quotation suggests that Othello comes up with reasons why Desdemona might cheat on him; he comes up with reasons such as race. He thinks that because he is black Desdemona may decide to betray him and implies that she is cheating on him with a white man. Desdemona is portrayed as a character who loves Othello very much despite him being a race that many people would find difficult to accept at that certain period. Shakespeare may have done this to emphasise on the fact that it is ironic that Desdemona being a woman has less power than Othello however because of Othello’s race, Desdemona could be seen in the audience’s view as someone who has the more dominant role in the relationship but does not use it to her full advantage. Othello is shown as someone who acknowledges this yet jealousy brings him into doubting Desdemona who had enough power to break the relationship between them as Othello’s jealousy started to progress. However this quotation could be interpreted in a different direction, Iago influences Othello’s thoughts of being curious of Desdemona marrying Othello although he was black, and therefore Othello is depicted as someone who’s more dependent on other people such as Iago rather than the love of his life Desdemona which questions whether he really loves Desdemona.
Iago suggests that there is something unnatural about the way that Desdemona married Othello despite him being black and Othello doesn’t disagree with this statement.
‘’ Ay, there's the point: as—to be bold with you—
Not to affect many proposed matches
of her own clime, complexion, and degree’’ (Act 3, Scene 3, Lines: 230-233, Page:69)
Nevertheless, the way Iago creates the jealousy is through planting little seeds of doubt about Desdemona in Othello's mind as the drama progresses. Iago does this gradually which shows the jealousy steadily continuing at a moderately slow speed as the reader starts to read the drama. His jealousy grows at a slow speed as Iago makes Othello give reason for his jealousy so that he doesn’t accuse Iago of anything happening between the relationships. Iago tries to make Othello feel that Desdemona has married him for a reason. Shakespeare may have done this to make readers more intrigued about whether it was true love or lust that made Othello and Desdemona marry. This can be seen as there are many times through the drama when they are about to consummate their marriage however there is always something that comes in between. Also, by showing how easily Iago makes Othello and Desdemona’s relationship break because of jealousy, he may be trying to get across to the reader that love does not exist and that is why the relationship between Othello and Desdemona was weak, therefore the speed of the jealousy could be seen through the weakness of the relationship.
It can also be seen as absurd because of Iago’s tactics used are seen as obvious to the audience reading. A strategy used by Iago is the way that he repeats the word ‘’honest’’ continuously throughout Act 3 scene 3. It can be seen as almost insulting Othello as he is seen as someone ‘’honest’’ yet Iago is misusing the word in front of Othello. Also, it is ironic as well as absurd that Iago is seen as an insider to Othello yet because of his name Iago being a shortened name for Santiago which is a Spanish name would automatically cause distrust between Iago and the audience because of the Spanish armada. Therefore it is absurd that his name reflects upon himself and is something that the character of Othello is not able to see through. The cunningness of Iago is also something absurd as Othello is portrayed as a character that is clever yet Iago’s twisting of words can be seen as a barrier between Othello being able to see the real Iago. This can be seen as Iago feigning reluctance to speak in Act 3 Scene 3 can justify Othello for not doubting Iago, as when Iago is showing his feelings as so strongly by acting reluctant there should be no reason for Othello to doubt Iago.
In conclusion, Othello’s jealousy and the speed at which it develops is absurd to an extent that his jealousy developed throughout the first acts of the drama gradually, as before Act 3 Scene 3, more than his jealousy being real it was just the character of Othello doubting Desdemona which was lead by Iago. However, his jealousy for Desdemona was justified even though it was a feeling that should have been avoided by the character of Othello as it shows his love for her in an absurd way. Othello’s tragic downfall can be seen as the trust that he has in Iago. When Iago tells Othello that Desdemona has already deceived her father, his doubts on Desdemona start to become clearer and the jealousy develops at an absurd speed. The speed of the jealousy can be seen as absurd because there are points in the drama when Othello doubts himself. He tries to clear the jealousy yet he fails at doing this because of Iago being a barrier, therefore sometimes his jealousy becomes more and sometimes it is less.
Word Count: 1578
by
heartoftheocean (student)
