Specimen Othello – William Shakespeare
‘Othello is more about the absurdity of jealousy
than its destructive power.ʼ
Specimen
Othello – William Shakespeare ‘Othello is more about the absurdity of jealousy than its
destructive power.ʼ To what extent do you agree with this view? Remember to include in your
answer relevant comment on Shakespeareʼs dramatic methods. [25 marks]
Jealousy being introduced through Act I – Iagoʼs jealousy of Cassio and his class position.
Iagoʼs personal jealousy mirrored onto Othello.
Jealousy because of the handkerchief.
Emiliaʼs beliefs about jealousy.
As Iago utters the words “beware my lord, of jealousy: it is the green-eyed monster which doth
mock the meat it feeds on”. This rhetoric by Iago is what caused ‘Othelloʼ to go down in theatre
history as a play believed to be surrounding the consequences and beginnings of jealousy. In
this essay I will discuss to what extent ‘Othello is more about the absurdity of jealousy than its
destructive powerʼ.
It is Iagoʼs jealousy however not Othelloʼs which is firstly revealed in Act I Scene I where Iago
also reveals one of the possible sources of his “motive hunting of motiveless malignity”
(Coleridge). He states to Roderigo that he is angry that he has been surpassed for a promotion
of ‘lieutenantʼ which was instead given to the “spinster” and Florentine Michael Cassio. This is
ultimately what causes Iago to entrap Cassio within his web of deceit and manipulation forming
another tragic victim. It is Iagoʼs jealousy therefore of Cassioʼs class position which Othello
denied him alongside Cassioʼs “goodness” which spurs the plays action. Iagoʼs jealousy and
motivation can therefore be seen as being that of the worker. The worker who was denied a
promotion which would have elevated him into the upper class alongside Othello, Desdemona,
and Cassio. Later on in the play, when Othello asks Iago why he so readily will kill Cassio for him
he replies that Cassio “hath a daily beauty about him which makes me ugly”. This can be
interpreted as masculine jealousy at Cassioʼs attractiveness and success as a solider
emphasised by the fundamentally cruel way in which Iago seeks to ruin Cassioʼs “reputation”
alongside Othelloʼs. His repeated references to the 16th century phallic term “hand” when
describing Cassio; “did you not see her paddle with the palm of his hand?” (to Roderigo in Act II
Scene I) also emphasises his masculine envy as it becomes clear that Iago associates
masculine virility exhibited in the term “hand” with the man Cassio. However, the reference to
“daily beauty” can also be seen as a presentation of Iagoʼs jealousy of Cassioʼs “goodness”
which he uses to cast the “net that shall enmesh them all”. As Iago is a Malcontent, unsatisfied
with human existence and his own socio-economic condition in society, Cassio is the opposite.
He appears to represent “the better man” as critics have stated and this makes Iago jealous as
‘Othello is more about the absurdity of jealousy
than its destructive power.ʼ
Specimen
Othello – William Shakespeare ‘Othello is more about the absurdity of jealousy than its
destructive power.ʼ To what extent do you agree with this view? Remember to include in your
answer relevant comment on Shakespeareʼs dramatic methods. [25 marks]
Jealousy being introduced through Act I – Iagoʼs jealousy of Cassio and his class position.
Iagoʼs personal jealousy mirrored onto Othello.
Jealousy because of the handkerchief.
Emiliaʼs beliefs about jealousy.
As Iago utters the words “beware my lord, of jealousy: it is the green-eyed monster which doth
mock the meat it feeds on”. This rhetoric by Iago is what caused ‘Othelloʼ to go down in theatre
history as a play believed to be surrounding the consequences and beginnings of jealousy. In
this essay I will discuss to what extent ‘Othello is more about the absurdity of jealousy than its
destructive powerʼ.
It is Iagoʼs jealousy however not Othelloʼs which is firstly revealed in Act I Scene I where Iago
also reveals one of the possible sources of his “motive hunting of motiveless malignity”
(Coleridge). He states to Roderigo that he is angry that he has been surpassed for a promotion
of ‘lieutenantʼ which was instead given to the “spinster” and Florentine Michael Cassio. This is
ultimately what causes Iago to entrap Cassio within his web of deceit and manipulation forming
another tragic victim. It is Iagoʼs jealousy therefore of Cassioʼs class position which Othello
denied him alongside Cassioʼs “goodness” which spurs the plays action. Iagoʼs jealousy and
motivation can therefore be seen as being that of the worker. The worker who was denied a
promotion which would have elevated him into the upper class alongside Othello, Desdemona,
and Cassio. Later on in the play, when Othello asks Iago why he so readily will kill Cassio for him
he replies that Cassio “hath a daily beauty about him which makes me ugly”. This can be
interpreted as masculine jealousy at Cassioʼs attractiveness and success as a solider
emphasised by the fundamentally cruel way in which Iago seeks to ruin Cassioʼs “reputation”
alongside Othelloʼs. His repeated references to the 16th century phallic term “hand” when
describing Cassio; “did you not see her paddle with the palm of his hand?” (to Roderigo in Act II
Scene I) also emphasises his masculine envy as it becomes clear that Iago associates
masculine virility exhibited in the term “hand” with the man Cassio. However, the reference to
“daily beauty” can also be seen as a presentation of Iagoʼs jealousy of Cassioʼs “goodness”
which he uses to cast the “net that shall enmesh them all”. As Iago is a Malcontent, unsatisfied
with human existence and his own socio-economic condition in society, Cassio is the opposite.
He appears to represent “the better man” as critics have stated and this makes Iago jealous as
