Jealousy in Othello and My Last Duchess

Iago also hates Othello for possibly sleeping with his wife Emilia. Due to revenge, driven by Iago’s hatred towards Othello, Iago makes up stories that Cassio had an affair with Othello’s wife, Desdemona. Therefore, the story is mainly about the battle between Othello and Iago in both their professional life in the military and their personal lives. Iago’s bitterness arises from the first scene when Iago is passed over for lieutenant in favor of Cassio, and from their onwards, Iago makes plans to avenge Othello. As a result, jealousy is highly demonstrated in the story even from the first scene (Mussari 01). Othello, to begin with, succumbs to jealousy during the time when Iago completely convinces him that his wife, Desdemona was being unfaithful which makes Othello in the end kill her and kills himself.

In this case, jealousy leads to the destruction of lives. Iago, on the other hand, is jealous of Othello and that jealousy is the main reason behind the hatred Iago had towards Othello. At some point, Iago believes that Othello was sleeping with his wife, Emilia. Therefore, in the play, jealousy is in the form of both professional competition and sexual suspicion, but in all forms, it’s destructive at the end. Iago hatred and jealousy is also presented in the form of professional competition which is demonstrated when Iago describes Cassio with so much hatred stating that “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damned in a fair wife, That never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows, More than a spinster-Unless the bookish theoric” (Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 1, p21).

In this sense, Iago hatred for Othello was due to the fact that Othello exceeded Iago over an advancement giving Cassio the errand as his military lieutenant rather than Iago. According to Iago as demonstrated in the above statement, he is more skilled and qualified compared to Cassio and unlike him, Cassio does not have skills and experience in the field of battle. However, the truth is that Iago is only jealous of Cassio. Mussari supports this argument stating that Shakespeare generally demonstrates the tragic consequences in the story by permitting jealousy to rule over the behavior of the characters like the case of Iago (01). Her husband’s presence only, called that spot, Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek” (Browning lines13-15). This demonstrates that the Dukes was highly jealous of the Duchess took joy in something besides him.

Based on the poem, the Duchess shows her pleasure through blushing and smiling involuntarily and as a way of thanking the people, however, the Duke describes it in such a manner as though it was slain when he says “spot of joy. ” According to Guthrie, Browning demonstrated the motives of the Duke as a sexual rivalry for his wife’s attention which leads to his high levels of jealousy (07). Additionally, the Duke is also jealous of the painter who actually painted the portrait of the Duchess as demonstrated when he says, “Frà Pandolf chanced to say, "Her mantle laps Over my lady’s wrist too much," or "Paint Must never hope to reproduce the faint Half-flush that dies along her throat" (Browning lines16-19). Internet resource. Browning, R. “My Last Duchess.

” Poetry Foundation. Retrieved from https://www. Jealousy and destruction in William Shakespeare’s Othello. Crossing the Border: International Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Volume 4; Number 1; 15 April 2016. ISSN 2350-8752 (Print); ISSN 2350-8922 (Online) Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice. Print.