Othello Critical

Travis Gordon ELA 30-1 October 3rd, 2012 Jealousy, the planetary feeling weve all experienced at one time or another. Whether it be the newest piece of technology that someone has that you dont and respect you did, or that kid on the playground that had those new light up shoes that were all the rage. Jealousy is not something that can be avoided, yet controlled. It sneaks up on you, akin a tree root sneaks up on concrete before it breaks to the surface.In William Shakespeares tragedy Othello, jealousy is a key component used by umteen characters as a weapon that is twisted and manipulated to serve their own deaths. Iago, a deceitful and manipulative snake or the ironic pseudonym Honest Iago uses jealousy as a way of getting what he wants without realizing nor caring just about the ricochet of repercussions his actions have on the people around him. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy It is the green-eyed monster, which doth treat The meat it feeds on.That cuckold lives in bliss Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger however O, what damned minutes tells he oer Who dotes, yet doubtssuspects, yet strongly loves (III,iii,) He refers to jealousy as a green-eyed monster, because it is a scary thing to behold when it gets out of hand. Once it is unleashed, it is not well contained. Once he contaminates Othellos mind with the thoughts of Desdemona being unfaithful to him, and mouse around behind his back with his lieutenant Cassio, it spreads like a wildfire deep down Othellos head.He begins to doubt himself. Although he knows in his heart Desdemona to be unbowed to him, he cant help tho think about the false accusations Iago has impregnated his mind with. Another character Iago manages to control with the raw billet of jealousy is Roderigo. Iago manages to convince Roderigo that if he puts money in thy purse, Iago go out make it so Roderigo can be together with Desdemona. This is a irradiate example of how easy it is to control a person at on ce you work them a false hope of something that could never be. What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so fond but it is not in my virtue to amend it. (I,iii,317-318) Roderigo admits to Iago that he is overcome with jealousy for Desdemona, but it isnt within his character to change the way he feels towards her. Iago sees an prospect to make a profit from Roderigos misfortunes and sets him on a worried quest to be with the woman he loves. The ideas Iago plants into Roderigo, once they are rooted deep inside him, start to teem like weeds in an unkempt garden.It is a dream that in the end costs Rodrigo more than just his wealth. He pays the iron price, with his life. Jealousy, when set upon a person who has already harboured inside them, it spreads. Once it spreads, it is no easy line of work to eliminate or control. We see this in Othello, as it costs many of the characters their lives, because of a feeling false hope and manipulation, in the hope that what they wanted would be theirs.