Examples Of Jealousy In Othello

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Jealousy: Life’s Greatest Poison Jealousy is like poison, while love is the remedy. Humans often make the mistake of trusting themselves instead of trusting others. They trust what seems to be the truth, and do not listen no matter how much they value the person contradicting what they believe to be the truth. Othello made this grave mistake towards his wife Desdemona. No matter how many times Desdemona proved her faithfulness to Othello, he still trusted what others accused her of. He trusted his eyes, and not his heart. Jealousy ruined Othello and Desdemona’s relationship, stripped him of all his valor, and led to both his and his wife’s death. When Iago originally proposed the idea of Desdemona being unfaithful towards him with his lieutenant Cassio, Othello should have immediately denied it. Desdemona had shown …show more content…
Iago tells Othello that Cassio mutters in his sleep of performing sexual immoralities toward Desdemona, as well as professes his anger towards Othello for taking her away from him. When Othello hears this he says, “But this denoted a foregone conclusion. ‘Tis a shrewd doubt’, though it be but a dream” (Shakespeare 1345). When Iago begins to show other “proofs” that Desdemona is being unfaithful towards Othello with his friend Cassio, Othello falls into the deep pit of jealousy, and begins to act hostile towards his wife. He speaks aggressively to her and accuses her of losing a handkerchief that Othello gifted to her as a token of his affection as shown by the following quote, “‘Is’t lost? Is’t gone? Speak, it it out o’ the way?’ ‘Heaven bless us!’ ‘Say you?’” (Shakespeare 1349). Othello shows no trust towards his wife. He begins to slander her and treat her as if she is worthless, when in reality he loves her. However, Iago has planted a seed of jealousy in his heart, and it begins to destroy his relationship with someone he loves so