Loyalty And Jealousy In Shakespeare's Othello

Friendship is a special bond between two or more people. This relationship is built on the basis of trust, loyalty and honesty. In the play Othello, Shakespeare demonstrates these qualities through many of his characters to portray their deep friendships. However as the play progresses these friends turn into foes as many problems occur in their friendships and lead to many tragic events. The negative qualities that tore these friendships apart are distrust, selfishness and jealousy that led many of the characters to their tragedies. In the play Othello, Shakespeare demonstrates that there are many causes of the problems that occur in certain friendships.

In Shakespeare 's Othello, many friendships showed a lack of trust which resulted into
The conflict between these two characters arose as Iago plants seeds of doubt into Othello 's mind about Cassio 's loyalty towards him. Othello 's trust in his friend Cassio was like a thin thread. It was very easy for Iago to succeed in his evil plans, for there was a lack of trust in their friendship. Iago manipulates Othello into believing that his honest wife Desdemona is having an affair with the loyal lieutenant Cassio. Although Iago gives no form of physical evidence, his convincing words are strong enough to allow such intense thoughts to enter Othello 's mind. As Iago states to Othello:"It is impossible you should see this,Were they as prime as goats, as hot as mnkeys,As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as grossAs ignorance made drunk." (3.3.402-405)Iago uses such intense imagery of Desdemona and Cassio sleeping together, that it forces Othello to be enraged with such anger at Cassio 's betrayal. After falling into Iago 's trap and believing his dishonest words, Othello says"Within these three days let me hear thee sayThat Cassio 's not alive." (3.3.472-473)All the anger and jealousy of
My wayward husband hath a hundred timesWoo 'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token,For he conjured her she should ever keep it,That she reserves it evermore about herTo kiss and talk to. I 'll have the work ta 'en outAnd give 't Iago: what he will do with itHeaven knows, not I;I nothing but to please his fantasy." (3.3.290-299)To take his selfish plan further, Iago uses his wife Emilia 's loyalty to his own advantage. During the time Emilia kept the handkerchief in her hands, Iago 's speech towards Emilia was very different.

"A good wench; give it me." (3.3.313)Wench is an informal word to describe a young woman. Throughout the play it is showed that Iago believed women are prostitutes and work at night. Iago 's use but dislike in women establishes his selfishness. Shakespeare demonstrates Iago 's selfish desires to be rank a higher position, through many events. Selfishness was portrayed by the character of Iago with his friend Roderigo as well. Iago advised Roderigo to send Desdemona some jewels and money by Iago, to gain Desdemona, his ex-fiancé back. Later it is found out that Iago never did present the gifts to Desdemona, but had kept it for himself. Iago even asks Roderigo to instigate a quarrel between Roderigo and Cassio, which would lead to the dismissal of Cassio 's position, as Cassio was drunk and all blame would fall on him. Iago continued to use Roderigo, as he states,"Thus