Othello: Jealousy

The main driving force of The Tragedy of Othello is the jealousy of the characters. Jealousy causes everything to move and causes the entire scheme. Iago is driven by the jealousy of Cassio having taken a position he rightly believed was his. Othello is lead to believe Desdemona having an affair with Cassio and is acting as a jealous lover. Roderigo is jealous of Othello for being Desdemona’s husband and feels like he should have her instead. The green-eyed monster is the one pulling the strings in this play, with little regard to life.
Iago is the first one to fall under jealousy’s hold and thus thinks up a scheme to destroy everyone who has crossed him. "I follow him to serve my turn upon him: / We cannot all be masters, nor all masters /
“Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore. Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof: Or by the worth of man's eternal soul, Thou hadst been better have been born a dog Than answer my waked wrath!”(Othello, Act 3, Scene 3, Line 359.). Othello begins to observe Desdemona’s interactions with Cassio and watch them closely for any sign of treachery. Othello then sees the handkerchief in the hands of Cassio’s mistress, Bianca, and quickly swears to kill Cassio and Desdemona.” Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night;for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand.” (Othello, Act 4, Scene 1, Line 195.). He then waits until the dead of night when Desdemona lays beside him, and softly kisses her brow before proceeding to strangle her. ”Ah balmy breath, that dost almost persuade Justice to break her sword! One more, one more. Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee, And love thee after. One more, and this the last: So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep, But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's heavenly; It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.”(Othello, Act 5, Scene 2, Line 16). Othello is then satisfied with his revenge, on Desdemona’s part at