Excessive Jealousy In Shakespeare's Othello

In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the excessive jealousy and lack of trust between the characters determine each of their own fates, if the characters can get past the jealousy and learn to trust each other will decide life or death. Iago, Othello, and Roderigo all become envious of Michael Cassio and of each other for their own reasons. The male characters, excluding Cassio, gain vulnerability against Cassio that which eventually erupt into the violent end of those characters lives. Iago envies Michael Cassio due to rumors of Cassio sleeping with Emilia, Iago’s wife “A fellow almost damned in a fair wife…”(Shakespeare, 1.1.21). The hatred grows stronger when the title of lieutenant, which the two ran for, is awarded to Cassio. In the beginning, the desired position of lieutenant stands up for grabs between Iago, the experienced war hero, and Michael Cassio, the mathematician. Othello, as the general, holds the authority to make the decision of whom receives the position of lieutenant. When Othello awards Cassio the lieutenant position, Iago becomes enraged with Othello. Cassio rants to Roderigo how inadequate Cassio is as a soldier, and that he withholds the true experience necessary for the
Roderigo has a strong love for desdemona desiring to be with her. Roderigo feels jealous of Cassio because of how much Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, prefers Cassio over him. Brabantio does not appreciate Roderigo’s attempts for his daughter, continuously rejecting his love for Desdemona claiming “I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors.”(1.1.107) meaning that he wishes to not even have Roderigo in his presence, stating bluntly to Roderigo “In honest plainness thou hast heard me say My daughter is not for thee.”(1.1.108). Roderigo’s continuous pursuit of Desdemona stays driven by Iago's manipulation making him jealous until the point of Roderigo’s