othello jealousy essays

William Shakespeare

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Iago refers to jealousy as the "green-eyed monster." As this metaphor suggests, jealousy is closely associated with the theme of appearance and reality. For instance, at one point Othello demands that Iago provide "ocular proof" of Desdemona's infidelity—he demands to see reality. But Iago instead provides the circumstantial evidence of the handkerchief, which Othello, consumed by his jealousy, accepts as a substitute for "ocular proof." Othello's jealousy impedes his ability to distinguish between reality and appearance. While the prejudiced characters in the play denigrate Othello as an animal or a beast based on his race, Othello's obvious honor and intelligence makes these attacks obviously ridiculous. Yet when Othello is overcome by jealousy, he does become beast-like, falling into epileptic fits that rob him of the ability to speak intelligibly.

Othello is also not the only character in Othello to feel jealousy. Both Iago and Roderigo act to destroy Othello out of jealousy, with disastrous consequences.

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Theme of Jealousy in Othello by Shakespeare Research Paper

Writing a paper on Othello’s jealousy? Essays like the one below will point you in the right direction!

Introduction

Jealousy in othello, works cited.

The play Othello is among the most famous tragic plays written by Shakespeare. The story concentrates on four main characters namely Othello, Desdemona, Cassio and Lago. Due to its varied nature and the fact that it addresses important themes such as betrayal, love, death and jealousy, it is still performed in many theatres today.

It stands out as a unique play with a personal setting describing the aspirations and private lives of the main characters. The jealousy displayed by Othello and the villainous nature of Lago are some of the qualities that impress the readers of the play.

In addition, the relationship among the characters makes the play unique (Sparknotes 1).Othello and Lago show close associations which make it difficult to figure out who has the greatest responsibility in the play. Most importantly, the role played by Lago who is the villain distinguishes the play from others. Shakespeare addresses different themes in the play and this essay will discuss jealousy as one of the themes addressed in Othello by Shakespeare.

Shakespeare was one of the most prominent writers who ever lived. He was known for addressing various themes such as betrayal, death and love in his works as evidenced in his play Othello. However, theme of jealousy stands out from the start till the end of the play. As the play begins, Roderigo is presented as he tries to be close to Desdemona.

The theme runs throughout the play until the end, leaving Othello very angry and envious because he believes that Cassio and Desdemona have been entangled in an affair. The jealousy of some characters in the play is influenced by other characters. Lago is the greatest victim of this and creates lies and presents situations aimed at misleading the other characters. He exhibits jealousy towards Cassio and Othello because he was not appointed as a lieutenant.

Lago can be described as a jealous character since he wishes every other person could share in his feelings so he goes ahead to plant the seed of jealousy in other characters. He is driven by anger and envy and aims at instilling jealousy in all the other characters, an aim he achieves through manipulating and betraying them, particularly Othello.

The play begins with Roderigo’s desperate love for Desmodena after which he decides to pay Lago to take her from Othello. This is an important scene in the play since it depicts Lago as a villainous character.

The deeds of Lago and his words portray him as a manipulative character. He designs a plan to ruin Othello by calling him a thief since he has stolen the heart of Desmodena through witchcraft. He goes on to implore Roderigo to confront Desmodena’s father by telling him, ‘call up her father, rouse him…poison his delights…do, with like timorous accent and dire yell’ (Shakespeare 64).

In actual sense, Lago is not concerned about the heart of Roderigo. This implies that Roderigo’s love for Desdemona and the fact that he wants to be with her means nothing to Lago. His intentions are not geared towards helping Roderigo look for Desdemona but encourage Brabantio to pursue Othello because this would disturb him.

Lago perfects the art of speaking things that people would want to hear hence misleading them and making them react according to his plans. He is so witty in his diction to keep off any possible argument and confrontation.

He treats Othello in a manipulative manner when he convinces Roderigo to confront Desdemona’s father regarding the conduct of the daughter. Brabantio finds it difficult to believe the accusations leveled against her daughter by the two and dismisses them as absurd. He is angered by the two after they disturb him at night when he is asleep.

After this incident, Roderigo tries to justify his accusations but his actions only serve to further anger Brabantio. He refers to Roderigo as a villain while Roderigo calls him a senator. Brabantio is baffled by the remark made by Roderigo and sits back to reexamine the situation once more. After carefully re-examining the situation, his anger subsides and starts considering the stories told by the two especially when he discovers that Desdemona is not in her bed chamber (Sparknotes 3).

Lago chooses his words judiciously and expresses his views carefully. He knows what to say and the most appropriate time to say it in order to convince his listeners. He practices this especially when talking to Roderigo and Othello. He begins his talks with imperatives then follows them with self answered questions and concludes by making daring assertions.

The timing nature of Lago is evident when he speaks to Roderigo about the suspicions of Desdemona being in love with Othello. Lago brings out Othello as a deceitful person whose lies are believed by Desdemona. He then uses these lies to manipulate Roderigo by telling him that he is capable of distinguishing the relationship between Othello and Desdemona. However, what drives Lago to manipulate Othello is the jealousy he harbors towards him.

The actions of Lago and Othello are based on what they say and do. Both have hidden intentions of dominating over each other. Othello is seeking answers while Lago intends to manipulate those he considers to have hurt him. As a result, Lago manipulates the conversations to cause Othello create conclusions that suit him.

By using this strategy, Lago waits for Othello’s answer for him to craft a response that will increase his jealousy. For example, when Desdemona is seen with Cassio in a private place, Othello asks Lago about it. Lago answers Othello by telling him that he believes it was Cassio. Clearly, Lago evades the question asked by Othello but instead frames his own answer hence manipulating Othello to answer his own question (Shakespeare 65).

Lago employs suspicion, forestalled criticism, hints and twists reality. He frames the relationship between Cassio and Desdemona for the sake of convenience. He is so determined to ensure that Othello develops unending jealousy for Desdemona by insinuating that Desmodena is unfaithful.

The chance presents itself when Cassio and Desmodena are spotted together. Lago slyly comments about the behavior of the two, a comment that elicits serious thoughts in Othello and wonders what their intentions were. When Othello tries to get more information from Lago, he declines to give any information and this makes Othello more suspicious.

As a result, his jealousy towards Desdemona continues to grow. Lago uses implied communications to make sure that he achieves his goals. He manages to change the perceptions that Othello has towards Cassio and leaves him asking for more information. Othello tries to understand whether the accusations of unfaithfulness made by Lago against Desmodena are right.

Lago tells Othello that he should not continue thinking about the adulteries committed but instead Othello thinks about them deeply. He is persuaded by Lago and he develops jealousy towards Desmodena but never questions the two about the affair. Othello adheres to what he is told by Lago and relies on available predetermined evidence. For instance, when a handkerchief that belongs to Desdemona is found on the bed chamber of Cassio, he is convinced that Desdemona is unfaithful.

Othello’s jealousy towards Desdemona continues to increase and to him the only person who can be trusted is Lago because he seems concerned about his life. Lago is engaged in many secret strategies and manipulates him to move in the direction he wants by pretending to be an innocent person. This is a scheme that portrays Lago as a person who sympathizes with Othello but the case is different.

The deceitful nature of Lago is exhibited when he tells Othello that Desdemona lied to his father about marrying Othello. When Lago points out the past deeds of Desdemona, Othello continues developing jealousy towards her because she lied to her father regarding the marriage (Sparknotes 5).

Desdemona is represented as a mere pawn to Lago. In the first episodes of the play, Lago is not so much interested in her. He only mentions her when talking to Othello about her unfaithfulness.

Later in the development of the play, Lago feels threatened after Desdemona asks about his perception of women and how he depicts them. This compels Lago to express love that is not genuine simply because he has been forced to do so. However, this makes him angered and expresses his jealousy towards Desdemona till the end of the play.

The motivation of the evil acts that are perpetrated by Lago in the play is not brought out clearly in the play. He is angered and harbors intense jealousy towards other characters just because Cassio was appointed a lieutenant despite the fact that Lago was more experienced.

He too becomes jealous of Othello although his manipulative character is not justified by this jealousy towards Othello. The truth of the matter is that Lago is very jealous and strives towards developing the jealousy he has in other characters. He believes that he is the person undergoing a lot of suffering and wants other characters to develop anger and jealousy.

Lago comes out as one of the villainous characters in the works of William Shakespeare. What brings out this character is the fact that he secretly creates the trouble happening in the play but he pretends to be innocent and blameless such that nobody suspects him. He achieves this by applying manipulative strategies that end up betraying other characters.

He always tells lies that cause serious consequences but he expresses sympathy and is ever ready to share his secrets with somebody. It is not clear why Lago acts the way he acts and this makes him even more frightening. He is full of jealousy and wants every other person to feel as jealous as he is. The jealousy of Lago and his efforts to develop the same jealousy in others eventually leads into the deaths of many people and his own downfall.

Shakespeare, William. Othello. New York: Plain Label Books, 1968. Print.

SparkNotes. Themes, Motifs & Symbols . 2011. Web.

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Othello Essay: Jealousy.

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Othello Essay:

        William Shakespeare has written many prominent plays that were centered on a specific emotion that propelled the play forward and moved the story along. From Romeo and Juliet ’s love, to Hamlet ’s bitter anger and hate, Shakespeare and proven to be one of the greatest story writers of his time, and many times using his ability to play with emotions. Shakespeare’s 1603-04 play Othello  drove on the passion of jealousy; this emotion was the essence of the entire story, and is largely based on it. It initially placed the readers into a specific atmosphere, built character, unveiling the true side to various people in the script, and created the conflict of the entire play.

        Firstly, the atmosphere of the play is created due to this emotion of jealousy. This aspect of stories is important because it places the readers (or viewers of the play) in a direct relationship with the events unfolding. Since atmosphere is in a parallel with the emotions felt by the characters, it is only natural that the centre emotion felt by most of the people in the story, jealousy, is a main contributor to this atmosphere. Readers and viewers of Othello  feel a mood of suspicion, bitterness, and forced to feel surrounded by cloud of hate. “I hate the Moor / And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets” . The character, Iago, is quoted here claiming his hatred for Othello because he suspects that he had been sleeping with his wife, in the first act. The atmosphere fails to ever change throughout the entire play. It begins with Iago going through a jealous rage that General Othello did not give him the position of lieutenant, where in fact, he believes he deserved the spot. It sets the tone for the entire play, causing the viewers and readers to feel at an uncomfortable state, and this atmosphere never lets down. This atmosphere, however, is quite fitting for the plot of the play. A man engulfed in such rage that he cannot tame, forces him to irrationally and eventually hurts those he loves. The purpose of Othello  is to portray a tragedy, and the atmosphere parallels this purpose, driven by the emotion of jealousy introduced in this story.

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Secondly, the jealousy truly built characterization in this script and unveiled the true personalities of each individual character undergoing this emotion. In certain cases such as Iago and Roderigo, jealousy was a part of who they were and this was evident from the beginning of the play. However, jealousy also unveiled the type of person a specific character was, when the audience believed they had the character all figured out. Othello was initially viewed as a generous, often mistaken Moor, who only truly had love for his wife, despite the disbelief others had in judgment of him. Iago’s plan was to entertain thoughts of doubt against Othello towards his wife and causing him to believe that she was having an affair with his lieutenant, Michael Cassio. Othello, being naïve and trusting in Iago, faces an uncontrollable jealousy rage that leads him to lose all common sense and judgment. Othello eventually kills his wife, unable to control this “Green-eyed monster” in jealousy, and ultimately regrets his actions. What it evident throughout his entire jealous rage, however, is that Othello was not the calm, gentle, loving person he appeared to be. But rather that he had always lived with this “beast” inside of him, only calmed down due to his status in Venice. This is clear because when he goes on to kill Desdemona, he once again appears to be the sweet, gentle, loving man, not engulfed in jealousy, but still murders his wife. Iago was able to unleash this beast within Othello to go ahead with his evil deeds. This jealousy shows that Othello was only a wild, destructive man, living in a world where he was forced to tame himself.

        Lastly, jealousy was what really opened up the different areas of conflict within the play. Every stories need conflict; it creates action and draws the audience into the story, rather than repel them away. In the case of Othello , jealousy brought about conflict, it created the situation and also presented the action that this story required. Jealousy brought conflict upon even minor characters such as Roderigo. His jealousy of Othello, that this Moor had been married to the beautiful Desdemona, whom he loved, caused him to act foolishly and without correct judgment. He gave his up control of his own life and threw it into the hands of Iago, one who was only plotting evil. Throughout the entire first act, it is evident that Roderigo has placed his trust in Iago to make sure that Desdemona would surely fall in love with him. But it is also clear that Iago has other plans for Roderigo, and decides to manipulate him into doing his own selfish deeds. In the final act, the first scene, due to Iago’s twisted plans, Roderigo goes ahead and fights Cassio. As both of them fall, Iago takes advantage of this situation and kills Roderigo to make it appear as if he was murdered for the purpose to silence him. His plan fell through perfectly, in which the purpose was to act on his hatred for Michael Cassio. It is evident that jealousy even brought about conflict to minor characters, such as Roderigo, whom the audience does not learn too much about. Other than this, jealousy creates other conflicts such as Othello fighting with himself and trying to contain his jealousy, Othello with Desdemona, and Iago against Othello.

        Overall, it is evident that in the play of Othello , jealousy is a vital element that William Shakespeare uses to propel the play and move it along forward. Single-handedly, it creates the atmosphere, characterization, conflict, and therefore, action and different situations. To a large extent, this play depends on this emotion to move the story along and create the situations that this story plays off of to make a widely successful tragedy.

Othello Essay: Jealousy.

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Essay: Jealousy and Envy in Othello

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To understand the many dramatic occurrences that happened in this tragic story, A person must understand the motives of every character in the book. In the play Othello, jealousy and envy are prominent themes within the characters from the beginning to the end (Shmoop Editorial Team). As the play slowly unfolds it is evident that jealousy is the cause of most of the dramatic scenes. There are plenty of characters that are affected by jealousy and resentment in the play but, most importantly one of the main characters Othello. There is an antagonist character named Roderigo, who also suffers from jealousy. Roderigo is very eager to be with Desdemona, who is Othello’s wife. He refers to Othello as “thick lips” because Othello is a black man. Using a racist comment also shows how much Roderigo envy’s Othello as Desdemona loves him and not Roderigo. Also Iago’s scheme would not have worked without the underlying atmosphere of racial prejudice in the society, a prejudice of which both Desdemona and Othello are very aware. Shakespeare’s Desdemona copes with prejudice by denying it access to her own life. Her relationship with Othello is one of love, and she is deliberately loyal only to her marriage. Othello is not affected by the jealousy instantly. It shows that his love for Desdemona is true. Although people have doubted if their love for each other is true. Brabantio refers Othello’s love for Desdemona as “if she in chains of magic were not bound” this shows that Brabantio is also feeling jealousy. Brabantio’s relation to Desdemona is her father and he thinks that Desdemona is showing Othello more love than she is showing to him. He is saying that Othello has used some sort of “magic” to make his daughter fall in love with him. Nevertheless, Othello has used nothing because their love is true. Othello’s jealousy and envy comes from his public insecurity due to the fact that he’s black, and wont have the same treatment or level of respect as the other characters. Which makes him jealous of Cassio. Othello’s envy is so strong that It allows him to believe that Cassio has slept with Desdemona. What is fascinating about Shakespeare’s Othello is the way in which jealousy between the major characters is sexualized. That’s what makes Othello so disturbing is how quickly this sexualized jealousy turns into hate. For Othello and Iago love becomes hate, and hate becomes love and the difference between the two feelings are always being blurred. The reason that Iago hates Othello is because Iago hates himself. He hates himself because he is jealous of all the things that other people have in their lives and he doesn’t. Iago’s ambition in the play shows that he will do almost anything in order to get what he wants. Iago’s jealousy fuels his fiery hatred towards Othello and Cassio, as well as all of the other people in his life. At first Iago is jealous of Cassio’s position as lieutenant, but then it turns into more than that. Cassio had violated Desdemona’s purity and ruined the bond between Othello and himself. The bond between Othello and Cassio is symbolized by the way in which Othello makes Cassio his second wife after Desdemona. Cassio and Desdemona serve the same role in Othello’s life. Othello loves them both because he believes both possess what he lacks: culture, and noble blood. And both Desdemona and Cassio bring the respectability that Othello so desperately seeks out. It is important to note that Cassio and Desdemona provide no emotional support to Othello. This is because Othello’s idolization of both Desdemona and Cassio prevent him from confiding in them. Othello in the end comes to turn his love and admiration of Cassio into hatred in the same way he turns his feelings toward Desdemona into such a hatred that he was willing to kill her. Iago becomes jealous of Othello and Desdemona’s relationship doing anything he can to put a stop to it. Iago sees qualities that are in Othello and Cassio that aren’t in him and it makes him hate himself. In Othello, Cassio is the first person that Iago becomes jealous of. Cassio gets promoted to lieutenant, which angers Iago. It is because of that situation Iago dislikes Cassio. There really is no indication of why Iago acts in such a way which causes him to be even more frightening. He is masked with jealousy to which he wants everyone else to feel. In doing so, Iago causes the deaths of many and the downfall of himself. Although he hates him, Iago hates himself even more for not being able to secure his spot as lieutenant. Iago, being the villain of this tragedy, appeared to have a desire to reach out and destroy the loving, as well as the good in everything. For example, after he unsuccessfully tried to enrage Brabantio with Othello and Desdemona’s secret, he began the endless web of lies. As a result of all of Iago’s lies, each character gains a false feeling of jealousy. The reason the feelings are false are because, none of the lies are even close to being true. All of the characters are jealous for no reason considering everyone was innocent. Iago noticed Othello’s tendencies about his insecurity and overreaction, but not even Iago imagined Othello would go as far into jealousy as he did. Jealousy forces Othello’s mind so tightly on one idea, the idea that Desdemona has betrayed him with Cassio, that no other assurance or explanation can peek through. Such an obsession shows Othello’s reason, his common sense, and his respect for justice. Up to the moment Othello kills Desdemona, Othello’s growing jealousy maddens him. Upon seeing that she was innocent and that he killed her for no reason, Othello recovers. He can again see his life in proportion and grieve at the terrible thing he has done. Once again, he speaks with calm rationality, and finally killing himself. That’s what’s so tragic and also dramatic about the play. Othello didn’t deserve to die because of Iago and Cassio’s lies. In Othello, love is a force that overcomes large obstacles and is tripped up by small ones. It provides Othello with intensity but no direction and gives Desdemona access to his heart but not his mind. Types of love and what that means are different between different characters. Othello finds that love in marriage needs time to build trust, and his enemy works too quickly for him to take the time. The main attraction between the couple works on passion, and Desdemona builds on that passion. Which Othello cannot equal. Iago often falsely professes love in friendship for Roderigo and Cassio and betrays them both. For Iago, love is leverage. Desdemona’s love in friendship for Cassio is real but is misinterpreted by the jealous Othello as adulterous love. The true friendship was Emilia’s for Desdemona, shown when she stood up witness for the honor of her dead mistress, against Iago, her lying husband, and was killed for it. Appearance and reality are important aspects in Othello.Also they play a key role for the jealousy in Othello. For Othello, seeing is believing, and proof of the truth is visual. To “prove” something is to investigate it to the point where its true nature is revealed. Othello demands of Iago “Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, be sure of it, give me the ocular proof” (Act 3, Scene 3). What Iago gives him instead is imaginary pictures of Cassio and Desdemona to feed his jealousy. As Othello loses control of his mind, these pictures his thoughts. He looks at Desdemona’s whiteness and is taken into the traditional symbolism of white for purity and black for evil. Whenever he is in doubt, that symbolism comes back to haunt him and even with his experience, he cannot help but believe it. In Conclusion Shakespeare’s Othello takes the readers and audience though an emotional journey. Anyone who reads the book can look back on what they have gained from each aspect of the play and apply it to modern day times. The way Shakespeare’s play intertwines with modern day society makes the book valuable no matter what time period a person is in. It holds the issues of jealousy and how it will always be around. I think Shakespeare play could possibly expand the minds of everyone and show how real jealousy can get and how it can get fuled in all different kinds of ways. It is shown that basically, Shakespeare has included the antagonist nature of Iago, and the destructive, powerful nature of Othello to show a “theme and variation” on the typical image of jealousy the “green eyed monster” feeds on. Because of the powerful toxic nature of this beast of jealousy, the feelings of jealousy are able to be spread rapidly and contagiously in the different events in the play, from character to character, in Shakespeare’s play, Othello.

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Othello Jealousy

othello jealousy essays

Table of Contents

Introduction

The fundamental issue and the primary driving force of the plot of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Othello is definitely jealousy. This statement can be drawn by analyzing various familiar scenes of the play. Evidence of jealousy as a leading issue can be discovered in the characters and events throughout the development of events in the story. This essay examines and presents different insights that are the basis for Shakespeare’s portrayal of the meaning of this tragedy.

othello jealousy essays

Representation of jealousy in Othello

One of the events that clearly reflects the subject of jealousy is when Iago talks to Othello about the status in society and states: “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on” (Shakespeare 3.3.165-167), which definitely clearly reveals this theme through the dialogue between the two characters. Iago cautions his lord against jealousy with the help of metaphor. The character also emphasizes that reputation and status repeatedly suffer from feelings of jealousy. Iago further portrays jealousy as a monster to signify the fact that jealous behavior has not made life better for anyone. When Iago makes assumptions about Desdemona’s unfaithfulness and Othello forces him to reveal his suspicions and all that he is aware of, Iago warns Othello against surrendering to desire. Apparently, Iago delivers this warning with a boastful manner. Put differently, he completely understands that the very word “envy” and the injection of an enemy sight picture will intensify Othello’s inner feelings. Iago’s embodiment of envy as a “green-looked at beast” is widely known, and his use of the shade of green derives from the Renaissance belief that green was an “unkind shade” associated with the irregularity of the humors that aroused fear and cravings.

There is another significant piece of evidence for the idea of jealousy as the primary issue in the plot, the situation that reinforces this concept when Iago states: “Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ: this may do something” (Shakespeare 3.3.322- 324) In this scene, the subject is represented through the way Iago delivers these words in a brief monologue where he is consulting a group of the audience about his revenge plan and arrangement to place Desdemona’s hanky in Cassio’s room. Here, the hanky refers to a simple literary metaphor of “trifle light as air”, the cloth itself inherently not carrying much meaning. In any event, being aware that Othello’s jealousy and anxiety have merely intensified, Iago draws conclusions and guesses that Othello will exaggerate the significance of the hanky, taking it as a “proof of the holy writ”, as evidence straight from the Bible. Hence, in this situation, the prevailing approach to coping with jealousy, uncontrollable incessant anger and humiliation is violence, with the assumption that the woman should be penalized for her wrongdoing, rather than enabling her to improve her behavior and take responsibility for what happened by returning to the former informal relationship.

othello jealousy essays

Furthermore, William Shakespeare conveys the particular importance of the problem of jealousy in the act when Emilia says: “But jealous souls will not be answer’d so; They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they are jealous: ’tis a monster Begot upon itself, born on itself.” (Shakespeare 3.4.159-164) As we can understand, this quote obviously reinforces the theme as Emilia declares these words to Desdemona, in an attempt to explain the fanciful idea of jealousy. Thus, the woman presents her reasoning and reveals her vision of jealousy. Although envious people can give justifications for their actions and feelings and even rationalize them, jealousy itself is a separate feeling that arises without specific reasons and preconditions, and it should not be supported. After all, jealous people are inherently negative and malicious. With Emilia’s words, Shakespeare skillfully provides metaphors to paint a picture of envy as a beast that breeds itself. Emilia’s vision is complemented by the “green-eyed monster” Iago.

In general, this essay provides undeniable evidence of Shakespeare’s representation of jealousy as the leading and most significant theme in the play. The author uses a variety of literary techniques and metaphors to explain this familiar feeling more clearly and vividly. In addition, the feeling of jealousy arises in the characters of the play, presenting the audience a unique vision of this problem. At long last, it is jealousy that becomes the driving force that leads to the tragedy and death of several characters.

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Yesterday, lawmakers in Gambia voted to advance legislation that would legalize female genital cutting. Local analysts believe it is likely to pass.

Women have achieved so much social progress worldwide. Yet genital cutting is still on the rise. Today, 230 million women and girls around the world have been cut, a 15 percent rise from 2016. In Africa and the Middle East, several countries still permit the practice, and in many others, laws are erratically enforced.

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Most of the people who’ve been cut are from Africa. The practice is almost universal in Somalia and in Guinea, and more than 80 percent of girls undergo the procedure in Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Mali and Sierra Leone. But it also happens in some communities in Iraq, Yemen, Indonesia and Malaysia.

In Africa, the population is growing faster than efforts to stop genital mutilation, which explains why the number of girls who are cut is rising.

Most anti-cutting campaigners locate the roots of the custom in ideas about virginity and control over women’s sexuality. Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered mummies from the fifth century B.C. with mutilated genitals. An archaeologist who studies sites in Somaliland says cutting began as a form of divine sacrifice. Other scholars argue that it is spread across such a vast array of cultures that it was adopted independently by different groups.

Cutting was first recognized as a human rights violation in 1993, in a United Nations resolution . In 1995, governments met in Beijing and pledged to work toward eliminating female genital mutilation. Organizations like the United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, led the charge in the 2000s, framing it as a human rights issue.

But getting communities to abandon longstanding cultural traditions proved difficult. Laws often went unenforced. Even when they are in place, parents may have their daughters cut because they consider social ostracism to be harsher than legal penalties.

Gambia forbade genital cutting in 2015. The government didn’t try in earnest to enforce the ban until last year. Then local religious leaders revolted. They started a movement to overturn the measure.

Campaigners have had more success listening to communities and talking to them about the downsides of cutting — including severe pain, infections, complications in childbirth and of course the refusal to let women and girls determine what happens to their bodies.

My colleague Stephanie Nolen recently wrote about Burkina Faso . There, anti-cutting advocates worked with religious leaders, especially young ones, to change people’s minds. As a result, the share of girls between ages 15 and 19 who were cut has fallen by about half in the past three decades, to 39 percent.

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Pro-cutting voices have often portrayed bans as a Western imposition. Criticism of the West and of neocolonialism is on the rise across Africa, particularly among digitally connected young people, so this message could catch on. Africa’s population is projected to nearly double over the next 25 years. And the population is growing quickly in countries where cutting is the most entrenched, meaning many more girls could be cut in the coming decades.

One Gambian anti-cutting advocate I spoke to, Fatou Baldeh, thought cutting could be ended in a generation. After all, a woman who has not been cut is unlikely to have her daughter cut. But campaigners will have to work quicker and smarter to win over the people who believe it is a sacrosanct cultural ritual. In some places, more women than men say the practice should persist. Reaching them will require outreach and persuasion. Experts say there has not been enough in Gambia.

Baldeh said the bill to overturn the ban — and the silence from people she thought would speak against it — made her realize that cutting had deeper roots than she’d understood. Gambian lawmakers were afraid to touch it. They voted 42-4 to advance the bill that would eventually repeal the measure.

Related: Young women in Sierra Leone are defying their mothers and grandmothers by refusing to undergo genital cutting .

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Here are columns by Paul Krugman on Americans’ negative feelings on the economy and Michelle Goldberg on how we can help children get offline .

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“Competitive socializing”: In London, pubs have created more elaborate drinking games to attract customers.

Wildlife: A new study complicates the idea that animals thrived while people were stuck at home during the pandemic.

Ask Vanessa: “ My pants no longer fit . Should I get rid of them or keep them in case?”

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Remembering forgetting: In 2004, Charlie Kaufman’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” stunned audiences. Twenty years later, the movie — about a woman named Clementine (Kate Winslet) who erases the memory of her boyfriend Joel (Jim Carrey) — “has lingered in the consciousness long after the love story’s expiration date,” Madeleine Connors writes.

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Ruth Maclean is the West Africa bureau chief for The Times, covering 25 countries including Nigeria, Congo, the countries in the Sahel region as well as Central Africa. More about Ruth Maclean

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othello jealousy essays

othello jealousy essays

Woman Dubbed ‘World's Most Jealous' Made Husband Take Lie Detector Test Daily

A n uncommon illness that induces irrational jealousy has been identified in a lady who requires her fiancé to undergo a lie detector test every time he leaves the house to demonstrate his faithfulness. Debbi Wood, 42, of Leicester, is so convinced that her 30-year-old spouse, Steve Wood, will cheat on her that she double-checks his bank records, email correspondence, and phone many times a day.

Mr. Wood, who first became involved with Miss Wood in 2011 after a friend introduced them, is even prohibited from gazing at images of women in periodicals or watching women on television. According to medical professionals, Miss Wood has Othello Syndrome, a mental illness that makes people think their spouses have cheated on them even in the absence of proof. “ I’m glad to finally know what’s wrong with me, but I still have a long way to go, ” the woman stated to the Daily Mail . “ I force Steve to take a lie detector exam as soon as he returns home, even if he is just out for a half hour to purchase a pint of milk. “

“ I need to know the truth because I get so worried that he’s been sizing up the shop assistant.”  She thinks he’s beautiful, but that’s not the problem; the problem is whether or not she can trust him to keep his eyes off other women when he’s out on the town. @ You should only have eyes for your mate if you’re happy together and in a relationship. “

After a ten-year stay in the US, Miss Wood returned to Britain three years ago following the end of a long-term romance that had devastated her. Experts believe that the mental stress she experienced caused her disease, and she was so devastated that she vowed never to get into another relationship.

The Curious Case Of Mrs. Wood

A year later, Miss Wood was residing in her home country of Scotland when she was introduced to Mr. Wood on Facebook by a mutual acquaintance. They had their first date in London when she flew there after weeks of messaging one other. “ I knew we were meant to be a couple ,” she remarked after their first kiss beneath the London Bridge. “ Steve captured my heart, even though I didn’t plan to fall in love again after my last relationship. The only issue was our great distance from one another. When I found out that Steve had been seeing another female around the time we’d initially met, we decided to move in together and start becoming serious. “

“ I forgave him when he said he didn’t think our distance made us exclusive, but I began to question his ability to remain faithful. ” Miss Wood, who also has body dysmorphic disorder and bipolar illness, continued to say that after the two moved in together, her jealousy grew as she sought to keep an eye on Mr. Wood’s every action.

She forbade him from watching any television shows with women and put child-proof filters on his phone and laptop to prevent him from viewing graphic images of women. Miss Wood was given an Othello Syndrome diagnosis in September of this year, and in the six months since then, she has seldom left the house due to the condition’s severe effects. 

Othello Syndrome: What Is It?

Othello Syndrome is a mental health condition in which a person believes, without evidence, that their love partner is disloyal. It is also known by other names, such as morbid jealousy, delusional jealousy, pathological jealousy, sexual jealousy, or Othello psychosis. Put differently, an individual afflicted with Othello syndrome assumes that their significant other has cheated on them and develops an obsession with their partner’s faithfulness. 

The phrase “ Othello syndrome ” originated with William Shakespeare’s play Othello. In the play, Othello murders his wife Desdemona after he is persuaded that she is unfaithful by Iago, the main antagonist. Othello syndrome patients have intrusive, obsessive, and/or delusional thoughts, frequently related to accusations of infidelity in their relationships. Concepts are deemed obsessive when they take on a compulsive nature. Thinking about a potential love partner constantly, even if they are not real, is one example of this. Adversive thoughts are hard to resist and seem inevitable when they arise. Limiting the suspected partner’s freedom of choice is a common response to this. Delusional ideas are impossible for the mind to process since they are not seen as false. 

On The Path To Address The Issue

To address her issues, she is undergoing therapy and using anti-anxiety medication. She also plans to wed Mr. Wood, who proposed early this year. Miss Wood had already taken on his last name before the wedding. She has also been studying Othello Syndrome in order to get ready to start a support group for those who have the condition.

15% of those with the condition have acted aggressively against their relationships, according to a study. Robert Mercati, sixty-three, is one of them. He took Margaret’s life at their house earlier this year after learning of the diagnosis. Unemployed Mr. Wood accepted that his wife may be challenging at times, but he thought she was worth it. He said, “There are moments when I get anxious and my heart races, which makes Debbi question me, ” alluding to the conflicting results of the lie detector test. “ All I have to do is reassure her that I haven’t cheated, and maybe she will accept that. ” 

This content has, in part, been generated with the aid of an artificial intelligence language model. While we strive for accuracy and quality, please note that the information provided may not be entirely error-free or up-to-date. We recommend independently verifying the content and consulting with professionals for specific advice or information. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the use or interpretation of this content.

The post Woman Dubbed ‘World's Most Jealous' Made Husband Take Lie Detector Test Daily appeared first on The Amazing Times .

Woman Dubbed ‘World's Most Jealous' Made Husband Take Lie Detector Test Daily

COMMENTS

  1. Jealousy Theme in Othello

    Iago refers to jealousy as the "green-eyed monster." As this metaphor suggests, jealousy is closely associated with the theme of appearance and reality. For instance, at one point Othello demands that Iago provide "ocular proof" of Desdemona's infidelity—he demands to see reality. But Iago instead provides the circumstantial evidence of the handkerchief, which Othello, consumed by his ...

  2. Othello: A+ Student Essay

    Whenever characters such as Iago feel jealousy, fear, or simple hatred toward Othello, they give vent to their feelings by using racist slurs. For much of the play, Othello resists, ignores, or seems indifferent to the racism that dogs him. But eventually he internalizes Iago's and others' idea that his Blackness makes him barbarous.

  3. The Theme of Jealousy in Shakespeare's Othello

    English Literature. In summary, it is apparent that ultimately, Shakespeare has included the demon-like, pernicious nature of Iago, and the destructive, powerful nature of Othello to demonstrate a "theme and variations" on the classic image of jealousy: the "green eyed monster/ which doth mock the meat it feeds on".

  4. PDF Jealousy

    This means that jealousy is central in driving most characters' actions. The revenge plot of Iago is driven by both jealousy towards Cassio, who was made lieutenant by Othello, and sexual jealousy through the assumption that Othello slept with his wife. Additionally, it is sexual jealousy that causes Othello to kill Desdemona, making their love ...

  5. Themes Jealousy Othello: Advanced

    The imagery associated with the central theme jealousy suggests the destructive, terrifying and perhaps unnatural qualities of this emotion. It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock / The meat it feeds on (III.3.168-9), a monster / Begot upon itself, born on itself (III.4.161-2). There is a strong sense of devouring and being devoured ...

  6. Othello Jealousy Essay

    There have been many essays written on Othello's jealousy so you need to grab your reader's attention. Start with a startling statement such as - From a man with a loving and noble nature, Othello ...

  7. Shakespeare's Othello

    Othello's description of himself as. is perfectly just. His tragedy lies in this--that his whole nature was indisposed to jealousy, and yet was such that he was unusually open to deception, and, if once wrought to passion, likely to act with little reflection, with no delay, and in the most decisive manner conceivable.

  8. The Jealousy in Othello: Literary Analysis

    The essay on "The Jealousy in Othello: Literary Analysis" is well-organized and focuses on the theme of jealousy in the play. The author effectively uses sentence structures and grammar to express their ideas in a clear and concise manner. The essay maintains a consistent voice throughout, which helps to create a cohesive piece of writing.

  9. Othello Critical Essays

    Which essay topic on Othello's downfall, suicide, Desdemona, the role of race, or jealousy would be best for a 600-word essay? How should one conclude an essay about Othello? Ask a question

  10. Essay: The theme of jealousy in the play Othello

    Othello, written by William Shakespeare conveys a story of sexualized and professional jealousy. Self-inflicted insecurities and self-inherited jealousy are the prominent causes of self-destruction throughout the play. With the characters Othello, Iago, and Roderigo, Shakespeare idolizes love becoming hate, and hate becoming love.

  11. Othello Jealousy Essay

    Othello Jealousy Essay. Sort By: Page 1 of 50 - About 500 essays. Decent Essays. Jealousy And Jealousy In Othello. 1007 Words; 5 Pages; Jealousy And Jealousy In Othello. October 15, 2017 Othello In the play, Othello, jealousy and envy are prominent themes from the beginning to the end. As the play starts to unwind, you can see jealousy is the ...

  12. Shakespeare's Othello: A+ Student Essay Examples by

    Essay grade: Good. 1 page / 731 words. In Shakespeare's Othello, Iago plots Othello's destruction when he is passed over for a promotion. Iago tells Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him and provides circumstantial evidence for this. Othello becomes full of anger and jealousy and kills Desdemona.

  13. ealousy in Othello

    The jealousy of some characters in the play is influenced by other characters. Lago is the greatest victim of this and creates lies and presents situations aimed at misleading the other characters. He exhibits jealousy towards Cassio and Othello because he was not appointed as a lieutenant.

  14. Othello Essay: Jealousy.

    A man engulfed in such rage that he cannot tame, forces him to irrationally and eventually hurts those he loves. The purpose of Othello is to portray a tragedy, and the atmosphere parallels this purpose, driven by the emotion of jealousy introduced in this story. Secondly, the jealousy truly built characterization in this script and unveiled ...

  15. Othello Quotes: Jealousy

    Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock. The meat it feeds on. (III.iii.) As Iago makes insinuations about Desdemona's adultery and Othello pressures him to reveal what he knows, Iago warns Othello against succumbing to jealousy. Of course, Iago issues this warning with a false earnestness.

  16. Othello Jealousy Essay

    Othello Jealousy Essay. 675 Words3 Pages. Joseph Choi. Berry Sullivan. ENG3U1. 2023-06-20. Explain why the theme jealousy develop in Othello. Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" portrays a tale of love, jealousy, betrayal, and violence. The central theme of jealousy is deeply embedded throughout the play and plays a significant role in shaping the ...

  17. Jealousy In Othello By Shakespeare Free Essay Example

    In attempts to punish Othello, Iago uses jealousy as a weapon, "practicing upon his peace and quiet / Even to madness". By making Othello feel the torments of jealousy towards Desdemona and her supposed lover, Iago causes Othello to suffer as much as he does. Jealousy is a pervading plague in our world today; we see jealousy corrupting ...

  18. Jealousy In Othello Essay

    570 Words3 Pages. Love, death, and betrayal are reoccurring themes in William Shakespeare's plays. In The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice those three themes are present. The most apparent topic throughout the play is jealousy. From the beginning of the story, this emotion is represented in Iago, as well as in Roderigo.

  19. Quotes On Jealousy In Othello: [Essay Example], 620 words

    The theme of jealousy in Othello is central to the play's plot and character development. The character of Iago, in particular, embodies jealousy and manipulates others through it. One of the most famous quotes on jealousy in the play is when Iago says, "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it ...

  20. The Theme of Jealousy in Othello Free Essay Example

    Essay, Pages 3 (724 words) Views. 2. In regard to appearance versus reality, the theme of Othello is jealousy. One can reach this theme through analyzing different scenes throughout the play. Evidence for this is found in other characters and events all throughout the story. This paper will explore different ideas that cement the theme of this ...

  21. Essay: Jealousy and Envy in Othello

    For example, after he unsuccessfully tried to enrage Brabantio with Othello and Desdemona's secret, he began the endless web of lies. As a result of all of Iago's lies, each character gains a false feeling of jealousy. The reason the feelings are false are because, none of the lies are even close to being true.

  22. Othello Jealousy Essay [736 Words] GradeMiners

    Othello Jealousy essay for free ️️736 words sample for your inspiration Download high-quality papers from GradeMiners database. Essay Samples. ... Representation of jealousy in Othello. One of the events that clearly reflects the subject of jealousy is when Iago talks to Othello about the status in society and states: "O, beware, my lord ...

  23. Othello Jealousy Essay

    Reflection on Othello Jealousy: Opinion Essay. The main character in the poem, Othello, starts out as this noble, naive, and trusting person, to a foolish, jealous, murderer. Throughout the poem, the villain Iago is setting up his attempt to ruin Othello's life. Iago eventually sets into action his deviously complex and twisted plot to ruin ...

  24. Gambia and the Campaign Against Cutting

    Cutting was first recognized as a human rights violation in 1993, in a United Nations resolution.In 1995, governments met in Beijing and pledged to work toward eliminating female genital mutilation.

  25. Othello Fatal Flaw Analysis: [Essay Example], 524 words

    The Destructive Power of Jealousy in Shakespeare's Othello Essay William Shakespeare's Othello is a tragedy that explores the destructive power of jealousy. Throughout the play, jealousy serves as a central theme, driving the plot and leading to the downfall of several characters.

  26. Woman Dubbed 'World's Most Jealous' Made Husband Take Lie ...

    It is also known by other names, such as morbid jealousy, delusional jealousy, pathological jealousy, sexual jealousy, or Othello psychosis. Put differently, an individual afflicted with Othello ...