The Power of Jealousy in Othello

Love is a very powerful thing, but with love comes a more powerful thing and an over ruling thing, jealousy. Jealousy over powers many characters in the short story, Othello, the Moor in Venice. Jealousy makes these characters do things that would have never done before and drives them to do outrageous things since jealousy is the driving force of the play. There are many characters in this short story that show major signs of jealousy. Iago shows jealousy towards Othello, Othello shows jealousy towards Michael Cassio, and also Roderigo is jealous of Othello.

Iago has always been a crude man. He was never liked in Venice and had only a few friends. He had a goal though to become a commander of the army, but someone else was appointed commander over him. Othello, a moor, was pronounced the commander of the Venice army and this enraged Iago. Iago believes that no moor should be leader of such a great army. Iago then tells Desdemona's father, Brabanzio, a senator of Venice about her daughter running away and marrying a black man. Iago tattles on Othello since he wants to get rid of Othello so he can become the commander. Brabonzio then wants Othello arrested but he doesn't get arrested because he did nothing wrong. Racism empowers Brabonzio to do this. Iago's initial plan failed.

Iago's jealousy flares more due to the fact that his first plan failed. His jealousy then acts up again and he comes up with another plan, make Othello lonely by ridding of Desdemona. Iago talks Michael Cassio into falling in love with Desdemona. Since Michael Cassio is such a good friend of Desdemona, he would be a perfect pick to cheat on Othello and ruin him, all because Iago is jealous and couldn't get the job he wanted. He is so jealous he does not even care that he is trying to hurt someone's soul. Othello finds out that Michael Cassio is trying to get with Desdemona and goes after him.