Key Theme - Jealousy Flashcards
- iago refers to jealousy as the ‘green eyed monster’. this metaphor suggests, jealousy is closely associated with the appearance vs reality theme.
- This is because othellos actions are influenced fundamentally by jealousy in response to iagos cunning manipulation. Othello accepts a seeming ‘truth’ due to being consumed by jealousy.
“O’ beware my lord, ________ is the green ________ __________”
Jealousy
eyed monster
• iago warns othello that jealousy prefigures a chaotic journey when consumed by it. significantly foreshadowing how othello will bring about his tragic downfall. Likening jealousy as a monster in fact reflects iagos own role as the parasitic influence who mocks othello even as he ruins him. However, it can also be argued that iago here admits his own major security and area of weakness. Jealousy is a flaw of many other characters in shakespearean plays such as the ‘merchant of Venice’ as the “monster” was previously used as “green eyed jealousy”. All in all, this metaphor is a supreme example of foreshadowing and dramatic irony.
“Haply, for i am _______…. That chambers ______ or for i am ________ into the _______ of years - yet that’s not much - ______ _________”
black
have
declined
vale
she’s gone
• Agaib, alone, othello reflects on his own conversation with iago and frets that perhaps it is unrealistic that an older, uncivilised in speech, moor could marry a woman like desdemona. Here we see the result of iagos cunning tactics and how it is taking a toll on othellos psychological state. He leaves in a paranoid state, trying to evaluate if he is good enough for desdemona. it is clear from othellos words that his fears are far more emotional than rational, and are rooted in the incoherent logic of racism.
This is the second time othello has referred to himself as a crude and unskilled speaker, and yet all evidence points to the falseness of the statement. the only objective that othello is not worthy for desdemona is the fact he is black. However, at no point does desdemona express even the slightest concern over this. showing how iagos cunning manipulation tactics have worked. On the other hand, othellos experience of racism is at the hands of the other characters is frequent and severe. Thus he cannot escape the internalised racist idea that their racial difference makes their marriage unviable.
“then must you speak of one that _______ not ________, but too well; of one not easily ________ but being wrought ___________ in the extreme”
loved
wisely
jealous
perplexed
• othellos final speech is complex and betrays othellos ambiguous judgement of himself and the situation. he requests he not be overly praised or condemned after death which suggests his frustration of living a life being judged according to racist stereotypes. However, he states he is not one “easily jealous” and thus emphasises iagos role in misleading him.
“The ______ is of a free and _______ nature that thinks men ________ but seem to be so; and will as tenderly be led by the nose as _________ are”
Moor
open
honest
asses
• Iago here reflects on his own hatred for othello as emphasised through the derogatory terms that dehumanise and discredit othello. Within this he states the details of the plan to bring about othellos downfall. In this passage, iago notes that bringing othellos downfall will be easy as he is open and trusting. Earlier in the play we learn that iago does not like othello due to othello picking cassio the “constantine” in which iago did not think was the right decision and has judged othellos judgement since. Thus iago being jealous and being a main factor behind his cunning plan.
“Twixt my sheets he’s done my ______”
office
• iago is affected by jealous conspiracy and states it to be a main motive in his actions towards othello. This is ironic as later in the play we see iago give iago a seemingly good piece of advice of being aware of “jealousy, tis the green eyed monster that doth mock the meat it feeds on”, which maybe a direct reflection of iagos own insecurities. This deepens the character depth for iago as he comes across as “honest” iago however deep down audiences can see iagos true feelings - linking to how what we see will not always be true.
“Doth like a _________ mineral gnaw ___ inwards”
poisonous
my
• othello presents jealousy as a character in itself, jealousy’s effects are gruesome and painful which is also concealed within the person themselves allowing it to eat them up. thus why jealousy is often referred to as poison. Although, there are other instances in the play where jealousy is characterised, such as when it presented as the “green eyed monster”, which implies how jealousy is a destructive force which will eat up its victim.
“tis better to be much ________ , than to know a _______”
Abused
little
• audiences can truly recognise othellos psychological conflict through this passage as the potential knowledge of desdemonas infidelity is beginning to hurt him. However, we can also understand how iagos cunning manipulation and understanding of the human mind is working. othello directly emphasises how much it is better to be “abused” than to know a “little”, as knowing a little allows him to make his own assumptions from the information. Thus telling audiences how painful jealousy is in comparison to knowing the full truth.
“is this the _______ ______ whom our full senate call all sufficient? he is ______ _________”
noble moor
much changed
• this passage near the falling action, according to aristotle, and it shows how jealousy slowly but surely manipulates the person, even someone of a high noble status like othello who can fall prey to it and deteriorate from a hero in a psychiatric state of villainy. His downfall was not exactly unexpected as social constructs thought uncivilised people were destructive forces of evil and shakespeare had to enforce this. As he has done through other texts, showing audiences the consequences of defying these social constructs, as shown in titanus arandonicus’ as aaron states that killing a “thousand is as easy as killing a fly”.
“The _________ curse”
serpents
• The biblical reference directly contrasts God and therefore is aligned with the devil, presenting jealousy as the purest form of evil. As well as this, the noun “curse” indicates a supernatural element to the force of jealousy and it is here to inflict harm which cannot be undone.
