How is the theme of jealousy presented in Othello?

Jealousy is presented as a tragic flaw in Othello—a destructive emotion that brings down an otherwise good man.
Iago, ever on the lookout for people's weaknesses, realizes that Othello—a strong, brave, and honest commander, supremely confident in his career—is insecure in the arena of love. A black man in a racist society and a middle-aged man in an ageist society, he worries that his lovely young wife doesn't truly love him. Iago ruthlessly exploits this fear. He manipulates events to suggest (though he pretends to do so reluctantly) that the handsome Cassio is sleeping with Desdemona. Othello falls for it and "honor kills" his wife as a result.
Shakespeare shows that jealousy is a "monster," a destructive emotion that grows out of all proportion to any reality and destroys lives. It clouds our judgment and becomes a form of madness.
Iago, too, can be seen as a jealous character. It appears as if Iago is so filled with anger and bile that he is looking for any excuse to hurt someone. Nevertheless, it is also true that Iago is jealous of anyone, such as Cassio or Othello, who has outpaced him and has risen faster in their careers. Iago is a twisted person, but bitter jealousy seems to be a core problem driving him to acts of evil.


Jealousy is Othello's tragic flaw, which leads to his downfall and Desdemona's death. Iago, who is depicted as a master manipulator, uses Othello's jealousy against him by convincing the general that Desdemona is unfaithful. Iago realizes that Othello is an outcast in Venetian society because he is a Moor and is much older than the beautiful Desdemona. He is also aware that Michael Cassio is a handsome, eloquent man, who would be able to make Othello jealous. Iago manipulates Othello's low-esteem and lack of confidence by suggesting that Desdemona is romantically interested in Michael Cassio. Almost immediately after Iago suggests that Desdemona is unfaithful in act 3, scene 3, Othello becomes aggressively jealous and begins to perceive his wife in a new light. Iago even warns Othello about the power of jealousy by telling him,

"Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on" (Shakespeare, 3.3.170-172).

Othello's jealousy blinds him to the reality of the entire situation, and he accepts circumstantial evidence as proof that Desdemona is having an affair with Michael Cassio. Iago once again comments on the power of jealousy by saying,

"Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ" (Shakespeare, 3.3.332-333).

Othello's jealousy not only ruins his marriage to Desdemona but also motivates him to kill the woman he truly loves. Thematically, Shakespeare depicts the negative effects of jealousy by illustrating Othello's tragic demise.


Jealousy is the driving force behind much of the action—and tragedy—within Shakespeare's Othello. 
Othello thematically traces how jealousy can destroy lives—and how so often jealousy stems from events and circumstances which have been blown out of proportion. 
The major plot of the play involves Iago convincing the titular Othello that his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful to him and has cheated with Cassio. Despite the fact that Iago has little true evidence to prove this, Othello falls headfirst into the clutches of the "green-eyed monster." Through Iago's trickery, Desdemona's handkerchief—which had been given to her by Othello—ends up in the possession of Cassio. Although there is no literal correlation between this handkerchief and Desdemona's chastity (it is, after all, merely a handkerchief), Othello's raging jealousy seizes this as a sign that she has engaged in adultery. This psychological magnification results in Othello destroying his entire life; he murders his wife and then kills himself. 
The irony, of course, is that Iago uses jealousy to undermine the foundations of Othello's marriage, while it is jealousy itself that causes Iago to behave so erratically. Iago is jealous of Othello's power, position, and status and is angry that he was passed over for a promotion by Othello, who chose Michael Cassio as his military lieutenant instead. Additionally, Iago believes that his own wife Emilia may have engaged in an affair with Othello. 
Ultimately, jealousy serves as an irrational motivator and the harbinger of evil in this play.

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