Jealousy

In Shakespearean plays jealousy usually plays a considerable role in the causing the tragedy. Shakespeare shows great understanding in human nature and human tendencies. One aspect of human nature that he has a lot of insight on is jealousy. Shakespeare understands jealousy well, and is able to illustrate how jealousy can bring out the worst in people. In Othello , it is clear that in law relationships will fail because jealousy makes both parties of the relationship act evil.In addition, jealousy can cause the downfall of a marriage. Moreover jealousy can initiate the downfall of a friendship. Jealousy can bring out the evil and irrational actions in a relationship, resulting in the failure of the relationship. Family (In Law) relationships will fail due to both parties acting evilly and irrationally because of jealousy. Jealousy can cause the destruction of a good father daughter relationship causing a father to betray his daughter.Desdemona and his daughter had a good relationship because Barbantio says, â€Å"I therefore vouch again/ That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood,/ Or with some dram, conjured this effect, He wrought upon her† (Act 1 scene 3, line 103-105). This shows that she would never have wanted to leave her father of her own free will before. However due to the jealousy towards Othello for winning his daughter, Barbantio betrays his own daughter when he says, â€Å"God be with you! I have done. (act 1 scene3 line189).This quote shows that Barbantio disowns and betrays his daughter because he is jealous that she has chose Othello over him, ending their father daughter relationship. Moreover, Barbantio and Othello had a good relationship until jealousy caused Barbantio to become racist. Othello says, â€Å"Her father loved me, oft invited me† (Act 1 scene3 line128), this shows that Barbantio and Othello had a good relationship. Afterwards, Barbantio exclaimed that, â€Å"I'd rather adopt a child then get it. † (Act 1 Scene 3 line 191). Barbantio is saying that he would rather adopt a child then have a half black grandchild.The jealousy causes Barbantio to become racist, ending their relationship. Therefore, jealousy can cause people in a Family(In Law) relationship to act with evil, resulting in the downfall of the family relationship. Jealousy can cause spouses to act evil and irrational, ensuring the downfall of the marriage. Husbands go from trusting their wives to distrusting their wives for the reason that jealousy causes them to, hence ending their marriage. Othello declared, â€Å"My life upon her faith! † in a response to Barbantio uttering, â€Å"She has deceived her father, and may thee. (Act1 scene 3 line 293), this shows that he is fully trusting of Desdemona in the beginning of their marriage. Then Othello becomes jealous of Cassio because he believes that Cassio is sleepingwith Desdemona, this jealousy initiates Othello's distrust in Desdemona. This distrust towards Desd emona results in Othello not believing Desdemona when she says that she is a â€Å"true/ and loyal wife† (Act 4 scene 2 line 34-5) results in the end of the relationship because Othello slays her because he suspects that she is cheating.Furthermore, jealousy can cause a member of the relationship to act illogically resulting in the collapse of the relationship. Othello started out as a very sensible person who would always think of a logical solution. For example, when Barbantio came to fight him he talked them out of a battle, he says, â€Å"Hold your hands,/ Both you of my inclining and the rest. /Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it/ Without a prompter† (Act1 Scene2 Line 83-85). This shows that he was in a logical state of mind before the jealousy caused him to become unreasonable.He became so unreasonable that he started seeing what the jealousy inside of him wanted to see. The jealousy caused him to be unreasonable to the point where a simple hanker chi ef, that Desdemona could have easily lost, triggered him into thinking that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair, which led to him plotting to kill both of them. Additionally, Othello and Desdemona's have a very pleasant marriage, until abuse starts because of jealousy. Othello went from show enormous amounts of affection towards Desdemona.When Othellos sees Desdemona for the first time in Cyprus he exclaims, â€Å"O my fair warrior† (act2 scene1 line 177) then Desdemona replies, â€Å"My dear Othello! â€Å"(Act 2 Scene1 Lines 178). This shows that there is a lot of affection in their relationship prior to jealousy making Othello very abusive. Othello becomes jealous that Desdemona is sleeping with Cassio, so his suspicion lead to him abusing Desdemona mentally by calling her a â€Å"Whore†. As a result, jealousy can evolve into the hammer that can break a wedlock!