Jealousy, one of the seven deadly sins, is a catalyst which motivates a person to react; this catalyst is known to engulf them, and becomes the very meaning of their existence. This emotion leads to the inevitable downfall of Iago and Roger Chillingworth, who look to revenge to console them, but become consumed by it. The Antagonist’s in Othello and The Scarlet Letter not only lead to the demise of the innocent they manipulated, but also themselves. As they give in to jealousy, they seal their fate to an untimely death.
Although Iago’s acts of vengeance first began after Cassio was given the position of lieutenant, Iago’s jealousy had been accumulating even before the play. His jealousy in Cassio’s position set off his revenge on Othello, who did not give it to him. Throughout the novel Iago states how “I do suspect that the lusty Moor hath leaped into my seat (2.1.)”, implying that he believes that Othello has been sleeping with his wife Emilia. And although he has only heard it through rumor and he “know[s] not if ’t be true,/But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,/Will do as if for surety”(1.3.).
Iago’s willingness to assume that Othello has been with his wife shows that he believes that Othello is capable of taking his wife from him.
Because of his jealousy, Iago instigates his own feelings of inadequacy of Othello by telling him Desdemona no longer loves him. Using Othello’s race, age and class, Iago shakes Othello confidence making him to give into jealousy. He says:
The Essay on Othello Iago Desdemona Wife
After reading Shakespeare's play OTHELLO you have to ask yourself is Othello as much a victim as he is a murderer? An assumption may be that because Othello kills his wife after the devious behavior of Iago, then maybe Othello is a victim of Iago's evil. Some may argue that the sin of Iago to plot the down fall of the moor, is worse because it becomes a calculating mind compared to Othello's sin ...
As, to be bold with you,/Not to affect many proposèd matches/Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,/Whereto we see in all things nature tends—/Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank,/Foul disproportions, thoughts unnatural./But—pardon me—I do not in position/Distinctly speak of her, though I may fear/Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,/May fall to match you with her country forms,/And happily repent. (3.3.)
pointing out some traits which were already obvious differences. Feeling insecure Othello is overcome by jealousy, which eats at him until he comes to the conclusion that he must kill her. Although he still loves her, he becomes consumed by “the green eyed monster” (3.3.), and kills her because he had become obsessed with the notion that Desdemona cheated on him. Parallel to Iago’s jealousy, Othello is also overcome and with both of evils together they die and bring death to a number of innocent people.
Similar to Iago and Othello, Roger Chillingworth, in The Scarlet Letter, also becomes obsessed with his revenge on Hester Prynne’s lover. Roger Chillingworth jealousy over the minister grew with each day to the point where it becomes his purpose to live. Hester says “That old man’s revenge has been blacker than my … sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart. Thou and I, Hester, never did so!” (Hawthorne 21), meaning that even jealousy is a greater sin than adultery. And similar to the green eyed monster which feeds upon itself, jealousy is also described as “black weeds [which] have sprung up out of a buried heart to make manifest of an unspoken crime.” (Hawthorne 129).
In the end however, Roger Chillingworth’s death was mainly due to the fact his purpose to live was no longer alive, showing how even after his revenge was complete, jealousy remained in his heart.
Throughout centuries, there have Jealousy has been used in literature; from Shakespeare’s Othello to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlett Letter jealously becomes an obsession. As jealousy consumes Iago, it leads to his death and the death of others. Like Iago, Othello’s jealousy corrupts him to believe Desdemona has cheated on him, causing him to kill the one he truly loves. As for Roger Chillingworth, he becomes immersed by revenge due to his jealousy over Hester’s lover. His obsession becomes the sole motivation for his life, and after Dimmsdale passes away, Chillingworths only meaning to life is gone and he subsequently dies as a result. Just as the theme of jealousy leads to the deaths of these characters, authors such a Shakespeare and Hawthorne warn readers to be cautious of jealousy and revenge.
The Essay on Chillingworth Hester Dimesdale Heart
Even though this chapter lacks, compared to previous chapters, symbolism, foreshadowing makes up for it. I found two moments of foreshadowing which I believe are important, one when chillingworth asks for the name of Pearl's biological father, and the other is in the last few sentences when Hester is afraid she has made a bond that will "prove the ruin of her soul." To this chillingworth replies " ...
