The play Othello provides several timeless themes which are timeless; being timeless, these related works can be seen throughout history, even in modern culture. One of these omnipresent themes is that jealousy is a powerful, often destructive force. Besides being evident in Othello, this theme can be found in the television show The Office and the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. While the situations in these sources differ in details, the end result and feelings behind it are extremely alike.
"I hate the Moor" Scene-Iago
First, Othello emphasizes how jealousy is a powerful emotion with fatal consequences when Iago plots Cassio’s death, saying, “And, in conclusion, nonsuits my mediators, for, ‘Certes,’ says he, ‘I have already chose my officer’” (I.i.15-17). This is just one of many early signs of jealousy and contempt, along with Iago’s obviously resentful speech regarding Othello, swearing, “I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets he’s done my office. I know not if’s be true, but I for mere suspicion in that kind will do as if for surety” (I.i.366-370). These initial evidences of jealousy grow steadily through the play and cause Iago to take drastic measures like manipulating foolish Roderigo, bullying Emilia into silence, and pleading honesty and love to Othello, only to achieve his goal of eliminating threats to his success; this extreme jealousy eventually results in the deaths of Roderigo, Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello.
Episode 3: "The Coup"
Next, The Office echoes the same theme in the episode, “The Coup” where Dwight Schrute, a wickedly clever, ambitious, and determined co-worker goes behind the boss (Michael Scott)’s back to meet with a boss, Jan Gould, from their branch’s corporate office. Dwight’s jealousy of Michael’s power as regional manager results in him lying to the person he was most loyal to, saying, “I’m going to the dentist. I have to have an emergency crown put in” (Lieberstein). Although Dwight attempts to overtake the office, Michael confronts him about the instance and punishes him, making him wear a sign that reads, “Liar,“ hanging his head in shame, and doing his laundry for a year. Michael adds, “I don‘t know if I can trust you anymore“ (Lieberstein). Dwight’s willingness to betray his trusting boss by meeting with Jan to talk about how he “could run the branch better than Michael,”(Lieberstein) shows that the consequences of his jealousy, while somewhat trivialized by humor in this instance, are indeed powerful and have lasting negative impacts in that they diminish the once trusting and loyal relationship between these two characters.
Lastly, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows reflects this timeless theme of jealousy’s destructive consequences when Ron Weasley is emotionally challenged by a horcrux, which unleashed Voldemort’s voice, essentially torturing the person who opened the device. Saying, “’Least loved, always, by the mother who craved a daughter…Least loved, now, by the girl who prefers your friend…Second best, always, eternally overshadowed…’ (Rowling, 375-376), Voldemort exploits Ron’s greatest, ever-present fears, feeding the fire that is Ron’s jealousy of his brothers and of Harry’s reputation. Then again, Voldemort’s voice, in the persona of Hermione, says, “’Who wouldn’t prefer him, what woman would take you, you are nothing, nothing, nothing to him” (Rowling, 377), swelling even more the jealousy and hatred growing inside Ron. Finally, Ron snaps. “The sword flashed, plunged: Harry threw himself out of the way, there was a clang of metal and a long, drawn-out scream” (Rowling, 377). This sudden act of pent-up jealousy and anger towards a true friend shows that jealousy has the incredible power to manipulate the most trustworthy and loyal of people when in dire situations. So, although Harry, Ron, and Hermione still remain friends, Ron’s outburst and looming jealousy of Harry proves a constant conflict during their travels as well as its hampering their close-knit circle of friends.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Horcrux Scene
In conclusion, while the causes, means of showing it, or consequences of jealousy differ, the idea that jealousy is a powerful and usually destructive force, shown in Othello and these two other works, is universal in that the people affected by it often lose out on relationships that without jealousy could have been salvaged.
Works Cited
Lieberstein, Paul. "The Coup." The Office. Dir. Greg Daniels. NBC. WNBC, New York,
New York, 5 Oct. 2006. Television.
Perrine, Lawrence. “Othello.” Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. Forth
Worth. Harcourt College. 2002. 1361-1462. Print.
Rowling, J. K. "The Silver Doe." Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York:
Arthur A. Levine, 2007. 375-78. Print.
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"I hate the Moor" Scene-Iago
First, Othello emphasizes how jealousy is a powerful emotion with fatal consequences when Iago plots Cassio’s death, saying, “And, in conclusion, nonsuits my mediators, for, ‘Certes,’ says he, ‘I have already chose my officer’” (I.i.15-17). This is just one of many early signs of jealousy and contempt, along with Iago’s obviously resentful speech regarding Othello, swearing, “I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets he’s done my office. I know not if’s be true, but I for mere suspicion in that kind will do as if for surety” (I.i.366-370). These initial evidences of jealousy grow steadily through the play and cause Iago to take drastic measures like manipulating foolish Roderigo, bullying Emilia into silence, and pleading honesty and love to Othello, only to achieve his goal of eliminating threats to his success; this extreme jealousy eventually results in the deaths of Roderigo, Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello.
Episode 3: "The Coup"
Next, The Office echoes the same theme in the episode, “The Coup” where Dwight Schrute, a wickedly clever, ambitious, and determined co-worker goes behind the boss (Michael Scott)’s back to meet with a boss, Jan Gould, from their branch’s corporate office. Dwight’s jealousy of Michael’s power as regional manager results in him lying to the person he was most loyal to, saying, “I’m going to the dentist. I have to have an emergency crown put in” (Lieberstein). Although Dwight attempts to overtake the office, Michael confronts him about the instance and punishes him, making him wear a sign that reads, “Liar,“ hanging his head in shame, and doing his laundry for a year. Michael adds, “I don‘t know if I can trust you anymore“ (Lieberstein). Dwight’s willingness to betray his trusting boss by meeting with Jan to talk about how he “could run the branch better than Michael,”(Lieberstein) shows that the consequences of his jealousy, while somewhat trivialized by humor in this instance, are indeed powerful and have lasting negative impacts in that they diminish the once trusting and loyal relationship between these two characters.Lastly, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows reflects this timeless theme of jealousy’s destructive consequences when Ron Weasley is emotionally challenged by a horcrux, which unleashed Voldemort’s voice, essentially torturing the person who opened the device. Saying, “’Least loved, always, by the mother who craved a daughter…Least loved, now, by the girl who prefers your friend…Second best, always, eternally overshadowed…’ (Rowling, 375-376), Voldemort exploits Ron’s greatest, ever-present fears, feeding the fire that is Ron’s jealousy of his brothers and of Harry’s reputation. Then again, Voldemort’s voice, in the persona of Hermione, says, “’Who wouldn’t prefer him, what woman would take you, you are nothing, nothing, nothing to him” (Rowling, 377), swelling even more the jealousy and hatred growing inside Ron. Finally, Ron snaps. “The sword flashed, plunged: Harry threw himself out of the way, there was a clang of metal and a long, drawn-out scream” (Rowling, 377). This sudden act of pent-up jealousy and anger towards a true friend shows that jealousy has the incredible power to manipulate the most trustworthy and loyal of people when in dire situations. So, although Harry, Ron, and Hermione still remain friends, Ron’s outburst and looming jealousy of Harry proves a constant conflict during their travels as well as its hampering their close-knit circle of friends.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Horcrux Scene
In conclusion, while the causes, means of showing it, or consequences of jealousy differ, the idea that jealousy is a powerful and usually destructive force, shown in Othello and these two other works, is universal in that the people affected by it often lose out on relationships that without jealousy could have been salvaged.
Works Cited
Lieberstein, Paul. "The Coup." The Office. Dir. Greg Daniels. NBC. WNBC, New York,
New York, 5 Oct. 2006. Television.
Perrine, Lawrence. “Othello.” Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. Forth
Worth. Harcourt College. 2002. 1361-1462. Print.
Rowling, J. K. "The Silver Doe." Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York:
Arthur A. Levine, 2007. 375-78. Print.
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