The play Othello exemplifies the themes of jealousy and chicanery. The play begins when Othello, a general in the Venetian army has angered Iago (a member of the army) by appointing Cassio (another army officer) to the lieutenant position. Iago feels that he is more deserving of the promotion than Cassio and decides that he will stop at nothing to get back at both Othello and Cassio. Iago decides that he will get revenge on Othello by using his wife, Desdemona. "O" beware my lord, of jealousy! It is a greeneyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss who, certain of his fate loves not his wronger;.yet fondly loves" (3.3.165). Foolishly Othello believes Iago and accuses Desdemona of being unchaste. Othello kills Desdemona because he is concerned about the affect that Desdemonas"s unfaithfulness will have on his reputation.

             Othello ingenuous nature allows him to be lured in by Iago"s lies. He never considers that Iago could in fact be lying to him which would be quite possible because he could have anger towards Othello. "Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore!/ Be sure of it; give me ocular proof;/ or, by the worth of mine eternal soul,/ thou hadst been better been born a dog/ than answer my waked wrath!" (3.3.356) The only evidence that Desdemona could be having an affair is a missing handkerchief. Othello bases his reasoning on merely the missing handkerchief, which leads him to believe that Desdemona has been lying to him. If Othello really believed that Desdemona was an honest person, he would have disregarded Iago"s comments. However, Othello, more concerned with his own reputation, allows Iago"s lies to control him until finally he decides that the only way to redeem his reputation is to kill Desdemona: "By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in"s hand!/ O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart,/ and mak"st me call what I intend to do/ a murder, which I thought a sacrifice.