Othello: Sexual Jealousy in Nature William Shakespeare's tragedy Othello displays many activities motivated by a variety of passions, some good and some not. Let's analyze what many critics consider the dominant passion in the protagonist's most significant actions. AC Bradley, in his book of literary criticism, Shakespearean Tragedy, describes the dominant motivating passion in Othello: Secondly, there is no more exciting subject than sexual jealousy which rises to the level of passion; and there can hardly be a spectacle at once so gripping and so painful as that of a great nature suffering the torment of this passion and being driven by it to a crime which is also a horrible mistake. [. . .] But jealousy, and especially sexual jealousy, brings with it a sense of shame and humiliation. For this reason it is generally hidden; if we perceive it ourselves we are ashamed and look away; and when it is not hidden it commonly arouses contempt and pity. Nor is that all. A jealousy like that of Othello converts human nature into chaos and releases the beast in man; and it does so in relation to one of the most intense and also most ideal human feelings. (169) H. S. Wilson in his book of literary criticism, On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy, discusses the place of jealousy in the play: Under Iago's able assistance, we witness a remarkable transformation in him. The man of judgment, the commander "whom passion could not shake," becomes a gullible fool, carried away by a jealous fury, so infatuated that while he demands proof of Desdemona's guilt he never sees anything except through Iago's suggestion, so fooled by... .... middle of paper ......gic Heroes. New York: Barnes and Noble, Inc., 1970.Ferguson, Francis. “Two worldviews echo each other.” Readings on tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprinted from Shakespeare: The Pattern in His Carpet. Np: np, 1970.Gardner, Helen. "Othello: a tragedy of beauty and fortune." Readings on tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprinted from “The Noble Moor.” Lectures of the British Academy, n. 9, 1955.Jorgensen, Paul A. William Shakespeare: The Tragedies. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1985.Shakespeare, William. Othello. In Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No lines nos.Wilson, HS On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy. Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1957.