In Iago’s soliloquy, he confesses he is jealous and compares jealousy to “a poisonous mineral” (289).
a. Why this particular image?
b. How does it connect to the charges Brabantio leveled against Othello in Act 1?
c. Is there any coordinating logic between sexual jealousy, career jealousy, and racism?
According to Iago, the thought of the Moor's infidelity , “doth like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards”. Iago uses this baseless claim as justification to destroy both Cassio and Othello. Everything about Iago is poisonous, even his metaphors. Iago's use of this imagery is interesting because he himself is slow poison to Othello. He kills Othello with clever inuendo and quips. It is also interesting that Brabantio used similar imagery to describe Othello's "control" over his daughter Desdemona.
