Explore Shakespeare's presentation of Jealousy in 'Othello'. You must related your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

Jealousy is inherent to Shakespeare's 'Othello'; with its use illuminating the disturbing traits which even the noblest of characters cannot escape. The character of 'Othello' is used by Shakespeare to exhibit this through his raging jealousy which ultimately becomes his downfall. It is significant that in Act 3, Scene 3, Shakespeare writes that Othello will not be overcome by jealousy, as evidenced in the line 'away at once with love or jealousy', thus emphasising how the 'noble moor' believes he is above the trait. However, the audience quickly observes a shift in Othello's behaviour as only one scene later in Act 3, Scene 4, Othello lets jealousy consume him to the point where he 'curses' his marriage. Shakespeare may have included this to Elizabethan society whereby even those at the top of the social hierarchy; such as esteemed generals, cannot escape the grasps of this emotion. The epitome of Othello's jealousy comes in Act 5, Scene 5 as Shakespeare presents him as delusional, unwilling to listen to his wife's pleading 'of guiltiness I know not'. Having previously exemplified Othello's love for Desdemona the audience witnesses the all-encompassing nature of the trait as Othello is so beyond any rational state of mind that he murders his devoted wife ultimately on the 'ocular proof' of the handkerchief. Whilst a contemporary audience may be more sympathetic to this action, owing to the importance which such a token held, a modern audience can only view this as absurd, serving to heighten the disapproval of the trait of jealousy.