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Western Libraries Undergraduate Research Awards (WLURAs)

Abstract

The theme of jealousy is intrinsic to the progression of the plot in William Shakespeare’s Othello. My creative project takes an understanding of jealousy from Rebecca Olsen’s definition of jealousy as “the fear of losing possession” (2015). My creative project explores the inner turmoil that jealousy imposes on the character development of Desdemona, Othello, Brabantio, and Roderigo as initiated by Iago through the recurring symbol of green as envy and sickness and the personification of jealousy as a monster. The linked poems are written from different characters' perspectives in Othello. Rob Wilson suggests that Iago, through manipulating jealousy as “mimetic contagion,” authors five male rivalries within the play (1987). Jealousy as an emotional response is manifested not only through Othello’s downfall but also through the characterization of Brabantio, Roderigo, and Iago. Therefore, my creative project expands on the inherent dramatic irony in the presentation of jealousy in addition to the male approach of possessive jealousy. In personifying jealousy, I attempt to transform the abstract concept into a tangible personhood that the audience and characters can visualize and interact with by expanding on the characters’ interactions and relationships along with the personification of jealous emotion.

How did you choose your research topic and/or design your research question? (200 words)

My starting point, “Discuss the importance of jealousy – ‘the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on’ – in Othello,” was one of the prompts for assignment four of my English 1022E course. My class was given the option to write a piece of creative writing or creative non-fiction rather than a formal essay. This prompt piqued my creative interest as the broad prompt allows me to manipulate the complex yet central motif of jealousy in Othello and blend my imagination on the subject outside of the primary text. While jealousy is most notably exemplified through Othello himself, the role of Iago in igniting jealousy among other characters went unexamined by me in my initial reflection upon finishing reading the play. After a preliminary search of existing literature on Omni, I found the two secondary sources by Rebecca Olson and Rob Wilson on Iago’s role in relation to other characters. Then, I had the idea to explore how individual characters respond and interact with their distinct jealousies. Therefore, my question was: How do other characters perceive jealousy?

How did you find library/archives services and resources for your research topic? (200 words)

At the beginning of the school year, librarian Jason Dyck gave a presentation in my English 1022E course on Western library services and resources. Afterward, I booked a consultation with him to help me further develop specific search strategies and learn to search the library catalogue on my device. Then I learned how to use the various Boolean operators and navigate the Omni library. My primary source on Othello was already given in my course’s required text, The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Additional primary sources were requested from Western Library’s collection. To find two secondary scholarly sources, I used the Advanced Search feature of Western’s Library Catalogue with the “AND” operator to link “Othello” and “jealous*” to narrow down the results. I identified two articles by Rebecca Olson and Rob Wilson respectively after proofreading; both of which can be accessed through JSTOR online using my Western credential. Because my creative project is an original linked poem, I cited my sources in the footnote rather than in my poem directly, as suggested by a writing advisor at the Writing Support Centre.

What library/archives services and resources did you use to perform your research? (200 words)

Initially, I was unfamiliar with footnote citations, so I sought guidance from the MLA format citation guide provided by OWL at Purdue University. This resource was invaluable in helping me understand the proper formatting and usage of footnotes in academic writing. Additionally, I followed librarian Jason Dyck’s advice on utilizing online databases, requesting physical texts, and interlibrary loans through the Western Library catalogue. I was able to borrow primary texts from the Western Library’s collection and archive for special collections. Despite not immediately utilizing all the sources I found, I took advantage of the opportunity to request monographs, edited volumes, and other materials to review their contents. This allowed me to assess their relevance before deciding whether to incorporate them into my work. Proofreading these materials in advance ensured that I could make informed decisions about which sources to include in my research and writing process. By leveraging these resources and techniques, I gained a deeper understanding of academic research methodologies and improved my ability to navigate scholarly information effectively.

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