Iago describes the feeling of love as just a physical feeling. Iago only relies on will and reason. Iago’s predictions about the other characters only turn out true by Iago manipulating all of them.
Iago: “It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor”
This quotation becomes true. Iago calls his revenge a “sport”.
Iago enjoys revenge and sees it as a challenge a sport.
Iago starts to think out loud, like a soliloquy. Iago describes his motives and what he plans to do about them. He says he expands his profit which means Roderigo selling all his land to Iago and he says sport because it really means revenge. His other motive is that there is a rumour floating around that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia. This is possible doubt that Iago’s twists to make true in his head.
Iago: “I know not it be true. But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as it for surety”
He is unsure about the rumour by looks to the negative side of the rumour to feed his hatred towards Othello. This makes him evil. Iago plans to use Cassio in his evil scheme to make Cassio look like he is sleeping with Desdemona. Iago thinks this can work because Cassio is good looking enough for Othello to think Desdemona might have an interest in Cassio and become very jealous. Also if Othello gets so jealous that he drops Cassio as second in command then Iago will swoop in and offer to take his place. Iago plans to abuse Othello’s trust him and take advantage of him, and make him believe that Cassio and Desdemona. Iago shows devilish qualities as he plans to use hatred and desire to bring down Othello. Iago has another soliloquy which shows Iago to be ambiguous.
Iago: “That Cassio loves her: I do well believe it. That she loves him: tis apt and of great credit”
Iago choose to believe that what he is doing is right, he is try to justify his revenge. Iago plans to make Cassio so drunk Iago can take his job.
Iago: “For that I do suspect the lusty Moor. Hath leaped into my seat. The thought whereof. Doth. Like a poisonous mineral. Gnaw my innards….till I am evened with him. Wife for wife”
This describes that he will not let go of his plan for revenge, and will try anything even poison to exact his revenge. So Iago plans to get Roderigo to wind up Cassio and get him fired
Iago: “I’ll have a Michael Cassio o the hip abuse him to the Moor in the rankgarb…make the more love me. Love me and reward me.
These rewards mean the lieutenant job. Iago does another soliloquy where he advances more into his thoughts. Cassio gets fired, that proves Iago’s plans are working. Iago is playing the villain and is playing it really well. He is twisting things. Iago advances on his plans to make Desdemona plead Othello to give Cassio his job back.
Iago: “How am I then a villain. To counsel Cassio to his parallel course, directly to his good? Divinity of hell”
This quotation has good advice and bad intentions mixed in one. Iago has evil in himself.
Iago: “When devils will the blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with heavenly shows”
Iago also plans to abuse Othello’s ear.
Iago: “I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear”
Iago: “And by how much she strives to do him good, she shall undo her credit with the moor.”
Iago is going to pour a mixture of lies and the truth into Othello’s mind. Also the more virtuous Desdemona is the more Othello will suspect her and in the end hate her.
Iago has now created doubt in Othello’s mind because now Othello is torn between love and hate. Othello now can’t concentrate anymore because he obsessing over his doubts. The suspicion is nagging his brain, like Iago planned. Othello feels the whole universe has crashed in on him. Since Iago has now corrupted Othello, Othello can’t really accept that Desdemona is committing adultery until he has proof. Because of all this whole fiasco Othello’s and Iago’s relationship is much stronger and Othello trusts him more. Iago has convinced Othello that he is the only one he can trust.
Iago: “Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it that he would sneak away so guilty-like, seeing you coming”
This makes Othello jealous and this puts suspicion and un-answered questions in his head.
Iago: “But for a satisfaction of my thought-No further harm”
This encourages Othello to ask him questions. This gives Iago a perfect alibi that Othello asked him and not the other way round.
Iago: “Why, then, I think Cassio’s and honest man”
This shows that there is a little bit of irony in Iagos’s truth, the way he says that.
Iago: “O beware, my lord, of jealousy, it is the green eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on”.
Iago explains his views on jealousy as he is trying to manipulate Othello’s way of thinking. Iago tells Othello not be jealous, as Othello starts to think what is there to be jealous. After Iago and Othello come to the end of there talk, Iago suggests to Othello that he keep an eye on Desdemona, and also to still mull over whether he is to give Cassio his job back.
Iago: “look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio”
Iago: “She did deceive her father, marrying you”
This makes Othello think that Desdemona is deceiving him.
Iago: “Of her clime, complexion, and degree, where to we see in all things nature tends, Foh…”
Iago is playing on Othello insecurities. Iago has now successfully poisoned Othello; the doubt has now set in Othello’s mind with hatred, suspicion, doubt, and destruction.
Desdemona talks with Othello, when they are finished she drops an important object, she dropped her handkerchief given to her by Othello. The handkerchief is a symbol of Othello’s love to Desdemona. The handkerchief was given to Othello by his parents so it means a lot to him. Desdemona drops the handkerchief and Emilia, Iago’s wife gives it to Iago to show much she loves him. The handkerchief is a very important part in Iago’s plan to bring down Othello. The handkerchief will be used as evidence to trap Othello into thinking that his wife is committing adultery.
Emilia: “What handkerchief, why that the moor first gave to Desdemona…no faith, she let it drop by negligence, and to th’ advantage, I being here, took’t up”
Othello has returned in Act 3 scene 3, he has changed his views and he realises he still loves Desdemona and doesn’t wont her to cope with his broken heart. Othello develops a sort of angel and devil scenario where the angel represents love and the devil represents hatred. He doesn’t which entity to listen too which creates a split personality in him, first minute he hates her then he loves her. Then Othello decides he needs hard proof, but Iago can’t give him that and Iago says
Iago: “How satisfied? my lord would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on? Behold her topped?”
This puts a horrible image in Othello mind, the thought of Desdemona and Cassio sleeping together gets him really angry. Iago puts his plan in acceleration by telling his first lie
Iago: “I lay with Cassio lately…I could not sleep…in sleep, I heard him say: sweet Desdemona let us wary, let us hide our loves.”
This makes Othello more jealous by saying he has seen Cassio carrying around with him Desdemona’s handkerchief. This is Iago teasing Othello with bits of information like Cassio having the handkerchief. Afterwards, in this scene Iago and Othello make a pact, even more powerful yet they make an oath between them to work together throughout there lives as Othello leaves Desdemona and joins forces with Iago.
Othello: “Even so my bloody thoughts with violent pace shall ne,er look back, ne’er ebb to humble love, till that a capable and wide revenge”
Iago has now successfully filled Othello with as much hatred, negativity and devilish thoughts, murderous, destruction, evil and jealousy. This pact symbolises a devils pact to keep an agreement to get revenge and stay together united,
Iago: Witness you ever-burning lights above, you elements that clip us round about witness that here Iago doth give up the execution of his wit, hands heart, to wronged Othello’s service. Let him command, and to obey shall be in me remorse, what bloody business ever.”
Othello treats her harshly and says she is false and then he slaps her because he feels hurt and betrayed. As he sees her crying and pain, he thinks this is a disguise for who she really is, but this is not true and she is an innocent party in this. Iago has created hate towards her and you start to empathise with her. Iago has also planned proof for Othello to stumble upon by giving the handkerchief to Cassio. Iago goes to talk to Cassio and tells Othello to hide. Iago is going to talk to Cassio about the handkerchief and Desdemona but really Iago is going to talk to Cassio about Bianca, a whore he is sleeping with. Othello hides in the background and Cassio doesn’t know Othello is listening hard to everything he says. Iago starts to talk about Cassio getting married to Bianca, but Cassio just laughs, but Othello takes this as Cassio thinking his affair with his wife is just foe fun.
Othello: (n a whispered voice) So, so, so: they laugh that win.”
Then Iago gets lucky when Bianca comes in with the handkerchief that Iago has planted. Othello feels disgusted that his token of love has been given to a common whore.
Bianca: “let the devil and his dam haunt you, what did you mean by that handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it.
Othello: (WHISPER) by heaven that should be my handkerchief”
Iago builds the tension of Othello’s observation by joking about marriage and treats it like its just for fun and Cassio laughs with Iago. This is not fun for Othello; he sees this as an act of betrayal and feels as if a knife has pierced his heart. Cassio leaves with Bianca and Othello and Iago come together to talk about what’s just happened. Othello counts every thing he’s heard from Cassio mouth as the truth and it relating to his wife Desdemona and starts his conversation with Iago by saying
Othello: “How shall I murder him Iago?”
Othello is now torn between jealousy and love and now the two are mixed together
Othello: Ay let her, rot and perish, and be damned tonight, for she shall not live! No, my heart is turned to stone: I strike it, and it hurts my hand. – O the world hath not a sweeter creature!”
Iago: “Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice? And did you see the handkerchief. Yours, by the hand! And to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife: she gave it to him, and he hath giv’n it his whore….she’s the worst for all this.”
Iago poisons Othello’s mind into thinking that it is all Desdemona’s fault and she is the betrayer and the wicked villain
Othello: “A fair woman, a sweet woman!
Iago: “Nay, you must forget that.”
As Othello is now completely taken over with jealousy and hatred about Cassio sleeping with his wife Desdemona, it is now very very obvious and so Emilia, Iago’s wife can see it in Othello’s eyes. So she has a talk Desdemona to see her views on jealous men who cannot control there emotions (mainly anger and jealousy).
Desdemona: “They are all but stomachs and we all but food. They eat us hungrily and when they are full they belch us…they are jealous because they are jealous.”
This means a jealous frame of mind does anything to feed upon it. Iago is in a very strong position with his plan to manipulate Othello. But Emilia is Iago’s weak link because Emilia suspects something, but everything she suspects about Othello is really what Iago is.
Emilia: “Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have? Then let them use us well: else let them know the ills instruct us so…if wives fall. Say that they slack their duties”
Emilia is more down to earth and as she notices these reactions in men. The nature of Iago’s jealousy and motivation is
Iago: He hath a daily beauty in his life. That makes me ugly”
Iago plays on Othello’s weakness and his vulnerable and self esteem. Iago’s plan to change Othello from a hero to a villain just like him succeeds. When Iago convinces Roderigo to kill Cassio but doesn’t succeed, at this time Othello is going to kill Desdemona with a pillow, by smothering her. Othello thinks he has succeeded in killing Desdemona but really she is only unconscious. Emilia is behind the door asking to speak with Desdemona, when she hears Desdemona crying out loud.
Desdemona: “O, falsely, falsely murdered”
Emilia rushes into to the room to investigate what is going on, Emilia asks who has done this to her and Desdemona responds with her last breath by saying she did it herself and then dies. Emilia then accuses Othello
Emilia: “And you the blacker devil!”
Othello tells her that Desdemona was a whore and false. Emilia tells Othello that Desdemona was pure and innocent, and then Othello says
Othello: “Thy husband knew it all.”
Emilia comes clean about the plot when she says that Iago lies and that and starts talking about the fact that she gave Iago the handkerchief. Everyone enters the room and Emilia shouts out about the fact that Iago was lying about Cassio and Desdemona, Iago responds by telling Emilia to shut up. Emilia decides she has had enough of being obedient to Iago and now all her virtue and loyalty goes to Desdemona even though she is dead. Emilia decides to defend Desdemona.
Iago: “Charm your tongue.”
Emilia: “I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak: my mistress here lies murdered in her bed.”
Othello starts to realise that the whole affair was a hidden lie he goes after Iago, but Iago moves out of the way and Othello ends up stabbing Emilia and killing her. Othello feels tortured as well as killing his innocent wife, who begged him not to kill her he has now killed Emilia, who was just as much a victim in all this mess as him. Othello feels he can’t deal with all this guilt and kills himself because he feels life is not worth living. Iago entraps the other characters which fuels his revenge. Through deception, Iago creates the appearance of a good caring person, which fools people close to him into thinking he is trustworthy. When really he implanted images into the head of Othello, through comments about Cassio and Roderigo. Iago creates the downfall for all of them. The audience see Iago’s declaration s to one character in which he deceives another character. The foundation for Iago’s success comes from carefully built trust with all the characters. It is “honesty” from Iago that his friends don’t doubt. Iago wasn’t evil because he just felt like being evil, he was just blinded by jealousy and greed.
