Othello makes a wise decision on the grounds of his role in society rather then his friendship with Cassio. The audience are made more aware of his excellent leadership.
As with all of Shakespeare’s great tragedy’s, alongside the tragic hero himself an equally powerful villain must live his life. ‘Honest’ Iago, Othello’s supposed, devoted loyal friend is one of the most complex characters in the play. Smart and cunning Iago is able to poison many a good mind with his careful plotting and hidden manipulative qualities. Iago’s ability to take advantage of other peoples weaknesses and his excellent judge of character drives him further to his own evil goals. Iago is honest to no one but himself throughout the play and so makes him quite the mastermind in the story. At the beginning of the play the audience are not able to tell how smart and cunning Iago is. The more characters we see him interacting with the more we learn about his personality and intentions. It is clear from the beginning that Iago does hate Othello, but as the play progresses the audience will be able to pick up on all the possible reasons for his bitter hatred towards ‘The Moor’
Iago comes across as a true and faithful friend to everyone in the play, offering suitable advice to all of his victims. Iago tells people what they need to hear and so people believe he is decent and ‘honest’ as he is often referred to as in the play. An example of this in Act 1 Scene 1. “I follow him to serve my turn upon him…Call up her father: Rouse him, make after him, poison his delight, proclaim him in the street…” Act 1, Scene 1, lines 42/68. Here, Iago assures Roderigo that he detests Othello because he chose Cassio over him to be his lieutenant. Roderigo buys the story and is comforted and feels safe in the knowledge that the money he spent on Iago’s plan to get Roderigo and Desdemona together was well spent. Iago even advises Roderigo to tell Desdemona’s father of their secret marridge. By helping Roderigo, Iago now knows that Roderigo trusts him, which is all he needs at this point in the play. Iago is two faced, we see this very soon after the first scene where he explains to Othello how Desdemona’s father had foul mouthed him, even thought it was Iago who provoked it.
“Nay, but he prated, and spoke such scurvy and provoking terms against your honour…” Act 1, Scene 2, line 7. This quote suggests he is trying to be on the right side of everyone, Othello especially as it is he who Iago wants after.
Shakespeare created a character so evil and un-pure that in almost all of his speeches the language and imagery sounds disturbing and fairly shocking for an audience.
“Drown cats and blind puppies” Act 1, Scene 3, line 327. Iago uses an upsetting phrase, which adds to his heartless character. It seems that Iago does not respect anything purer then his own mind. We see he has adopted the typical view of women at that time, where all women were seen to be unfaithful and deceitful to their partners. The phrase “guinea-hen” Act 1, Scene 3, line 309. A rather derogatory term used by him to describe women.
His disrespect of the opposite sex works in favour for him later on in the play when he is subtly convincing Othello that Desdemona is being unfaithful.
Act 3 Scene 3 has been argued to be the pivotal scene for Othello, the events which unfold in this scene are said to be the ones that slowly lay out his sad transformation and ending.
Iago slowly plants seeds of doubt into Othello’s mind about Desdemona and Cassio. Across the whole scene we see Othello slowly being poisoned by Iago. Othello’s mind starts to work like Iago’s and he begins to talk and most dangerous of all, think like Iago.
Iago tries to portray the loyal follower throughout the scene, only passing his ideas across indirectly to Othello who then reads further into them.
Iago uses the trust bestowed on him by Othello to play with Othello’s mind. At the beginning of Act 3 Scene 3 when Cassio asks Desdemona to convince Othello to take him back as him lieutenant he leaves quickly to avoid the awkwardness, Iago knows this but changes it to suspicion.
“Ha! I like not that… No, sure I cannot think it that he would steal away so guilty-like seeing you coming” Act 3, Scene 3, line 34 Here the audience can see Iago starting to put his plans into action. The audience know very clearly what Iago is trying to do with Othello, using reverse psychology on him to make Othello think wrongly about Desdemona and Cassio. He continues to make little curious comments to Othello about Desdemona, asking questions about Cassio’s relationship with him and Desdemona.
“Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady, know of your love?” Act 3, Scene 3, line 93. Iago subtly plants it into Othello’s mind that he has a motive for asking all of these questions about Cassio. And as Othello trusts him, so much and cares very much about Iago’s ‘honest’ opinion he is intrigued and wants to know why Iago takes such an intrest to Desdemona’s relationship with Cassio.
“Nay, yet there’s more in this. I prithee speak to me as to thy thinkings…” Othello will not let the subject drop until he has Iago’s idea about Cassio.
When Desdemona approaches Othello to discuss Cassio the audience can see how Iago’s plans are slowly but perfectly coming together. Iago knows how suspicious it would look to Othello if Desdemona persistently sticks up for Cassio and asks him to give his position back. Although Othello assures Iago that he is not a jealous man and trusts his wife. We can see Othello starting to doubt himself aswel. He does not want to believe what Iago is suggesting and so puts on a brave face to show Iago there is nothing to worry about.
“For she had eyes and chose me.” Act 3, Scene 3 line 191. The audience can see that perhaps he is trying to convince himself that Desdemona is faithful and chose him rather then someone of her own race and class rather than Iago.
Othello is slowly starting to believe Iago, the audience can see this when he allows Iago to advise him on a way of action to prove Desdemona’s innocence or guilt.
“I speak not yet of proof, look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio, wear your eyes thus..." Act 3, Scene 3, line198. This quote suggests that Iago knows he has almost gotten a hold of Othello and has him now vulnerable to new ideas. The audience are already aware of Iago’s misogynistic views on women.
“She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks she loved them most” Act 3, Scene 3, line 205. Here, Iago points out that Desdemona had it in her to lie to her own father and is more then capable of doing so to Othello aswel. Iago points out the way Desdemona fears his looks, the audience can now see how Othello is starting to visualise Desdemona being hesitant around him. Othello also knows that this would make him look like a fool, a man of his status and respect could be looked down on if such a thing was to happen. Iago piles on more and more causes for concern for Othello to think about, the way Desdemona could have used her feminine charms to win over Othello. He does this purposefully without Othello realising his intentions. During this part of the scene Othello says very little to Iago, and listens. It is clear that Othello is now taking Iago very seriously. Iago is aware how he is perhaps sounding to Othello, so to re-assure him that he is pure and his intentions are as good as gold he tells Othello in a way that Othello could not possible deny.
“I humbly do beseech you of your pardon for too much loving you.” Act 3, Scene 3, line 214. This small conversation between Othello and Iago has fed Othello’s jelousy and turned him from the honest, trusting devoted husband he was in the beginning of the play.
The audience should now be aware of Othello’s dramatic change in heart.
“If more thou dost perceive, let me know more; set on thy wife to observe…” Act 3, Scene 3, line 241. Here it is clear that Othello has fallen into Iago’s trap. He is no longer the man who would ignore petty jealousy or remind himself of Desdemona’s love for him in order to remove doubts of any sort. He is suspicious, lost of all trust scared and regretful.
“Why did I marry?” Act 3, scene 3, line 254. This quote suggests Othello is emotionally unstable and perhaps a bit angry too. The audience can predict that he may do something if enough evidence is shown to him. Othello is now lost of his pre-concieved self-confidence. He is scared and doubts himself in a way which the audience would not think. He knows he is black, old and does not have the ability to speak like others. He begins to wander if these flaws in himself have lost him Desdemona.
“Haply for I am black, and have not those soft parts of conversation that chamberers have, or for I am declined into the vale of years…” Act 3, scene 3, line 265. Here, he is now giving himself reasons to doubt Desdemona. After Iago’s theories and ideas have already been planted in his mind he now starts to believe it himself.
The next big issue the audience have to deal with is the handkerchief which Emilia steals from Desdemona. The next big issue the audience have to deal with is the handkerchief which Emilia steals from Desdemona. As soon as the audience know that Iago has asked Emilia to steal the handkerchief they know that his plan is surely to work. It is almost certain that Othello will fall now. Othello’s character has taken a turn for the worst. What the audience once saw as the calm, cool-headed Othello has now changed to a jealous, revengeful, anger stricken man.
“Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore; be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof, or by the worth of mine eternal soul thou hadst been better born a dog that answer my waked wrath” Act 3, Scene 3, line 360. He is now so consumed with the idea of Cassio and Desdemona he has let it get to the point where he has lost intrest in his life, his job and self esteem. As the audience slowly see Othello get more and more frustrated they should be able to sense that something quite serious is going to happen. The audience know that Iago’s plan could not be working any better and he continues to feed the fire in Othello.
“In his sleep I heard him say, ‘Sweet Desdemona, let us be wary, let us hide our loves.’ And then, sir, he would gripe and wring my hand, cry, ‘O sweet creature!’ and then kiss me hard…Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor.” Act 3, Scene 3, line 420. This quote describes the dream Cassio was said to have had about Desdemona. Othello is now so infuriated and sickened at the thought of his love making love to another man he has turned violent minded.
“…I’ll tear her all to pieces” Act 3, Scene 3, line 433. Suggesting he is now adopting the evilness that Iago has planted within him. He has reached the point where jealousy has drowned his sense of calm and self-control. As the audience can see, the darker sides of his personality are revealed in this lengthy scene. Iago has Othello exactly where he wants him as he is as raged as anything, Iago knows what Othello is capable of doing and will do what he can to get Othello to do it. When Iago notices Othello’s state, he picks the perfect time to bring up the handkerchief, which his wife had stolen from Desdemona for him. Iago knows this is the proof that Othello has been looking for. Knowing that it was Othello’s precious first gift to Desdemona its sentimental value is immense. He succeeds in completely poisoning Othello’s mind, as in this scene Othello agrees to believe Desdemona is unfaithful to him.
“Now I do see ‘tis true…All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven; ‘tis gone.” Act 3, Scene 3, line 445. The language Othello starts to use shows he is now completely taken over. He speaks of evil things and creates imagery that you would not associate with the good Othello that we were introduced to at the beginning.
“Arise, black vengance, from thy hollow cell! Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne to tyrannous hate! Swell, blossom…” Othello speaks of black vengance, which shows he is planning on taking his revenge on Desdemona and Cassio. The audience should now be prepared for a somewhat tragic ending to the story as they, aswel as Iago are aware of his physical capabilities. It is not yet clear how but it is almost too predictable that Othello will take his vengance somehow.
Othello now is the one who has his own ideas, Iago doesn’t feed him anymore.
“… Within these three days let me hear thee say that Cassio’s not alive.” Othello orders Iago to kill Cassio. The audience now know what is going on inside Othello’s mind and how much Iago and Othello have become similar.
The last lines in the scene I believe definitely prepare the audience for what is to occur in the rest of the play. They can see Othello’s anger, hate and jealousy just as they saw the same in Iago at the beginning. Now as Othello reveals his plans to kill both of them the audience are most likely to be more and more frustrated seeing such a pure man be so corrupted by such a pure weakness.
“Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her, damn her! Come, go with me apart. I will withdraw to furnish me with some swift means of death for the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.” Othello refers to Desdemona as ‘the fair devil’ suggesting he thinks she was fake. Such a beautiful exterior, but a devil on her inside. He tells the audience he is going to kill Desdemona aswel, so as a sort of prologue the audience now know what is going to happen to Desdemona and Cassio but there is no hint that Othello will die aswel. Iago finally reaches his goal, he receives the position he was looking for all along. The audience can see how evil he is, the lives he has and is going to ruin just for a higher-ranking position.
The whole scene slowly shows the audience Othello’s transformation from upstanding ruler to jealous murderer. Shakespeare wanted to create a scene so full of irony and succeeded, the audience can help but to hate Iago as he is everything but what he claims to be.