Iago continuously reminds Othello how honest and loyal he is and unfortunately, Othello seems to believe him.
IAGO
‘Lord, you know I love you.’
This is on line 118. Iago says this because he is becoming increasingly aware that Othello is changing, into what, Iago isn’t sure of yet so he must constantly be on his toes in order to not become detected from a silly mistake he made with loose words. From telling Othello he loves him, Othello is incessantly conscious of who Iago is making out to be and so Othello wont lose his temper so badly with ‘honest’, ‘true’ Iago as he would with any other person. After all, Othello trusts Iago more than his own wife, Desdemona. This is because Iago has learnt of reputation from his earlier conversation with Cassio, now Iago constantly builds his reputation up by giving compliments and making himself seem honest, sincere and helpful. Having a good reputation meant an awful lot in those days as can be seen from Othello’s extreme trust in Iago and because of his faith, Othello completely falls for Iago’s coy and withholding tricks.
This passage is on line 130.
IAGO
‘…I think Cassio’s an honest man.’
In this quotation Iago plays with Othello’s thoughts by inserting his own insecurity into Othello’s. Iago speaks no ill of Cassio so saying this does no harm to his reputation but his persistent repeating of Cassio and his thoughts about Cassio’s honesty is making what Othello is trying to find out extraordinarily clear, but Iago has yet to say it and until Othello gets some serious confirmation he’s not going to accept that Desdemona has been unfaithful. Iago has many techniques for manipulation but his obvious favourite is innuendos, here is an example of one, line 128.
IAGO
‘…men should be what they seem.’
Eventually, Iago really irritates Othello and he begins to force Iago to tell him, Iago intentionally ‘tries’ to cover it up and this only makes things worse for Othello who is beginning to suspect Desdemona.
On lines 168-172, for once Iago is telling the absolute truth and warning him of jealousy, however only the audience and Iago know that he is really talking about his hatred and jealousy for Othello, not what Othello is thinking, which is his own growing hatred and jealousy for Cassio.
IAGO
‘…O beware my lord of jealousy which doth mock the meat it feeds on…’
This advice really makes Othello uneasy, he begins to list Desdemona’s virtues and because his own virtues seem so miniature to him, compared to hers, he begins to reassure himself and finally tells Iago he is false and that he has trust in Desdemona. Nevertheless, Iago notices Othello’s weakness and begins to work on it.
IAGO
‘…I speak not yet of proof…’
This sentence is line 198, it begins Iago’s true poison, by saying this, Iago is contradicting what Othello is basing his security on, by taking that away, Othello is prone to falling into uncertainty unless he can find a reply.
IAGO
‘…She did deceive her father marrying you.’
In this quotation, line 206, Iago presses further to prove his thought, which he finally told to Othello 10 lines before this. Iago begins to unearth some of Othello’s anxieties however; Othello’s heart stays true to Desdemona and he insists that he is not moved by Iago’s sly words. Evidence of this is:
IAGO
‘I see this hath dashed our spirits.
OTHELLO
Not a jolt, not a jolt’
Following this, Iago begins to act sympathetic towards Othello as if he needed pity, Othello firstly reacts positively and denies his thoughts of Desdemona been altered, but after a while, Iago’s frequent ‘pity’ causes Othello to think, well maybe I do need a bit of sympathy and he begins to feel sorry for himself, just as Iago wants.
To create insecurity in Othello, Iago takes advantage of Othello’s foreign status by telling him that all the Venetian women are ‘at it’. Support for this is:
IAGO
‘…In Venice they do let God see the pranks
They dare not show their husbands…’
This quotation is on line 203-204; Iago is explaining to Othello that Desdemona is probably of no exception to the unfaithful Venetian women. Iago is completely aware that this is not true, but Othello cannot know this, seem as he hasn’t been in Venice for that long.
OTHELLO
‘and yet how nature erring from itself-‘
In this quotation (line 229), Othello really begins to consider Iago’s story, Iago has successfully gotten through to Othello’s vulnerable side. What this quotation actually means is Othello is wondering why Desdemona chose him, a black, older soldier, when she could have so many other white, young people. In the days when this was written it was considered ‘unnatural’ for two people of a different colour to marry, which is what he means by ‘nature erring from itself’. Iago agrees with this and takes it further, burrowing deeper into Othello’s apprehensions.
Iago then secures himself by explaining that he may not be right and Othello should look out for Desdemona himself.
IAGO
‘…Note if your lady strain his entertainment
With any strong or vehement importunity –
Much will be seen in that…’
This passage is on lines 252 – 254; you can tell within this passage that Iago is putting on a kind; sympathetic voice knowing too well that the damage is done. By saying he isn’t completely sure only secures his own place, Othello has been slightly messed up and is now considering every time Desdemona and Cassio have been together, suspecting. Everything from here on will be a suspicion for Othello.
Shortly after Iago leaves, Othello is left to himself and there is a soliloquy, where Othello addresses his vulnerabilities and he talks savagely about Desdemona and how she has been taken from him. Othello is distancing himself from Desdemona; evidence of this is in lines 269-270:
OTHELLO
‘…She’s gone, I am abused, and my relief
Must be to loathe her…’
In this quotation, it is clear to the audience that Iago’s poison has made Othello begin to turn hostile from his own suspicion. During this soliloquy, the audience is enthused with anger from Iago’s lies. The play structure is really quite absurd up until now when it would seem that Othello has become completely vulnerable from an incredibly noble general. In this soliloquy, Othello also mentions that he is a bad public speaker, this is completely untrue as the audience know, this proves just how vulnerable Othello is feeling, he is completely unsure of himself and just to make things worse, he is in love with Desdemona. To be in love and to be hurt by that person is most probably the worst thing that could ever happen to you, and so the audience is once again irritated.
Later, there is clear evidence of hostility in Othello. He is completely convinced of Desdemona’s infidelity. He bids farewell to not only his nobility but also everything that makes him a man.
OTHELLO
‘Farewell! Othello’s occupation gone.’
There is a huge repetition of farewell, which shows his despair and his becoming a barbarian. However he is incredibly aggressive towards Iago, he wants proof! Iago’s position is becoming a spiral of which at the end it is clear he will die unless he does something drastic to undo the spiral. As is typical of Iago, he attempts to truly break Othello down by asking for what kind of ‘proof’ and speaking aloud incredibly rude images:
IAGO
‘…Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys…’
(Line 404) These few lines antagonise Othello, as they are not only sexual but also animalistic references. Iago is putting provocative images in Othello’s head deliberately so he’ll go completely mad. Before seeing this tremendous change in poor Othello, Iago was alienating him pretty much for ‘fun’ and satisfaction of his own hatred and jealousy of Othello, but seeing this transformation from a noble man to a beast, Iago is suddenly put in an extremely dangerous position. His usual subtle ways are thrown out of the window as Iago continues his boldness and begins to tell absolute lies:
‘…I lay with Cassio lately…’
‘…In sleep I heard him say, ‘Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves.’…’
These are lines 414 and 420-421. These lines are an utter lie that Iago simply made up on the spot and cannot be proven but it settles as proof for Othello who is driven further down the path of insanity. This leaves Othello completely empty; the civilised Othello has now completely vanished and it would seem to the audience that all is lost, Othello’s speech changes dramatically from speaking gracious words of love Othello now speaks of darkness, his heart is torn asunder and all he feels is pain and obscurity. Othello kneels and speaks as if he were speaking to the devil and making a pact with him:
OTHELLO
‘…Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!…’
(Line 448) Whilst saying this, Othello is kneeling which only adds to the hellish atmosphere; kneeling firstly in defeat, then it sounds as if Othello is calling up the devil, making a pact and speaking of hellish things. As if this wasn’t enough, Iago joins Othello on his knees as if he were taking the contract, Iago does this so it brings them closer together and Othello’s trust is once again renewed.
But Iago is not done, he manipulates Othello further even though he has no more reason to, here is evidence in line 475:
‘…But let her live.’
Actually, Othello wasn’t even thinking of killing Desdemona, Iago is saying this to put the thought into Othello’s corrupted mind; it’s reverse psychology and the work of a master crime. Iago has absolutely no reason to do this but it really shows the audience exactly what kind of twisted, evil man Iago is.
