Othello is a very old fashioned man as he only sees in black and white, its either one or the other never down the middle; because of this it is easy for Iago to manipulate him. There are two keywords to Othello, that he simply cannot comprehend and they are ‘think’ and ‘honest’. Othello deals in absolutes this is one of his initial weaknesses, he cannot deal with uncertainty, and he also cannot deal with doubt and deliberation. Iago’s power resides in these words, he acts as an honest man and then poisons Othello’s mind.
One of Iago’s most effective techniques is that of implying jealously “O beware my lord of jealously;/It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/The meat it feeds on”. Here Shakespeare uses imagery of an evil monster. Iago warns Othello of jealousy, thereby implying that he has something to be jealous of. Iago tells Othello that jealousy makes a man look ridiculous; it is okay for a man who doesn’t love his wife and knows she’s been unfaithful, but for a man who does love his wife and the only suspects and doubts her that is misery.
Iago subtly manipulates language, as he plants seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind “Men should be what they seem;/Or those who be not, would they might seem none”. Ironic as Iago is not what he seems, he has cleverly implied that Cassio may be duplicitous. Not only is this irony but it is dramatic irony, as the audience know that Iago is not what he seems whereas Othello is oblivious to any of this.
Iago constantly refers to racist imagery, to attack Othello and under mine his confidence, when talking of their marriage, and why Desdemona may have an affair “Not to affect many proposed matches/Of her own clime, complexion and degree/Where to we see in all things nature tends…though I may fear/Her will, recoiling to her better judgement/May fall to match you with her country forms”. This racist comment refers to why Desdemona may have an affair, but also why she didn’t marry a white Venetian aristocrat like herself – she went against her nature and may be changing her mind. A marriage such as this in the Jacobean/Elizabethan period would have seemed a shock to the audience of the time, whereas nowadays it is more widely accepted. Jacobean audiences would have been influenced by the two settings in Othello, they would have seen Venice as a powerful commercial republic which is civilised and wealthy. Cyprus on the other hand – an outpost of the empire would have been seen as remote and the perfect place for passion and intrigue. Other play s which were written at the time of Othello which included black characters include Tamburlaine the Great (1587) by Christopher Marlowe, in this play and many other the black characters were seen as evil, nasty and stereotyped as sexually pocency. Earlier in the play, Iago used racist imagery constantly to refer to Othello when talking to other characters and Othello himself; when Iago went to tell Brabantio, Desdemona’s father of her marriage to Othello, he says “An old black ram/is tupping your white ewe”. Not only is it racist comment but it uses animal imagery. Iago uses this frequently to degrade Othello, as this was said in Act I Scene I before the audience has even met Othello.
By this time in the play, Iago has made Othello start to doubt himself and his wife, think that Cassio is a liar and cheat. At this point in time the audience feel frustrated towards Othello and Iago. Othello because he so susceptible to Iago’s manipulative ways. This introduces dramatic irony. The audience are frustrated with Iago as he is destroying people’s lives for petty reasons. After every attack on Othello, Iago constantly reminds him that he loves him “My lord, you know I love you” confirming his loyalty.
So far Iago has undermined Othello ruthlessly by being racist, he has made Othello think that has something to be jealous about, also that Desdemona has been unfaithful. He reminds Othello that she lied to father about marrying him and could do it again “She did deceive her
father, marrying you;/And when she seemed to shake, and fear your looks/She loved them most”. He says that Desdemona pretended to be afraid to keep him happy.
Othello has a very brief soliloquy after Iago leaves. In this Othello doubts his marriage and talks of Iago “Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless/Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds”. All through this quote dramatic irony runs through it as now Othello has
been ensnared in Iago trap. As soon as Othello has finished saying this Iago returns. This is because he knows that he knows that his poison won’t take long to affect Othello. He uses silence as a technique which proved effective.
Iago once more takes his leave and Othello descents into a grand soliloquy. In this Othello doubts his marriage, his wife and himself. Othello talks of Desdemona “If I do prove her
haggard/Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings/I’d whistle her off and let her down the wind/To prey at fortune”. Here Shakespeare uses animal imagery to refer to characters. What Othello is saying here is that if he finds Iago is right, then he will deal with Desdemona immediately. He’s started to believe Iago’s poisonous words. We see how Iago’s manipulative language has affected Othello as he starts to doubt himself “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”. Othello doubts his age, race and bed-side manner, in a way he compares himself to Cassio who is unlike Othello – young, white and knows how to talk i.e. to women. At the same time he degraded himself. Othello think that he’s the way he is because he’s a soldier – rough, uncivilized and violent. Othello tells the audience that he considers Desdemona a possession and that someone else is using her based on Iago’s false accusations and what he’d rather be “I had rather be a toad/And live upon the vapour of a dungeon/Than keep a corner in the thing I love/For others uses”. Othello also shows his vanity in this soliloquy “Yet tis the plague of great ones/Prerogratived are they less than base”. At the moment Othello won’t accept that he is to blame. At this point Desdemona returns with Emilia and Othello says “If she be false, o then heaven mocks itself”. Othello considers Desdemona heaven and if she is false then heaven is a mockery. This soliloquy reveals how Iago has successfully manipulated Othello. When Desdemona returns the tension is unbearable because of dramatic irony. Desdemona thinks that Othello is unwell and offers him her handkerchief. The handkerchief is dropped and left here Shakespeare show a good use of props. The handkerchief is a loaded item and a dramatic device which is symbolic of Othello and Desdemona’s love which Iago takes, twists and destroys. The fact that the handkerchief was dropped is lucky for Iago as he needs circumstantial evidence to show Othello of Desdemona’s adultery. The handkerchief works so well as it was gift from Othello to Desdemona and Desdemona has never been without it until now.
Emilia is left alone and picks the handkerchief up. Emilia’s soliloquy has one importance, to move the play along. However, it shows how weak willed and easily manipulated Emilia is. It allows the audience to know the importance of the handkerchief to Iago, they catch on once Emilia tells them “My wayward husband hath a hundred times/Wooed me to steal it”. Iago wants to plant the handkerchief as evidence. Emilia reveals that she’d do anything for Iago “I nothing but to please his fantasy”. Unlike Othello and Desdemona’s healthy relationship in the beginning of the play, Emilia and Iago’s is unhealthy. Iago does not think highly of his wife, as when he entered, and Emilia told him she had a thing for him he replied “A thing for me? It is a common thing”. He twists Emilia’s meaning into a crude way of referring to the female sexual organ implying she’s unfaithful. Iago snatches the handkerchief and tells Emilia to leave.
At this point Iago has a soliloquy in which he reveals his intentions for the handkerchief. It is the evidence that Othello needs. This soliloquy reveals a much darker, twisted mind – almost psychopathic. Iago enjoys watching his plan unfold. He tells the audience he shall place the
handkerchief in Cassio’s lodgings and let him find it, he goes on “Trifles light as air/Are to the jealous confirmations strong/As proofs of Holy writ. This may do something/The Moor already changes with my poison/Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons”. Something so simple to people who are jealous (Othello) it is like Bible meaning that the proof is undeniably true just the Bible is thought to be. ‘Dangerous Conceits,’ ideas are poisonous and Othello’s transformation shows this. This also establishes Iago as a powerful and manipulative character as he slowly changes Othello while we the audience watch on.
The effect on the audience is one of mixed feelings; they horrified and excited to see how Iago’s plan will unfold. They are hooked in by the darkness and horror of it. Just goes to show – Everyone loves a villain. This short but excitingly frightening soliloquy shows how Iago will and has successfully destroyed Othello’s mind. Once Othello sees Cassio in possession of the handkerchief, then Iago’s plan will be almost finished – Othello will deal with Desdemona destroying his life. Othello enters and Iago continues “Not poppy, nor mandragora/Not all the drowsy syrups of the world/Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep/Which thou owedst yesterday”. Othello will never get back to the point which he was at yesterday, this echoes Iago’s comments on jealousy.
From this point on Iago has speeches that are long and Othello has short snippets of dialogue, in the same way Iago did earlier. A role-reversal has taken place. Othello’s transformation can be seen in his language “I had been happy, if the general camp/Pioneers and all had tasted her sweet body/So I had nothing known”. Othello gives a crude image and this is a very Iago-like comment, Othello says that he wouldn’t have minded as long as he never knew. Othello gives Iago a warning and demands ocular proof, which Iago comes up with via the handkerchief.
In Act III Iago is able to successfully manipulate Othello, and Othello struggles to resist jealousy which he then succumbs to later on. Desdemona had some power over Othello because of their love, but all traces of her power are lost due to Iago. Othello had power over Iago as a General and still does, but Iago poisons have made him cling to Iago in a way that he needs him all the time. Iago quickly gained all other power over Othello because of his quick wit and subtle technique. For Iago, he had power over all the characters from the beginning of the play. Othello was employed as a military leader, Venice at the time did employ such men because they needed to defend both themselves and their colonial outposts.
In the final part of the scene Shakespeare uses language to shows us how Othello is being corrupted and becoming more like Iago, “By the world/I think my wife honest, and think she is not/I think thou art just and think thou art not/I’ll have some proof. Her name was as fresh/As Dian’s visage is now begrimed and black/As mine own face”. This mirrors Iago’s language and comments, his language has disintegrated and is no longer decadent. It reveals that Othello confused as to whether believe Iago about his wife’s adultery, however the violent tone indicates that Iago’s spell is working. Othello starts to use violent imagery when talking of what he’ll do to Desdemona after Iago tells him of other proofs. “I’ll tear her all to pieces”. This is violent imagery which reveals Othello’s more soldier-like side, rough and violent. The language that Shakespeare has used here reveals how Othello is gradually changing. Iago had just lied about Cassio talking in his sleep. What was said was crude, comical and obvious to the audience untrue, however Othello is certain that it is about a real sexual encounter and is desperate for proof of her unfaithfulness. Iago starts to finish off Othello’s sentences, and Othello starts to become crude and Iago like. He once again is racist towards himself as he gets more and more convinced of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness “Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell”. Black is bad echoing, Iago’s racist and undermining language.
Shakespeare does not give stage directions often. However, one is of massive importance as it shows Iago’s successful manipulation and power over Othello. After Othello’s vengeful words to Iago, Othello [kneels]. Othello kneels first, showing that Iago has more power over him.
Iago then has a grand speech in which he ‘pledges’ his services to Othello “Witness that Iago doth give up/The execution of his wit, hands, heart/To wrong’d Othello’s service”. Iago is good as acting as an honest and good man, other characters such as Othello cannot see through this act making them susceptible to his potent attacks with language. Here Iago gives himself to Othello and Othello is totally under Iago’s controlling spell.
In Iago’s final three way attack on Othello’s mind Shakespeare uses crude, comical and obviously false imagery and evidence. In the first part of this attack Othello wants to see evidence, this is a problem as Iago cannot provide a meeting between Desdemona and Cassio, to avoid this he conjures up a crude image of Desdemona and another man in this case Cassio “How satisfied my lord?/Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on,/Behold her topped?”. This is a crude image of Desdemona having sex with Cassio while Othello spies on them. Here all Iago is doing, is digging Desdemona’s grave for her and cruelly twisting the knife in Othello. Iago goes on to give Othello a repetition of when Cassio was talking in his sleep. He tells Othello that Cassio said “Sweet Desdemona/Let us be wary, let us hide our loves’”. Also that Cassio would kiss him as if he were Desdemona and placed his thigh over him and cried out “Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!”. This is crude and comical but also blatantly obvious that it is untrue, however Othello thinks it true and is now in desperate need of evidence. Iago also says “Pricked to’t by foolish honesty and love/I will go on”. This is said just before Iago tells Othello of Cassio’s dream, Iago tells Othello that he is driven by honesty and love, neither of which are true; Iago is driven by malice and revenge. In Iago’s final attack he asks Othello about the handkerchief. “Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief/Spotted with Strawberries in your wife’s hand? Othello tells Iago that it was his first gift to her. Iago tells Othello that he saw Cassio wipe his beard with it. Othello now thinks that Desdemona has given Cassio the handkerchief, this shows Shakespeare’s excellent use of structure and prop. This imagery blinds Othello’s rational thought and he almost instantly believes Iago.
In the final lines of this scene Iago and Othello rise from kneeling and Othello says “I greet thy love.” Something which one would say to a loved one. These lines confirm to the audience what will happen in the scenes to come. Othello orders Cassio death “ Within these three days let me hear thee say/That Cassio’s not alive”. Iago agrees and says that it is as good as done, he ask for Desdemona to be kept alive, however Othello refuses “I will withdraw/To furnish me with some swift means of death/For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant”. Othello is going to find a quick and easy way to kill Desdemona. Iago has now been given the position he wanted which was Cassio’s. Iago’s response to this is “I am your own forever.” This last line and Othello’s earlier line (“I greet thy love”) are things that lovers says to each other. They are so sickeningly effective as it is as though Iago has replaced Desdemona in this marriage. These last few lines show the audience that the deaths of both Cassio and Desdemona are secure.
Othello in Act III scene III is responsible for most of the events that take place during and later on. Iago has simply just penetrated his mind with ill thoughts and jealousy. Othello dismissed Desdemona, ironically when she wanted to talk to him about her honest thoughts and opinions. When Iago mentioned the ‘Green-eyed monster’ of jealousy it was Othello who mentioned Desdemona. Othello is also partly responsible for the dropping of Desdemona’s handkerchief which she offered him. Othello is the one who ordered Cassio’s death and who kills Desdemona himself. The fact that before this scene Othello was happily married, trusted his wife, had everything and now has been reduced to an insane raging animal shows Iago’s intelligence and sophistication of manipulating language. Shakespeare’s techniques of sexual imagery, questioning, racism and animal imagery, and silence are successful as they make you think that Iago has managed to transform Othello into a hateful and vengeful man purely by the power and sophistication of his words. However Othello is only partly to blame, Iago is responsible for pushing Othello to the brink of destruction.
