“Even now, now, very now, an old black ram
Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise;” (1.1.89-90)
These words are very crude as he is describing that they are having sex but using animals to emphasise what he is saying even more. All throughout the play Iago’s language is extremely crude even when he is talking to his wife and even Othello.
At this point, both Brabantio and the audience are likely to believe what Iago is saying about Othello and Desdemona because there is no evidence to suggest that Iago is lying. We have also not met Othello yet at this point in the play, therefore, can’t disagree with Iago’s accusations based on Othello’s character. We do not know though, that he is telling Brabantio of his daughter’s relationship with Othello purely to get revenge on the Black general. Othello doesn’t come into the play until the beginning of Act I, scene 2 where he confronts Iago and speaks of how he is confident with the love that he shares with Desdemona. He doesn’t want anyone to stand between their relationship and he wants Brabantio to know how he feels about Desdemona. Iago warns Othello that when Brabantio enters there won’t be a friendly conversation so Othello draws out his sword. Brabantio calls Othello a thief and accuses him of stealing his daughter, but through this Othello seems to be calm and dignified. A contemporary audience would be surprises about how Brabantio refers to Desdemona as his possession rather then a human being. Today in modern society this would be seen as sexual discrimination but in the times this play was written in the early seventeenth century this would be a normal and accepted way of talking about women.
Brabantio takes no time to hear Othello’s side of the story and automatically decides that he is guilty. They decide to appear before a Court of Justice and Othello questions how this will help and what it will prove. This is what Act I, scene 3 is all about. Brabantio believes that Othello has bewitched Desdemona’s mind as she wouldn’t want a man like him. Also in this scene Othello discovers that he must leave for Cyprus to fight the enemy, the Turk. The fact that the Duke called him “valiant Othello” shows that he and the senators have a very high opinion of Othello and are dependant on him for the fate of their army.
Brabantio told the Duke of how his daughter had been stolen and corrupted by the magic and medicine of another, by saying:
“She is abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted” (1.3.60)
The Duke is not too pleased about this accusation and curses the person who has done it. However, when he finds out that Othello is the culprit he simply asks the Moor what he has got to say in defence to this accusation.
“What in your part can you say to this?” (1.3.74)
In his defence, Othello explains how he has been very well treated by Brabantio since coming to Venice. Also Brabantio and Desdemona would listen to his tales; this is what made him and Desdemona fall in love. Desdemona felt sorry for Othello and pitied him and the life he has lead in his home country. This would make the audience feel sorry for Othello and want him to be allowed to marry Desdemona. Once Brabantio has been forced to allow the couple to marry he gives Othello the following warning:
“Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
She has deceived her father and may thee.” (1.3.288)
This means that Desdemona has gone behind her Father’s back by marrying Othello; therefore she may do the same in the future and deceive Othello. The Duke says to Brabantio before he leaves about how Othello is not the sort of person that he would expect Othello to marry but is a good man and is worthy of Brabantio’s daughter’s hand in marriage. This shows how black people were normally associated with a lack of virtue in life and not allowed the same rights as other people.
“If virtue no delight beauty lack,
your son-in-law is far more fair then black” (1.3.285)
Iago continues to con Roderigo out of all his money, by persuading him not to kill himself, which he was thinking of doing. Iago tells Roderigo that he promises he will split Othello and Desdemona up and get them together. Roderigo has trust in Iago, so he continues to pay him for his “services.”
“I would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea hen
I would change my humanity with a baboon.” (1.3.309-310)
Here, Iago means that it is stupid for Roderigo to drown himself for something as trivial as Desdemona. Iago also uses the phrase “guinea hen” which is a term usually used to describe a woman as a prostitute, demonstrating Iago’s views on women.
Towards the end of Act II, scene 1 Iago has one of a few soliloquies which he uses to sum up his plot to get revenge on Othello, and explain the next part of his plan. During this soliloquy I noticed that Iago has no evidence to hate Othello or Cassio. He basically believes that both Othello and Cassio will attempt have an affair with Emilia (Iago’s wife), if they haven’t already done so in the past. From what we know, Iago has made up these accusations. We have no proof that they are true. Also in the soliloquy we discover for the first time that Iago has feelings for Desdemona. For revenge on Othello, Iago wants to split him and Desdemona and have her for himself. He also says that it will be Cassio at his mercy by ruining his good relationship with Othello.
“I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb.” (2.1.286-287)
Iago then talks about how he will have Othello thank him for showing him what Cassio is really like, hinting how Othello should have chosen Iago to be promoted to Lieutenant instead of Cassio. Iago is extremely devoted to getting revenge on Othello by saying that he will never give up and will make Othello go mad until he is satisfied. From this soliloquy we discover how much of an evil mind Iago has. One of Iago’s main assets is being able to judge the character of others, which is ironic due to the fact that no-one in the play seems to be able to judge the character of Iago himself. Iago manages to use this ability of judging peoples’ character as an advantage; however Iago can be easily mislead and would believe a story such as his wife having an affair. This could be the reason of why he is so suspicious of everyone. Throughout the rest of Act II we see Iago’s evil plan start to come to life. It is ironic though, because at the beginning of Act II, scene 3 Othello calls Iago honest:
“Iago is most honest” (2.3.6)
At the same time Othello is saying this, Iago is carrying out an evil plan to get revenge on Othello. As Othello and other people in the play are not suspicious of Iago, he can get away with his plans without being suspected. Iago starts of by trying to trick Cassio into saying the wrong thing. They are having a conversation about Desdemona and Cassio could say thing that Iago can use against him in the future:
“Iago – And when she speaks, it is not alarum to love?
Cassio – She is indeed perfection.” (2.3.23-24)
This technique by Iago is used throughout the conversation to lure Cassio into saying the wrong thing, which could be sent to Othello as proof. Cassio replies to Iago’s questions in a polite way, which shows he treats women very well. This could be dangerous for Cassio though, as it could be used against him to show affection to Desdemona even though he only means it in a friendly way and not a sexual way. It is merely politeness, but this could cause him to be sacked from his job if Iago gets his own way.
Later on in Act II, scene 3 there is a brawl between Cassio and Montano, which is caused by Iago in a plan to get him sacked from his role as lieutenant. He uses Roderigo to start the brawl which ends up with Cassio looking the guilty party. The fact that Cassio has been drinking doesn’t help matters. During the brawl Iago sends Roderigo to get Othello. When Othello enters he is very abrupt and angry and shows how disgusted he is with the two servicemen. From now on during the play he uses one character to seek revenge on another e.g. before Othello arrives on the scene, he tries to split the fight between Cassio and Montano up. When Othello asks Iago about what he saw Iago denies seeing the brawl at all. The only person in the scene who knows Iago’s true colours is Roderigo and the audience. This is a classic case of “dramatic irony”, as we know more then the characters involved do. The audience would be in a state of sympathy at this point in the play for Cassio, whilst their hate for Iago grows inside them. This is because not only is Cassio sacked from his job as Lieutenant, but he also loses his reputation of being a polite and well mannered serviceman.
Act III, scene 3 is the turning point in the whole play. Within the first few lines, Emilia ironically says that Iago is upset about Cassio being fired by saying:
“I warrant it grieves my husband
As his the case were his.” (3.3.3-4)
This shows how little Emilia knows about her own husband, but this also proves how cunning and inconspicuous Iago is. We, as the audience, know that this isn’t true and that Iago is actually very pleased with the fact that Cassio has been sacked. Desdemona then says to Emilia:
“O, that’s an honest fellow” (3.3.5)
She is referring to Iago; this is dramatic irony as we know how much of a liar Iago actually is. We know far more then the characters do.
Desdemona decides she wants to advocate for Cassio. She believes Cassio is a good man and she says that she will do anything to persuade Othello to take Cassio back as Lieutenant.
“I’ll intermingle everything he does
With Cassio’s suit.” (3.3.25)
Cassio used Desdemona to persuade Othello because she means more then anything, but little does Cassio know that in doing this it is feeding Iago’s evil plans perfectly. When Iago and Othello enter, they just miss Cassio talking with Desdemona. Iago uses this opportunity to start working his evil on Othello and making him believe that something is going on between Cassio and Desdemona:
“Iago - That he would not steal away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming.
Othello – I do believe, twas he.” (3.3.39-41)
Iago isn’t directly saying that it was Cassio and Desdemona talking before them, he just suggests that it might have been them. Othello is brainwashed into believing it was them though by the way Iago is saying it. By saying Cassio wouldn’t sneak away from Othello, it implies that he would. Iago doesn’t want to give too much away when talking to Othello for two reasons, Othello might become suspicious that Iago is up to something and secondly Iago doesn’t want to seem like he is telling on a friend. By doing this, Othello can create his own image of what is going on, which is most likely to be worse then what Iago can describe.
Desdemona trying to help Cassio get his job back will help Iago get his point through to Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are secretly seeing each other. At this point, Othello unwittingly predicts a tragic end to the play:
“Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul
But I do love thee; and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.” (3.3.90-92)
Othello is saying that if he ever stops loving Desdemona, Chaos will rule and the world will end. It is interesting this is almost what will happen later on it the play. In fact, Othello starts to fulfil this prediction at the end of Act III, scene 3.
During this scene, Othello constantly comments on how honest and loyal Iago is to him, which is ironic because we as the audience know how wrong he is:
“And for I know thou’rt full of love and honesty
And weigh’st thy words before thou giv’st them breath
Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more.” (3.3.119-121)
Othello is saying that he trusts Iago, but he knows that Iago is hiding something. This is the exact situation Iago wants Othello to be in. Othello wants to know what is troubling Iago and whether or not it concerns him. When Iago pauses in his speech Othello is wondering whether Iago is not telling the whole story. Suggestion about Cassio and Desdemona is starting to play on his mind. It is extremely ironic when Iago says:
“Men should be what they seem
Or those that be not, would they might seem none.” (3.3.127-128)
Not only is it the only honest thing that Iago says, but we also know that Iago is not what he seems and never shows any of the other characters what he is really like: a scheming, cunning person. Throughout the play Iago constantly changes his character in order to act differently around different people for his plans to work and to also get the reactions he wants. This is an example of the theme of appearance versus reality, which is seen frequently in this play.
Later on in the scene, Iago seems to confess his true character to Othello. Iago talks about what if his accusations are false, but Othello is brainwashed into thinking that Iago is honest. In line 167 Iago says that Othello has something to be jealous of and that the “green eyed monster” will eat away at him until there is nothing left of him. He also says that it doesn’t matter if Othello doesn’t love Desdemona, which hints to Othello that there is something going on with his wife. Iago is very clever about what he says. He wants to tell Othello that his wife is having an affair with Cassio but makes it seem an accident. However, Othello challenges Iago’s comments and claims that he is not jealous. Iago then starts to remind Othello of Brabantio’s warning:
“She did deceive her father, marrying you.” (3.3.208)
This starts to make Othello think if Desdemona has deceived someone as important as her father, she could easily do the same to him. Iago ironically says that it was his fault for not speaking up sooner, but says that this was because he loves Othello too much; which obviously is not true.
From line 244 we got the first insight into how Othello’s mind works. Othello asks Iago why he married, as Iago knows more then he is letting know. Othello starts to wonder what would have caused this mess. He starts to think it might be to do with his race, the colour of his skin; but isn’t this what really attracted Desdemona to him?
“Haply for I am black,
And have not these soft parts of conversation
That chambers have.” (3.3.265-267)
Othello starts to look at all of his faults and questions whether that is the reason why she has supposedly gone off him. He wonders whether his lack of charming Desdemona has made her love another man. He goes on to question his age too, wondering if Desdemona wants a younger man. Othello then starts to speak like Iago for the first time in the play. He refers to a woman as an object, which is strange by his standards. I think this is caused by the influence Iago has over him. Othello says:
“O curse of marriage,
That we can call these delicate creatures ours
And not their appetites!” (3.3.270-272)
Here, Othello is basically saying that his marriage with Desdemona is a curse of a marriage, to have a great woman but not be able to control her sexual desires. Othello is talking like he owns Desdemona, such as saying that he would rather go to hell then share her. Othello also starts to use a lot of animal imagery, which is very much like something Iago would say. This shows that Iago obviously has an affect on Othello.
From line 292 onwards, this is a very significant part of the play, as from here it is important that everything works out right for Iago’s plan to be successful. Desdemona drops her handkerchief that was a gift from Othello, and forgets to pick it up again. When she and Othello exit, Emilia picks it up because she wants to make a copy to give to her husband Iago as he has begged her to get one for him for a long time. Iago enters and takes the handkerchief off her without saying what he wants it for. Even though Emilia knows how important the handkerchief is to her Mistress (Desdemona). Emilia seems a strange character as she seems strong enough to stand up to Iago, but then steals from Desdemona just to please him. This fits contemporary views of women because it shows that she will do anything to stay on the good side of her husband, even though it means hurting Desdemona.
Iago can now use the handkerchief as proof that Cassio and Desdemona are having a secret relationship, even though this is a false statement. He announces the next part of his plan of revenge in another soliloquy which starts on line 322:
“Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmation strong
As proof of holy writ.” (3.3.323-325)
Iago is saying here that even though the handkerchief is small it will act as a huge amount of proof. Othello enters again and continues to torture himself over this made up story about his wife. Othello describes how he would rather his wife would have an affair and not know about it. He thinks that Iago is torturing him.
“I saw’t not, thought it not, it harmed me not.” (3.3.340)
Iago’s plan so far is working to perfection. By hinting that Desdemona is having an affair he has got Othello going mad about it. Othello’s world has been turned upside down and he can never go back to what things were like before. Throughout his speeches Othello wavers between emotions of anger, sadness and jealousy. We discover a lot more about Othello’s character in this scene, such as him being quite insecure about himself and blaming himself for what is going on. Iago carries on keeping Othello’s suspicions alive by making up a story of Cassio’s sleep talking, saying to Othello that Cassio was talking about how much he loved Desdemona in his sleep, and also how he sees it a cursed fate that she belongs to Othello:
“Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor.” (3.3.427)
Othello turns insane and starts to think about killing his wife. Iago has feelings for Desdemona so calms Othello down and tells him to wait a while. Iago now draws attention to the handkerchief by saying:
“Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief
Spotted with strawberries in your wife’s hand?” (3.3.434)
Othello explains to Iago how he gave that to Desdemona as a first gift, so I obviously meant a lot to Othello and Desdemona, it has great sentimental value. Iago seizes the opportunity to make up another lie:
“I know not that; but such a handkerchief-
I am sure it was your wife’s – did I today
See Cassio wipe his beard with.” (3.3.438-440)
Now Othello is lead to believe that Desdemona is definitely having an affair with Cassio, without even seeing any proof. Othello must have a lot of trust in Iago’s words. Iago then promises to kill Desdemona, but then he states that she must stay alive longer to get more proof. At this point Othello almost seems to pray to God to help him unleash the monster and evil from inside him.
Othello’s character has changed completely from a strong minded General to a man who is overwhelmed with hate and jealousy; all caused by the powerful words of Iago. The language that Othello uses has change considerably. He now uses language similar to that of Iago and it is clear that Iago has obviously had a huge influence on the way Othello talks and acts.
Iago virtually gives himself to Othello in the closing lines of this scene and promises to do his bidding. Iago says that whatever the deed he is asked to do will be done because of the pity he feels for Othello. This goes against the Christian teachings because it is suggesting that Iago is at the hands of Othello and must do whatever he commands, much like a devil at the hands of Satan. Iago is handing himself to Othello purely for evil and murder.
Even though Iago has changed Othello into a man overwhelmed with hate, he has not got revenge yet. The audience knows that something else must happen. Thus, the scene ends with out anticipation of Othello’s actions.
Jealousy is a major theme in this play, especially with regards to Othello “It is the green eye monster” as Iago says to Othello. A monster that is lurking in Othello’s mind, steering his behaviour in the wrong direction. Iago misleads Othello by using speech that is very ironic since it points out Othello’s flaws and root of his tragedy. Othello has no idea of the significance of these statements and so doesn’t take them to heart.
In conclusion, Act III, scene 3 is the turning point in the play, and probably the most important scene in deciding Othello’s fate. Othello’s character changes completely from a strong willed General to a jealous monster, brought on by the teasing words of Iago. The biggest turning point in this scene is when Iago tells Othello about the handkerchief. This is what sets Othello off into a jealous rage. That gift to Desdemona had huge sentimental value as it is the first gift Othello gave her. The fact that she has supposedly given it to another man turns Othello’s world upside down.
Shakespeare is very clever in the way that he writes this play as he uses many dramatic techniques to make the play more interesting. He uses dramatic irony a lot; this is when the audience knows more then the people on the stage. For example, the audience knows that Iago really detests Othello and is just being kind to him so that he can ultimately seek revenge over the Moor. However apart from Roderigo, none of the other characters knew about this. This is a classic case of dramatic irony. Another technique that Shakespeare uses in his characters is the theme of appearance versus reality. This is when certain character appear to be acting in a way, but in reality are completely different when showing their true personalities to other characters, or in this case the audience. Iago is an extremely good example of this and shows the audience all throughout the play that he can act completely different in front of different characters in order to get what he wants out of them. This eventually helps Iago achieve his ultimate goal of revenge on Othello.
In this battle between order and chaos, chaos seems to win. Othello abandons his reasons in judging Iago’s “proofs,” and his abandonment of language also marks the decent into chaos. Although it is the chaos controlled by Iago, still order and reason are the losing side in this play; raging emotions and speculations begin to rule Othello’s fate, as he comes closer and closer to his tragic end.
Overall I think this scene is very important to the play, even though it was hard to understand at points. The play could certainly not exist without it. It is an extremely varied scene with high points and low points and is the basis for the entire play.