Now Barbantio’s view is passed, the Duke gives Othello the chance to prove that what he and Desdemona have is true love. Othello delivers a long and sympathetic speech proving their relationship is respectful and natural, “She loved me for the dangers I had pass’d, And I have loved her that she did pity them”. Earlier before this it’s shown that it was Barbantio who introduced him to his daughter when othello says “Her father loved me, oft invited me”. Othello’s speech leads on to Desdemona requesting to join Othello to Cyprus, “I saw Othello’s visage in his mind, And to his honour and his valiant parts, Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate”, so he backs up this by saying it would not affect his duties as his wife could use his helmet as a frying pan, “And all indign and base adversities, make head against my estimation”. Slowly the Duke tries to talk Barbantio into accepting the marriage pushing him past the idea that Othello shouldn’t be judged by his colour but by the person he is, “Your son in-law is far more fair than black”.
The testimony persuades everyone so his case against Othello is dropped lowering conflict between Othello and Barbantio, but not between Barbantio and his daughter.
Barbantio is still upset and feels disrespected by his daughter due to the fact she arranged a marriage without his permission, at this point he feels stabbed in the back, but from her point of view she’s being independent doing what she feels is right for her. Barbantio shows jealousy that’s built up for his son in-law and says something unexpected “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see, she has decieved her father, and may thee”, he trying to warn Othello he wouldn’t be surprised if she turned out to be a slut. This is a small amount of conflict between father and daughter but it has a big impact, as a father wouldn’t be expected to express his opinion in this way.
Conflict ignites between Othello and Roderigo secretly as the “honest” Iago stirs up jealousy and hatred slyly. To do this Iago echo’s stories of the elopement of Othello and Desdemona and proves also that he hates Othello for this, But remains a friend in Othello’s eyes. However Iago tells him of how he got passed over for promotion to lieutenant this results in a large build up of strong jealousy. Still we have Roderigo moaning, telling Iago that he will drown himself “I will continently drown myself” as he cant have Desdemona, so he feels his life is pointless without love, therefore threatens he’s capable of suicide at this point. But Iago keeps him on track and explains he is a fool for saying such thing and he should keep some self respect “Ere I would say, I would drown myself for the love of a guinea-hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon”, Does Roderigo have any self respect? Iago thinks Roderigo has no self respect,“For I mine own gain’d knowledge should profane, If I would time expend such a snipe, But for my sport and profit”. Iago’s is the dominant person in this friendship so Roderigo is easily won over to the way that he thinks, Iago is motivated whilst their driven insane and injected with hateful jealousy. Clearly the conflict between Othello and Roderigo is limited but it leads on to a chain of events, as both Othello and Roderigo have no idea of Iago’s plans and they slowly fall into his trap, he mentions “snipe” a bird known to run into traps.
So far jealousy and lack of trust are the main subjects why so many characters are dragged into Iago evil ways causing conflict. One of the main conflicts is between Iago and Cassio, forced into trickery by Iago and falls into a brawl with Montano. Cassios downfall is when he becomes drunk and vulnerable in Iago eyes to start to play his plans against him. We know this because in a soliloquy Iago plans this downfall, “That hold their honours in a wary distance”. Iago is plotting against him because for one he’s jealous and secondly wants to corrupt Othello’s and Desdemona’s relationship. Whilst Cassio is drunk and still on duty Iago stirs up trouble telling Montano Cassio is dreadfully drunken, Montano responds to this insulting Cassio this causes a fight and Montano ends up wounded. When the tension of the play builds up after the fight you expect Iago to get caught for causing the brawl but Othello arrives on scene demanding who was responsible, With still no answer he raises his voice reminding them whom he is, “speak, who began this? On thy love, I charge thee”. Undoubtedly Cassio losses his job as causing trouble and getting drunk whilst on duty is disrespectful and not expected, “Cassio, I love thee, But never more be officer of mine”. Iago’s plan once again successful. Cassio eventually soba’s up thinking the devil was in his drink, but I conclude Iago is the devil giving him the drink, which is what caused chaos. After all this confusion Cassio feel’s foolish and regrets loosing his job “Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation!” however Iago tells him he still has a chance to regain his job, he could do this through Othello’s wife, Desdemona.
This is the beginning to the wreckage of Othello’s life and marriage, a large amount of antagonism happens from here onwards and it’s all based on a precious gift given to Desdemona by Othello. During this scene of conflict Othello is referred to as “green eyed monster” which represents Othello’s dark thoughts about Desdemona. Othello is driven mad by a non-existing affair that Iago echoe’s to him about, however he demands “ocular proof” till any actions take place. Iago works his mind around this by making up stories, this brings out the irongy of his “honesty”. When Cassio speaks with Desdemona, Othello enters just as he’s leaving so Iago plays upon this that Cassio left guilty. Soon after sarcasm and fake uncertainty is later used by Iago that set off Othello distracting him from the fact he’s seen nothing with his own eyes, which is not actually “ocular proof”. Pulled from everything completely Othello and repeats Iago’s thoughts, “Thou echoest me, as if there was some monster in thy thought, too hideous to be shown”, this results in him thinking down on himself as not worthy enough for Desdemona mentioning his black skin to show how unattractive he is. Till his personality changes and gets all turned upside down to pure evilness, “green eyed monster”. The handkerchief was once a symbol of his love because it was passed down from his mother but now Desdemona holds it no longer, now she no longer holds it in her hands Othello thinks that she does not love him anymore, he’s been betrayed because the gift was a symbol of their love. The largest conflict in the play was the murder of Desdemona, yet he has been tricked but it’s too late to take back his actions.
I conclude conflict during this play is dependent upon throughout on the lack of trust and faithfulness between characters which was why so much jealousy was built up between them it caused the corruption of Othello’s and Desdemona’s relationship and her murder. The main reason is Iago conflicts with every character because throughout the entire play he feels the same poisoned jealousy Othello has inside him during the end of the play. He mentions his motives at the beginning of the first scene. He’s motivated by Desdemona’s beauty “Now, I do love her too, Not out of absolute lust” which he cant have. He’s thriving for revenge with suspicion that Othello had slept with Emilia, the feeling is rotting away inside him and he cant bear it, “Till I am Even’d with him, wife for wife, Or failing so, yet that I put the moor, At least into a jealousy so strong, That judgment cannot cure”. We now know Ago is the true devil of the story that causes the conflict between every character till he feels satisfied.
