What does this passage add to your understanding of the relationship between Othello and Iago?

Irony is seen as Othello asks Iago to explain a ‘monstrous’ event.  Iago himself is monstrous so he is the only person eligible to give reasons behind the happenings of that night.  Montano asks Iago to tell the truth, or Iago ‘art no soldier’.  This reminds us of the “Chivalric Code’, stated by Tennyson, ‘Do right, speak truth, and follow Christ the King’.  The ironic thing is that Iago does not tell the truth, but in the latter parts of the play he is still a soldier, and even gets the high rank that he thinks he deserves.

Iago makes a long speech, or description here.  In this section we see many typical Iago-type language, crude, violent, even sexual at times.  ‘Tongue cut from my mouth’ is a vivid image, suggesting pain, blood and a loss of an important organ of the human body.  It also suggests torture, which is proleptic of Iago’s torturing at the end of the play.  Alliteration is seen also in his speech, ‘fall in fright’, which shows that Iago does have some clever use at language at important times when what he says affects his plan to get promoted.  The onomatopoeic phrase ‘clink…of swords’ gives the reader a sense of atmosphere, and also suggests that Iago is telling the truth.  Iago is sickening in his words, ‘I found them close together’, as this demonstrates that Iago finds all types of intimacy violent, yet we get the impression that Iago actually likes this idea.  The section is also put into a homosexual context, as ‘men are men’.  Men sometimes do things they should not, and this can even suggest homosexuality. Iago wants to be remembered for what he does, for being close to Othello and telling the truth, ‘the best sometimes forget’.  Iago portrays himself as the best, but we, the readers, know that he is far from it.  This section is once more proleptic, as Iago says ‘men in rage strike those that wish them best’.  This is dramatic irony, as the reader knows that Othello strikes Desdemona, who in fact has done nothing wrong, except love Othello with her heart.

Othello is seen to be very naïve, similar to that of Desdemona in fact.  ‘I know, Iago…’ The fact is that Othello is completely oblivious to Iago’s actions, and he doesn’t know what is going on.  On a further note, later on in the play, Othello does not know what even he is doing, as he starts having fits and seizures.  Othello seems to be very emotive in this passage as well.  He uses ploce, to emphasise Cassio’s name, as he truly is friends with him, not just an officer.  But Othello's egocentric nature is brought to light, ‘never more be an officer of mine’.  He sees the army as his army and Cassio as an object of his belongings.  He is direct in his approach, somewhat showing his authoritative nature, but one would think that he is over-reacting, and has a deep and personal view of the world.

Othello has played up to Iago’s ego.  Iago is very successful in his actions and we understand that he is actually extremely clever.  Iago understands every aspect of the characters involved of the play, and he knows just the right things to sway decisions and actions his way.  A quote from A.C Bradley that supports Iago’s actions throughout this play is, ‘The world is “travailing for perfection” in spite of evil and chaos.’