Iago sees Desdemona’s openness and honesty as an opportunity to influence Othello’s mind. She is a good person with a charitable mind which is shown through her willingness to intervene in Othello’s decision to dismiss Cassio. She tells Cassio that she will speak to Othello on his behalf, ‘If I do vow a friendship, I’ll perform it to the last article. My lord shall never rest’. She directly appeals to Othello to reconsider his decision and urges him to forgive Cassio. The plan to use Desdemona to act as a mediator is suggested to Cassio as Iago knows that he can use Desdemona to influence Othello.
Although Desdemona is also seen as a dutiful wife, she is also unconventional and goes against accepted codes of female behaviour in her society. She is unfaithful to her father, forward with Othello and outspoken with the senate and Iago sees this as an opportunity to suggest to Othello that if she was deceitful to her father, then she would be perfectly capable to deceive him as well as he tells Othello, ‘She did deceive her father, marrying you,/And when she seemed to shake, and fear your looks/She loved them most’. He uses factual information to cement his cause and echoes Brabantio’s words in Act I, Scene 3 when he says, ‘Look to her, Moor, if thous hast eyes to see./She has deceived her father, and may thee’.
Cassio’s courtly manners and smooth charm are the characteristics that Iago manipulates in the plot to bring about Othello’s downfall as he explains his plan in a soliloquy ‘Cassio’s a proper man. Let me see now:/ To get his place, and to plume up my will/In double knavery. How? How? Let’s see. After some time, to abuse Othello’s ears/That he is too familiar with his wife’. Cassio’s attractiveness to women is important in Iago’s plot as he is able to manipulate Cassio’s image and takes advantage of his good looks. In his attempt to discredit Cassio and influence other people’s opinions against him, Iago tells roderigo, ‘Besides, the knave is handsome, young, and hath all those /requisites in him that folly and green minds look/ after. A pestilent complete knave, and the woman hath found him already’. Cassio is a perfect gentleman and never acts improperly towards Desdemona but Iago uses his correctness to poison Othello’s mind into thinking he is Desdemona’s lover. Cassio is able to get close to Desdemona as he was an integral part in Othello’s wooing of her, carrying love tokens and messages between the two lovers but Iago is agble to use this fact to suggest improper behaviour between Desdemona and Cassio. In Act 3 scene 3, he plants a seed of suspicion in Othello’s mind when they enter the scene and see Desdemona talking with somebody, who Iago knows is Cassio, hastily leaving as he says to Othello ‘Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it,? That he would steal away so guilty-like,/Seeing you coming’. Iago is able to imply that Cassio’s liaisons with Desdemona have been less than innocent.
Iago uses Cassio’s weakness of character to his advantage as Cassio openly admits that is unable to handle his drink as he tells Iago ‘I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking’. However, Cassio is easily convinced by Iago that it is in honour of Othello that he should take part in the festivities and so Cassio reluctantly agrees to join in. Iago sees this as a perfect opportunity to give Cassio enough alcohol to make him lose control and with the help of Roderigo, ensures he will get into a fight. The plan succeeds to perfection as Cassio is dismissed by a very angry Othello for his behaviour. Cassio’s weakness is shown further when is willing to listen to Iago’s advice to use Desdemona to plea to Othello to be restored to his position. He is easily persuaded that Iago has his best interests at heart which shows how gullible he is. Iago’s plotting and scheming is assisted through Cassio’s trust of him.
Cassio’s wretchedness at his loss of reputation is exploited by Iago as Cassio tells him ‘Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!’ Cassio’s loss of his position leaves him feeling ashamed and disgusted with his own behaviour. Cassio is very aware of wht people think of him. He has a sense of his own nobility and without his reputation, he feels he is no better than a beast. Iago sees Cassio’s position as useful in his plot to bring about the downfall of Othello, using Desdemona ‘to repair his fortunes. And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor’.
Othello’s powerful emotions are used against him. He clearly loves Desdemona as he tells Iago, ’Amen to that, sweet powers! I cannot speak enough of this content; It stops me here; it is too much of joy.’ However, he changes from a doting husband to a melancholic one within the space of one scene. Iago’s manipulation of Othello takes place over 150 lines and demonstrates the power of emotion that Iago plants in Othello’s mind who is overwhelmed by jealousy. It is proof of Iago’s power that he can cause a newly married man in love to want to distrust his wife in such a short time, ‘Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless, Sees and knows more, much more than he unfolds’. This is the first time that he has uttered any self doubt. Othello has a strong imagination and this is significant to the events of the play as he sees things which aren’t there or misinterprets those which are, influenced by Iago. Once Othello has a picture of Desdemona’s adultery with Cassio in his mind, he cannot remove it from his memory and is haunted by it, whereas before ‘I aw’t not, thought it not, it harmed not me’.
Othello constantly refers to Iago as honest, which is ironic as he fails to see through the man who describes himself as ‘I am not what I am’. Othello’s transformation from an eloquent, honest respected man into a jealous, inarticulate, insecure, easily influenced man is brought about through Iago’s influence over him. Othello fails to see Iago as a manipulator, even though at times, it is obvious due to Iago’s clear implications ‘Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio. Wear your eyes thus: not jealous, nor secure.’ Due to his lack of judgment he is willing to sacrifice the wife that he loves and his most trusted friend. He is unable to see through the façade of Iago.
Othello has little experience of corruption is ignorant of Venetian woman. Iago plays on this, as he is trying to insecure Othello’s racial position, ‘I know our country disposition well: in Venice they do let God see the pranks they dare not show their husbands; their best conscience.’ As Othello is an outsider, his knowledge is limited so Iago lies to him and gives him his stereotypical view of Venetian woman. As Othello and Desdemona are newly married he would not know Desdemona that well.
Although Iago is an evil schemeing character, his plans only succeed as he uses the weakness of other characters and exploits them. Cassio, Desdemona and Othello all display traits that make them vulnerable which Iago recognises and utilises in his over all plot to bring about the destruction of Othello. Cassio openly admits to being proud and ashamed of his behaviour. His natural attractiveness is used against him. Desdemona is targeted because of her sexuality which Iago knows he can wound Otehllo with. And Othello displays powerful emotions which Iago is able to turn from love to jealousy. The main characteristic that each person displays that enables Iago to succeed is trust.
