Analyse the methods Iago uses to bring about Othello's downfall. On what kind of weaknesses does he prey to control Othello. Focus particularly on Act3 scene 3.

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Analyse the methods Iago uses to bring about Othello’s downfall. On what kind of weaknesses does he prey to control Othello. Focus particularly on Act3 scene 3.

Act 3 scene 3 is described as the pivotal point of Shakespeare’s Othello; before this scene Othello is at peace of mind and content with his life. He is the Moor and very successful at his job. He recently married Desdemona daughter of a white senator Brabantio. Desdemona secretly married Othello, as her father would disapprove of her marrying a black person; so she has been disloyal to her father and family. Iago Othello’s Ancient secretly loathes Othello and vows to bring him down, but Othello completely trusts Iago and believes that he is a very honest man. Iago also hates Cassio who is Othello’s lieutenant. He uses the kind loving, trusting and loving natures of these main characters to try and get what he wants. He manipulates every word that is said and twists it to create a rift between the other characters. He feeds these lies to Othello and uses his jealousy and undying love for Desdemona to bring about Othello’s downfall. During act 3 scene 3 Iago begins his plan to ruin Othello. He starts to question Desdemona and Cassio’s relationship by example of her being deceitful to her father when she married Othello. This starts the ball rolling and from this moment forth Othello’s character changes and heads for a downwards spiral. His confident, emotive and descriptive character changes to an insecure, violent and chaotic character. Iago uses many language techniques to control Othello. His weakness is Desdemona and he makes false accusations and questions to prey on Othello’s mind, causing him to doubt his relationship, Desdemona and himself.

During the opening of act 3 scene 3 the true nature of Desdemona and Cassio’s relationship is revealed. Othello has just sacked Cassio as he was drunk and fighting with fellow colleague Montano, when he should have been on duty. This was provoked by Iago who pressurised Cassio to drink alcohol, as he knew that it was his weakness and would be out of control once under influence from it. Iago has the ability to prey on the weaknesses of his fellow peers; he knows that Cassio becomes drunk easily and Roderigo is smitten about Desdemona, and that Othello’s insecurities about his own character will be his downfall. Desdemona has much respect for Cassio ‘good Cassio’; she believes that the friendship once held between Cassio and Othello is worth fighting for ‘…I will have my lord and you again as friendly as you were.’ Cassio uses words like ‘bounteous’ to describe Desdemona, as he believes this is a great gesture on her behalf. But he knows his place as he describes himself as a ‘true servant’ showing his lower rank to that of Othello and Desdemona and he is respectful of that. Also in this scene we see what Desdemona’s view of Iago is, she claims he is ‘an honest fellow!’ But the audience knows that he is really trying to ruin her. Desdemona feels so passionate about getting Cassio’s job back that she says if she makes a promise she will keep it ‘do vow a friendship.’ She proves that this mater is of a formal nature by using words like ‘article’, ‘suit’, ‘solicitor’ and ‘cause.’  But in due cause creating ammunition for Iago as she says that every conversation that she will have with Othello will refer to Cassio ‘my lord shall never rest.’ The audience knows that this is the worst thing that she can do as Othello has already started to become jealous. Cassio seeing Iago and Othello arrive leaves immediately ‘madam, I’ll take my leave.’ Othello views this as suspicious.

Iago sees Cassio’s departure and says out loud ‘Ha! I like not that.’ By doing so he lures Othello into a trap. This is because Othello asks him what he says and Iago replies with ‘nothing my lord…’ This creates suspicion in Othello’s mind. Iago uses this technique throughout the play. He claims that he did not see Cassio leaving but uses words like ‘sneak’ and ‘guilty-like.’ The audience can imagine him emphasising these words to influence Othello’s mind. As a result to this for the first time Othello questions Desdemona to try and catch her out to see if she will lie to him. He now doubts their relationship and his trust in Desdemona. This is shown by him saying ‘who is’t you mean?’ when he clearly knows she is talking about Cassio. Iago now lets Desdemona get caught up in her own web as she persistently talks about Cassio and by doing so compounds the problem. At this point in the play Othello is still affectionate towards Desdemona ‘… sweet Desdemon…’ But Desdemona pressures the point about re-instating Cassio, ‘shortly’, ‘tonight’ and ‘tomorrow’. This shows that she is true to her word ‘ my lord shall never rest.’ However her point becomes over excessive ‘tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn, on Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn.’ Iago has used Desdemona’s nature against Othello because he advised Cassio to seek Desdemona’s help.

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As the scene progresses Othello and Iago are left alone. Iago commences his plan to destroy Othello. Othello has already started to lose his composure he refers to ‘chaos is come again.’ Meaning that before his marriage to Desdemona his life was in chaos until he met her. He was content with his life and now his life has been broken once more.  Iago senses this and starts to weave his lies and questions Cassio’ s relationship with Desdemona ‘but for satisfaction of my thought – no further harm’. So when Othello tells him that Cassio knows Desdemona well, ...

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