Iago then complains about ‘the moor’, Othello. Iago suggests that he can take revenge against Othello. He shouts in the street outside Brabantio’s house saying Brabantio has been ‘robbed’
Iago tells Brabantio that his daughter Desdemona and Othello secretly got married and his descendants will be mere animals. Brabantio checks to see if the story is true, as he has dreamed of such a happening. Once Brabantio finds that his daughter is missing he goes with Roderigo to inform the police.
In Act 1 scene 2, Iago warns Othello that Brabantio is trying to break up his marriage pretending to be concerned.
Cassio arrives with an urgent message that the senate needs Othello because of fears of war.
In act 1 scene 3, Brabantio then abuses Othello and physically threatens him. He accuses Othello of enchanting Desdemona with bad magic and drugs and orders his arrest.
Brabantio brings his case to the Duke of Venice. Othello tells his side of the story. The duke is in favour of Othello and appoints him to supreme charge of the defence of Cyprus.
Othello leaves for Cyprus to fight in a war, but later on returns.
Iago reveals in a soliloquy of his evil plan to get revenge on Othello and Cassio.
In Act 2 scene 3, Iago tells Roderigo to provoke Cassio to anger. This riot will ruin Cassio’s prospects. Iago then plans to make Cassio drunk and quarrelsome. Cassio gets into a fight with Roderigo. Othello finds out about this and dismisses Cassio from office.
Act 3 Scene 3 is a key scene of this play; it is the ‘temptation scene’. We see Othello’s character develop to a monster full of passionate jealousy and hatred towards his wife Desdemona as Iago plants the seeds of doubt. The scene starts with Michael Cassio talking to Desdemona because Othello dismisses him as his lieutenant and he fears that there is no chance he will get his job back.
When Othello walks in and sees his wife talking to Cassio, Iago says:
‘Ha! I like not that.’(Line 34)
Iago is already sneakily giving Othello the idea of Cassio and his wife having an affair. To make himself seem truthful when Othello asks Iago what he meant Iago replies:
‘Nothing, my lord; or if – I know not what.’ (Line 36)
Iago is building a web of trust for Othello so that he may manipulate him more and turns into a web of deceit.
At line 90, Othello talks about how important his love for Desdemona is to him:
‘Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul. But I do love thee; and when I love thee not, chaos is come again.
This is an instance of dramatic irony. Othello thinks that without the love he has for his wife his ‘world’ would collapse which later on it does. Wretch having two meanings, one a complimentary meaning and one meaning an unfortunate person. We later on discover that Desdemona becomes an unfortunate person when her husband deviates to rage.
At line 126 Iago seems to be building his trust towards Othello more.
‘I dare be sworn I think he’s honest.
Iago is cunningly suggesting the opposite to make Othello re-think.
Iago again shows another instance of dramatic irony at line 128
‘Men should be what they seem; or those that be not, would they might seem none!’
Othello’s soliloquy shows his jealousy of Cassio as he makes comparisons between black and white.
‘ …Haply for I am black, and have not those soft parts of conversation that chamberers have…’ (line 265)
He fears his wife loves Michael Cassio because he is the complete opposite to him. Cassio is younger, good looking and white.
Othello isn’t aware of this but Iago is not what he seems.
At line 360, Othello calls Iago a villain, unknowing that he really is. This is yet again another quote with dramatic irony.
‘Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore; be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof, or by the worth of mine eternal soul, thou hadst been better have been born a dog than answer my waked wrath!’
Othello is still finding it hard to believe that his wife would do such thing as have an affair as he says in line 385.
‘ I think my wife be honest, and think she is not’
‘Give me a living reason she’s disloyal’ (Line 410)
What Iago has implied seems to be make Othello distraught and he is now full of rage and jealousy. Othello seemed calmer at the beginning of the scene when Iago first suggested that Desdemona was having an affair, but that was mainly because Iago was subtle at the beginning, and as Iago’s suggestions get stronger so does Othello’s suspicion and hatred. Iago’s mixing truth with lies makes what he is saying plausible; Othello seems to trust Iago but mainly because he is gullible.
We see that Iago’s job is done as Othello starts to hate his wife:
‘I’ll tear her all to pieces!’ (Line 433)
‘Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her, damn her!’ (Line 476)
Without jealousy, losing his love in Desdemona ruins him.
From line 443 Othello is gullible enough to accept that his wife is having an affair when Iago lies about Cassio having Desdemona’s handkerchief.
‘O that the slave had forty thousand lives! One is too poor, too weak, for my revenge. Now do I see ‘tis true…’
Othello is saying how he wishes Cassio had more than one life so that he could kill him again and again because killing him once is not enough for revenge.
Othello has given Iago the job he wanted.
‘…Now art thou my lieutenant’ (Line 479)
Although Iago was getting back at both Othello and Cassio because he didn’t get the job of lieutenant; yet Iago still seems to torture Othello. He is has a very sadistic attitude.
He tortures Othello mentally by slyly making comments and suggestions but snatching his comments back, to make Othello more curious.
‘Ha! I like not that.’
‘What dost thou say?’
‘Nothing, my lord; or if – I know not what.’ (Lines 34-36)
Othello’s language is gentle and poetic and intricate at first but in Act 3 scene 3 his language becomes less extensive; his passion has gone from love to anger for his wife. Othello is a grand, modes and confident man until Iago messes with his head.
Iago’s language however, is nasty and vile. He often uses animals when talking about sex:
‘…An old black ram is tupping your white ewe…’ (line 89)
