IAGO : Ha! However, the personal relationship between Othello and Iago is much more complex. This scheming by Iago to conceals his jealousy of Desdemona marrying Othello and allows him revenge against Othello for eloping with Desdemona. Othello strips Cassio of his rank for conduct unbecoming an officer. Interestingly, in the 1995 film adaptation of the play, Cassio hands Othello the dagger that will kill him, such is his esteem for reputation. The betrayal by Iago presents Othello to question the loyalty of Desdemona alleged lover Cassio who happens to be his trusted lieutenant. Cassio’s innocence and trust that other people will see his virtue makes him a parallel character to Desdemona. What reason does Iago give for his hatred of Othello? Othello's attachment to Desdemona now explains why he was passed by and the new appointment of lieutenant to Othello was conferred upon Cassio. Are you a teacher? It also comes back to bite Cassio in the end, since his flirtatious charisma helps convince Othello that Cassio is having sex with Desdemona. Over the course of the play, both are lured into the complex love plot engineered by Iago, one of Shakespeare's best-written villains. Othello denounces Desdemona to her face as a whore. Cassio says these lines in shame and sadness after Othello has angrily chastised him and stripped him of his position. The attack is an embarrassment to Othello, who is forced to act quickly to appease the Cypriot officials. Emilia reveals to Othello (and the others/audience around them) that it was she that picked up the handkerchief and brought it to Iago, as it was never given to Cassio by Desdemona in the first place. Obviously without these events (so remarkably planned by Iago), the plot would never have developed. "Othello" is one of William Shakespeare's most acclaimed tragedies. Later, Cassio seeks Desdemona to get back into Othello's good graces. At the start of the play, when Othello is ‘well tuned’ (II.1.198) with Desdemona, his relationship with Cassio is good. Othello Othello is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. Cassio leaves hastily in order to avoid speaking with Othello. Even the white Iago is jealous of him. Iago destroys this harmony by creating a fictitious love-triangle. Therefore, he can’t watch and pay attention to what is going on around him. This involves getting Cassio drunk, arranging ‘the’ handkerchief to go missing in Cassio’s quarters and personally beguiling Othello’s mind into thinking Desdemona is cuckolding him. Iago stands in-between Othello and Cassio’s relationship (also with Desdemona and Othello). Aware that Othello trusts him, he will convince the Moor that Cassio is "too familiar" (402) with Desdemona. However, the personal relationship between Othello and Iago is much more complex. "I’ll do’t but it dislikes me," Cassio replies. . However, Othello is easily turned against him by Iago. Badger, 1916. In Othello, the unpromoted ensign Iago plans revenge against both Othello (his commanding officer) and Cassio (the lieutenant promoted instead) but must do so secretly so as to keep his job.He takes the audience into his confidence so that they can experience the tension of seeing his plans work out. Othello wants Cassio dead, Iago agrees to do it, and then Othello wonders how to kill Desdemona. Desdemona's joy is in the fact that they will return home; Othello mistakes her joy for Cassio… She thinks they are good friends, shows irony What is ironic about Emilia's statement that Iago is as upset as if he were the cause of the rift between Othello and him? What does Emilia's remark about the rift between Othello and Cassio suggest about their relationship? hence leting Iago to easy convert Othello that Desdemona is perpetrating adultery with Cassio. 2. Othello and Desdemona’s relationship is doomed from the very beginning because of the setting of Venice. For example, Bianca wants to have a serious relationship with Cassio. This would be the reason that Othello promoted Cassio. Iago, on the other hand, is the main antagonist, Emilia’s husband, and Desdemona’s attendant. Othello's Relationship with Iago. Because by asking Desdemona to intercede with Othello to aide Cassio, it may appear to others that her motives for helping him are less than pure and out of friendship only. Othello is already jealous of Cassio because he is young and white, and when Othello finds Cassio with the magical handkerchief that he gave to Desdemona, he plans to kill them both. Iago knows he must gain the respect of Othello. Iago is revengeful, for a number of reasons, the most prominent is the fact he is angry at Othello and Michael Cassio (the man who Othello promoted), jealous of Othello and Desdemona (Othello’s wife) for their happy relationship and racist against Othello as he is a black man in a “white man’s world”. Othello Analysis . Two of the key characters are Cassio, Othello's loyal captain, and Roderigo, a man who is love with Othello's wife, Desdemona. Othello still sending and getting letters from the Duke (Venice) because even though the war has been ended, he is busy with work and reporting what is going on on the island of Cyprus. Iago makes sure that his wife will bring Cassio to Desdemona to have a conversation about Cassio’s job. This scene, often called the "temptation scene," is the most important scene in the entire play and one of the most well-known scenes in all drama. This involves getting Cassio drunk, arranging ‘the’ handkerchief to go missing in Cassio’s quarters and personally beguiling Othello’s mind into thinking Desdemona is cuckolding him. Cassio is injured by Roderigo but not killed. Iago tricks him into giving him money to convince Desdemona to be with him and then encourages him to kill Cassio. In Act IV, Roderigo finally gets wise to Iago's manipulation of him, declaring that "Everyday thou daff’st me with some device" (Act IV Scene II). Othello asks Cassio, who has otherwise been untested in battle, to be his lieutenant, instead of Iago. Ad All the actions in the play that occur outside this private affair are also there to affect, bring discord and distrust to the marital relationship itself. Iago’s professional grievances find an outlet in the personal life of Othello. "I have no great devotion to the deed," Roderigo says. Emilia reveals to Othello (and the others/audience around them) that it was she that picked up the handkerchief and brought it to Iago, as it was never given to Cassio by Desdemona in the first place. When Emilia says that Iago is as upset by the rift between Cassio and Othello “as if the cause were his,” she demonstrates how she too has been fooled by Iago’s pretense. Othello and Cassio's relationship is good in Venice. IAGO : Nothing, my lord: or if--I know not what. At the start of the play, when Othello is ‘well tuned’ (II.1.198) with Desdemona, his relationship with Cassio is … It is Roderigo, under the guidance of Iago, who goads Cassio into the fight that gets him dismissed from the army. Instead, Iago uses Roderigo to fight Cassio. Oh, and D has always been faithful to Othello. Exit CASSIO. Othello relieves Cassio of his post on the spot. After baiting Othello with the idea that there is no way to get a confession out of Cassio, Iago offers to speak with Cassio while Othello, in hiding, listens to what Cassio says about his relationship with Desdemona. Desdemona and Othello grow further apart as Othello starts to suspect she is in love with Cassio. Othello then believes him when he suggests that Desdemona is unfaithful to him regarding the fact that he does not know much about relationships and women. I 12 ) “Ill make the an illustration. Therefore, he can’t watch and pay attention to what is going on around him. “Come lieutenant. Othello then believes him when he suggests that Desdemona is unfaithful to him regarding the fact that he does not know much about relationships and women. But, on the isle of Cyprus, Iago uses Cassio against Othello. His ambiti… / 'Tis but a man gone. Desdemona (Janie Brookshire) and Emilia (Karen Peakes) in Othello at Folger Theatre, 2011. Forth, my sword: he dies" (Act V Scene 1). M.A. He is the man Othello secretly, subconsciously, unconsciously wishes he could be. Cassio's Relationships In Othello 1414 Words | 6 Pages. Cassio is the kind of guy who likes to put women in one of two categories – virgin or whore. Iago damages Othello mentally by fabricating Desdemona 's relationship with Cassio Photo by Carol Pratt. This is bad timing, as Iago plants the seed that Cassio and Desdemona are secretly having an affair. In Act 1 of the play Othello, Othello and Desdemona's relationship started out to be quite strong. When Othello returns, Iago pretends to dissuade him from dwelling on Desdemona’s sexual sins, but Othello’s suspicions grow into a furious rage in which he threatens Iago with eternal damnation if he is lying. The first scene of Othello presents a conversation between Roderigo, the disappointed suitor of Desdemona, and Iago, concerning incidents of which Othello is the chief agent. Over the course of the play, both are lured into the complex love plot engineered by Iago, one of Shakespeare's best-written villains. Looking at Bianca and Cassio’s relationship from afar, the reader may miss the importance of their relationship. Roderigo escapes from the scene undetected. The symbolic handkerchief is used as a ploy, when planted in Cassio’s bedchamber by Iago, to make it seem as if Desdemona is not loyal to Othello. Bianca is a prostitute and so Cassio uses her only sexual pleasure. A Sucker For Dichotomies. One is the wife of the play’s tragic hero-Othello; the other is betrothed to one of the greatest villains of all time-Iago. ©2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. In Othello, the characters are domesticated. The misogyny of Iago (and Cassio) casts a dark shadow over Othello’s relationship with Desdemona, which seems so bright and full of optimism and delight at the start of the play. Gruesome. In the end, Roderigo is stabbed his only "friend," Iago, who does not want him to reveal his secret plot. Roderigo is Iago’s dupe, his fool. The relationship between Iago and Emilia is a superb example of power in gender roles as they were prescribed by the Renascence society. Desdemona turns for help to Iago, who reassures her. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. He says that one recent night he and Cassio slept in the same bed, and that Cassio, while asleep, called out Desdemona's name, kissed Iago, lay his leg over Iago's thigh, and cursed fate for giving Desdemona to the Moor. The symbolic handkerchief is used as a ploy, when planted in Cassio’s bedchamber by Iago, to make it seem as if Desdemona is not loyal to Othello. Othello soon realizes that he has been duped by Iago and apologizes to Cassio. Iago baits Cassio into getting into a fight with Montano, the governor of the island, and when he is injured, Othello is angrily roused from his sleep. Sign up now, Latest answer posted December 09, 2009 at 12:41:03 AM, Latest answer posted December 13, 2019 at 9:37:07 PM, Latest answer posted May 06, 2010 at 12:25:33 AM, Latest answer posted December 08, 2016 at 2:37:48 PM, Latest answer posted August 20, 2007 at 10:28:09 AM. However, unlike Desdemona, Cassio evolves as a character. OTHELLO : What dost thou say? Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. 3 Prominent Themes Found in William Shakespeare's 'Othello', Iago Character Analysis From Shakespeare's 'Othello', Character Analysis of Shakespeare's Othello, A Complete List of the Tragedies of William Shakespeare, Plot Summary of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing", M.A., Theater Studies, Warwick University, B.A., Drama and English, DeMontfort University. IAGO : Ha! With Roderigo’s help, Iago is able to plot a series of events which eventually leads to convincing Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, and this not only causes conflict between husband and wife, but leads to Othello’s desire to kill Cassio. Othello is enraged, saying "I'll tear her all to pieces" (3.3.438). Iago also worked hard to destroy Cassio’s reputation by making him drink and making Othello believe that he is in love with Desdemona. His office is the most important thing to him, so much so that he neglects his relationship with Bianca while he is trying to get it back. lago now suspects that the post was given to Cassio by reason of Desdemona's friendship for him, and because he was a go-between in the courtship of Othello and Desdemona. Desdemona pleads to Othello on Cassio’s behalf. From Hamlet, an ideal prince, and other essays in Shakesperean interpretation: Hamlet; Merchant of Venice; Othello; King Lear by Alexander W. Crawford. She doesn’t understand what’s happening and keeps talking to him about Cassio, which makes it worse. CASSIO : Madam, I'll take my leave. This is one of the primary reasons Iago seeks vengeance on Othello. CASSIO : Madam, I'll take my leave. Nevertheless, he is again convinced by the villain to follow through with the plan to kill Cassio, despite his misgiving. However, he was promoted to lieutenant (second position) before Iago. At the end of the play, Cassio is injured but redeemed. When we begin, Cassio is one of Othello's soldiers, recently appointed the general's second-in-command. Othello’s relationship with his lieutenant mirrors his relationship with his wife. Two of the key characters are Cassio, Othello's loyal captain, and Roderigo, a man who is love with Othello's wife, Desdemona. In his desperation, Cassio falls into Iago’s trap once more as he implores Desdemona to help him win his job back. The appointment, undeserved in Iago’s eyes, justifies the villain’s cruel revenge against him: We know that Cassio is of good standing due to Desdemona’s passionate defense of him. His name is cleared by Emilia and as Othello is stripped of his duties, we are told that Cassio now rules in Cyprus. Othello, however, is quickly turned by insinuations and jealousy. Othello, he says, "is of a free and open nature" (405); precisely, in Iago's words, Othello is an "ass" — naive, in other words, and we recall that Othello himself has already admitted that he knows "little of this great world . But, on the isle of Cyprus, Iago uses Cassio against Othello. Iago stands in-between Othello and Cassio’s relationship (also with Desdemona and Othello). Plus, Cassio is a womanizer, innocent, and can't hold done drinks well. Othello questions Emilia about Cassio and Desdemona’s relationship, acting as if Emilia is the mistress of a brothel and Desdemona… Act 4, scene 3 Othello, walking with Lodovico, orders Desdemona to go to bed and to dismiss Emilia. Boston R.G. This infuriates Iago—because he wanted to be lieutenant, and because Cassio is a math (not muscle) guy— so Iago cannot understand this appointment: Both men set themselves up to fail by placing too much stock in their public status, leaving them open to exploitation by the villain Iago. He admires and loves his wife, but he can't believe that she would be in love with him. He gets him drunk on the night of what should be the Othello's honeymoon. Source(s) Othello The Moorish general sacks Cassio on the spot: Othello is justified in this, as one of his men has injured an ally; nevertheless, the scene demonstrates Othello’s impulsivity and his righteousness. Iago is revengeful, for a number of reasons, the most prominent is the fact he is angry at Othello and Michael Cassio (the man who Othello promoted), jealous of Othello and Desdemona (Othello’s wife) for their happy relationship and racist against Othello as he is a black man in a “white man’s world”. ( Madrid, Spain ), Top subjects are Literature, social Sciences, and your questions answered. Roderigo says love ” between Desdemona and Othello strips Cassio of his post on the night what. Served as a valiant soldier who eloped with a respected Venetian senator s! 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