Othello Critical Reading Journal
English IV Honors
Swanson
Act I
Othello’s position in society is that of a military commander. He is also and insider yet outsider due to his race. In scene II, he is manifested as a respectable character.
Brabantio believes Othello isn’t good enough for his daughter because he’s black. He also may be upset because she eloped.
Iago’s view of human nature is doesn 't respect people that serves others blindly but he respects those who follows and does it to their benefit.
Iago says in Act I, Scene 1 that he hates Othello because Othello has passed him over as a lieutenant. Instead, Othello has chosen Michael Cassio, who, Iago says, has no knowledge of how to be a soldier.
He explains Desdemona’s defense
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Act III
Steps by which Iago rouses Othello’s jealousy/ suspicion:
Step 1: Iago slyly comments on how quickly Cassio leaves Desdemon’s presence as soon as they enter. He states “I cannot think it/ That he would steal away so guilty-like/ Seeing you coming.
Step 2: Iago questions Cassio’s ‘assistance’ during the ordeal when Othello was trying to court Desdemona by questioning “oh really?” when Othello said Cassio was involved.
Step 3: Iago casts doubt on Cassio’s integrity by suggesting that he’s jealous.
Step 4: Iago cautions Othello to watch Cassio when he’s around Desdemona subliminally suggesting that there’s inappropriate behavior taking place between the two.
Step 5: Iago reminds Othello that Desdemona deceived her father which insinuates that she may or may not deceive him.
Step 6: Iago casts doubt on Desdemona’s integrity and loyalty by responding “I hope she never does” when Othello states he’s sure Desdemona would never cheat.
2. Othello is so easily manipulated because he is very trusting of Iago. He believes him to be “honest Iago.”His insecurities are being pitted against him. Those insecurities being his race, his social status, and his age. He believes in the ‘prophecy’ from Desdemona’s father. Lastly, he is emotionally unstable during this entire scene which may have also caused him to fall vulnerable.
3. Iago knows he has successfully manipulated Othello after he tells him of the time Cassio spoke fondly of Desdemona in his
You have told me she hath received them, and returned me expectations and comfort of sudden respect and acquaintance; but I find none” (IV, ii, 186-190). Roderigo started to see that Iago is cheating on him, but Iago is smart enough, and Roderigo is dumb enough for Iago to confuse him. In the second act during the party after the defeat over the Turks, Cassio becomes very drunk and easily taken advantage of. He then runs into the room where everyone is and attacks Roderigo. Montano intervenes and is then wounded by Cassio; Othello is forced to demote Cassio from his position of Lieutenant. With Cassio devastated he asks for advice from Iago, he then informs Cassio the only way to gain his position back is to talk to Desdemona. Cassio then leaves “good night, Honest Iago” (II, iii, 306). Shakespeare put in those two extra words on purpose; he is trying to show how Iago is already able to play with people’s minds and how manipulative he can be. Us, the audience knowing what Iago really wants to do, but Cassio puts trust into Iago with his position and future. The last person to believe Iago is honest and to trust him is Othello. Iago started to tell Othello of how Desdemona might be sleeping with Cassio, and how she is cheating on him. Othello does not believe him as there is no proof, “I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; and on the proof there is no more but this” (III, iii, 190-191). Othello knows
Iago told Othello that he would discuss Desdemona with Cassio, and that he would talk about the affair. Iago does not do this, and instead he talks about Bianca with Cassio, and Cassio laughs at things Iago says. Othello sees Cassio laughing and just assumes he is laughing at Desdemona, which in return upsets him very much. Iago used several tactics to set up Othello for deception in this case.
Secondly, Iago’s use of imagery creates such a lucid picture that makes it hard to believe that it is anything but true. Iago tells of how he slept with Cassio and how Cassio, “gripe an ring my hand, Cry O sweet creature [Desdemona]! Then kiss me hard As if he plucked up kisses by the roots…” This very visual tale makes it hard for Othello to think of anything other than that Desdemona and Cassio are together. It clearly shows that Iago was witnessing an account that Othello believes is true even though Iago later states that it was only a dream; the visual picture is their. Othello believes this is substantial evidence to accuse Desdemona of being with Cassio.
Othello is an easy target in this drama, because Iago already knows that he is a very insecure person. With that stated, it will be easy for Iago to use Othello’s jealousy to trick him into thinking that Desdemona is an unfaithful wife. Iago will manipulate the way Othello sees things in order to convince him that what he sees is innocent acts between Desdemona and Casillo. Iago’s starts to plant the idea in Othello’s head of an affair after Othello sees Casillo rush leaving Desdemona in a manner that looked as though he is guilty (1223). Alone with Othello, Iago begins to make Othello feel threatened by Casillo and Desdemona’s apparent relationship by bringing up the fact that Casillo served as Desdemona’s and Othello’s go-between during the time of their courtship. The conversation ends with Iago asking Othello to watch carefully of Desdemona and Casillo, and Iago exits giving Othello time to question the accusation of Iago (1225-1228).
By the middle of the play Othello’s mood and demeanor seem to shift from being peaceful and patient to very anxious, paranoid, and gullible. For example when Othello is talking to Iago and Iago suggests that maybe his wife is not being faithful to him, it becomes Othello’s obsession to get down to the bottom of it and catch her. “I have been talking with your suitor here, a man that languishes in your displeasure / Who is’t you mean / Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord” (III.iii.41-43). In this dialog between Othello and Iago, with just two sentences Iago causes Othello to lose trust in his wife and believe she is being unfaithful to him which grows stronger and stronger each scene of the play. Because Iago is extremely cunning and manipulative, he is able to control almost anyone he chooses and he is in control of Othello’s emotions because he knows the things Othello fears. Iago is pretending to be Othello’s friend but secretively is going behind his back and bringing him down. Iago convinces Othello that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona. “I humbly do beseech
Iago's interpretation of Cassio's exit, combined with Desdemona's vigorous support on Cassio's behalf, creates suspicion in Othello's mind even before Iago prompts him. Othello manifests his confusion
On the next step "honest man", as he is called by Cassio, maintains the facade of fake sincerity and loyalty to Michael while at the same time deceiving and plotting his destruction. Ironically, Cassio seeks Iago's advice on how to regain Othello's trust and favor while Iago is actually the source of his problem with Othello, Iago gives Michael advice for his own evil purposes. He advises Cassio to talk to Desdemona about influencing Othello. Unfortunately, this advice is a form of manipulating, since Iago perfectly knows that Michael is "a fellow almost damned in a fair wife". Also by begging, or bowing down to a woman, which was not to be done in those times, Cassio shows more of a weakness. Although Michael is seeing Desdemona to talk about his position and reputation, Iago hints his suspicious of Cassio and Desdemona's affair to Othello creating an interest in him. Also Iago becomes a great friend of Michael who even doesn't allow to himself to get to know more about the handkerchief given by Iago to him. His trusting nature is completely under the power of Iago who provides a support for him. Therefore, Iago takes control over Cassio and his weaknesses, but Michael, blinded by Iago's outside friendly nature, does not realize that.
Cassio lost Othello's trust, and this actually made it possible for Iago to try to let it look like he and Desdemona are "making the beast with two backs". Cassio, -after following Iago's advice-, tries to get back his military title and Othello's trust through Desdemona, but this makes the situation even worse.
Once a seed of suspicion or doubt is planted in a person’s mind, the noxious effect of jealousy is soon to ensue. Jealousy and suspicion are Othello’s flaws hubris throughout the play and foreshadow to the audience his imminent downfall. He believes what Iago tells him so strongly that he compromises his close relationship with his best friend and his love for his wife. Iago manipulates Othello through the use of extortion, literary techniques, and his keen judge of character. His syntax and diction are so simple yet so powerful because he uses the correct rhetorical questions and addresses Othello with respectful terms such as “my lord.” He allows Othello do most of the talking
The following situation also proves Iago’s ability to effectively use his power over Othello’s intelligence and jealousy. Othello was very gullible and innocent, so Iago took complete advantage of that. He makes Othello believe that Desdemona is unfaithful toward him with Cassio. He does so through a multitude of ways: “If I can fasten but one cup upon him,
Ultimately, Iago manipulates Othello and takes advantage of Desdemona’s sweet and pure essence to begin his plan.
Now that Michael Cassio is in distraught, he has no one to turn to, but Desdemona, Othello’s wife. Iago’s ultimate destruction is put into full motion. Michael Cassio and Desdemona spend a lot of secretive time together trying to figure out how to convince Othello to reinstate Cassio’s lieutenant position. The only person that knows their time together is Iago, since he is considered a trustworthy friend. This makes Iago’s plan
At this point the staging would be of great importance, I would place Cassio and Desdemona on the far left, and as Othello and Iago enter on the far right, Cassio exiting promptly. This view of the scene would reinforce the idea that Cassio is up to no good by visiting Desdemona, and would then be backed up by Iago describing him as acting “guilty-like” on line 39.
Othello, not knowing that Cassio was in fact speaking with Desdemona in hopes of being reinstated as Lieutenant, mistakenly believes that the two are having an affair and that Desdemona has lost her chastity. Iago skillfully capitalizes on the situation by developing his attack further: "She did deceive her father, marrying you" (3.3.220). Othello begins to see Iago's reasoning: if she could deceive her father, she could just as easily deceive her new husband. Once Othello's bliss has been decimated, Iago concentrates on weakening Othello's perception of himself; Iago very carefully and very tactfully chooses words and metaphors that subconsciously pit Othello against the Venetians. Othello begins to perceive himself as an outsider in his own country, "a malignant and turbaned Turk" (5.2.365). A fruitful marriage with a Venetian woman becomes out of the question in Othello's mind. Iago's successful manipulation takes a self-confidant man and reduces him to one at ends with himself and with the woman he loved.
Iago’s second soliloquy reveals how he manipulates Cassio and Desdemona. While Desdemona waits for Othello to return from his journey across ravenous seas, Iago joins her. He purposely acts like a jerk to Desdemona and his wife, Emilia in front of Cassio. When Iago departs from the group, Cassio, in his good mannered gentleman way, reassures Desdemona that Othello will make it to shore fine. Having Desdemona confide in his words, Cassio takes interest in her just as Iago had planned.