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Having organised it that Brabantio will find Othello, Iago plays a double game by seeking out Othello
himself and he then attempts to persuade him to hide from Brabantio. This, of course, would shout out
Othello's guilt.
In the meantime, news is announced of a Turkish attack on Cyprus. Othello is needed to lead the defence
of the island.
When Brabantio arrives on the scene and tries to have Othello placed in gaol for seducing his daughter,
his attempt is therefore forestalled. After all, with Othello in gaol, who is to defend the island?
THE OTTOMAN TURKS
The Ottoman or Turkish Empire had been growing slowly since about the 6th century, at about the time
when Islam had started.
By the 16th century (Shakespeare's day) the Empire was at its most powerful. It had crushed the
Byzantine Empire which was the remnant of the old Roman Empire that had still remained in Greece. It
was also threatening the whole of Europe.
The island of Cyprus was definitely in its path. Indeed, half the island was eventually overrun, and even
today Cyprus is divided, half being Greek and Christian, the other half being Turkish and Moslem.
Setting this play mostly on Cyprus was advantageous for Shakespeare. The Ottoman War in the
background would make Othello an indispensable military general because he was the Commander of
the Venetian forces.
Under normal circumstances, Brabantio would have had Othello thrown into gaol for seducing his
daughter, thus bringing this play to an abrupt end. Because Othello was indispensable on Cyprus,
however, meant that Brabantio's hands were tied.
On the other hand, by the time Othello reached Cyprus, the war was already over. The Ottoman fleet had
been destroyed at the hands of a mighty storm.
This in turn converted Othello into a governor and no longer a soldier. He was certainly not suited to this
task. Indeed, he was very much a soldier and not a governor.
His insecurity thereupon caused Othello to turn to Iago for advice and support, and the latter was able to
use that intimacy to his own advantage.
The Ottoman war was, therefore, a useful ploy to save Othello from being cast into prison. It was also the
means to get him to Cyprus where Iago could work on his insecurities.
Once on Cyprus, the war was no longer necessary and so vanished from the scene. The war was now
between Iago and Othello, and with lots of other people who happened to be in the way.
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
IAGO:
Though in the trade of war I have slain men,
Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience
To do no contriv'd murder.
- Comment on the irony of this statement by Iago. (4)
[Need help?]
Iago says that, although he is prepared to kill while in combat, his conscience will not allow him to plan
to murder anyone.
And yet, Iago's continual manipulation of circumstances must end in someone's death. In this case, it is
the death of both Desdemona and Othello.
Surely that is murder? And surely Iago planned it?
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IAGO:
But, I pray you, sir,
Are you fast married? Be assured of this,
That the magnifico is much beloved;
And hath, in his effect, a voice potential
As double as the duke's.
- Iago asks Othello whether he is "fast married" but Othello gives no answer to this question.
Why not? (4)
[Need help?]
It is possible that Othello is keeping quiet about his secret marriage until such time as he has spoken to
Brabantio, Desdemona's father.
The point is that Othello is not a Venetian and is not fully acquainted with Venetian customs.
He nevertheless does wish to follow what appears to be correct protocol, and that is to discuss his
marriage with his future father-in-law before he makes it known to everyone.
It is also possible that he baulks at the word "fast married" because he is indeed not
"fast" married until he has actually spoken to Brabantio.
In other words, he is not legally married -- he has only slept with Desdemona. Or has he?
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- Who is meant by "the magnifico"? (1)
[Need help?]
Brabantio is the "magnifico" because of his important status as a wealthy Venetian merchant.
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- Why would "the magnifico" have "a voice potential as double as the
duke's"? (4)
[Need help?]
Because Brabantio was a wealthy Venetian merchant, he would hold a place of great honour and power
within the city state.
The Duke, as ruler of the city, also carried great power but his position might have been an appointed one
whereas Brabantio was honoured because of his natural status as wealthy merchant.
The Renaissance city states depended on the wealthy merchants for everything, because it was their
wealth which enabled the city to defend itself.
Indeed, the Duke's own position and wealth was a direct result of the wealth of the merchants, and so he
would have tended to bow to the merchants' wishes.
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- Why is Othello not afraid of what "the magnifico" might do to him? (2)
[Need help?]
Although Brabantio did indeed have immense power because of his wealth, nevertheless the city of
Venice depended upon Othello for its defence.
Because of his prowess as leader of the armed forces, therefore, Othello in practice carried more
immediate power than either Brabantio or the Duke.
Indeed, it was hardly likely that the commander of the armed forces would be imprisoned just when Venice
was about to be attacked by the Turks, and just when Othello was needed most.
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IAGO:
Those are the raised father and his friends:
You were best go in.
- To whom was Iago referring when he spoke of "the raised father and his
friends"? (1)
[Need help?]
Iago was of course referring to Brabantio and his friends.
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- Why would they be "raised"? (2)
[Need help?]
"Raised" means angry. Brabantio was angry because Othello had eloped with his daughter,
Desdemona.
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- Why did Iago suggest to Othello that he "were best go in"? (3)
[Need help?]
Iago was suggesting that Othello went indoors to hide from the enraged Brabantio.
Should Othello hide, however, it would show a weakness in his character while at the same time indicating
to all the world that he had committed a crime and needed to hide.
Othello's hiding would therefore point to his guilt, which was precisely what Iago wanted.
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- Why did Othello not obey? (3)
[Need help?]
Othello was a soldier and knew full well that sneaking inside to hide would be a sign of cowardice. At the
same time, he saw no reason to hide because he believed that he had done nothing wrong by seducing
Desdemona.
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