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READ THIS
The setting for this scene is Cyprus. Othello and Desdemona have just arrived and have instructed
everyone to celebrate their wedding.
Iago plans to disturb the celebrations by causing a fight between Cassio and Roderigo, hoping in this way
to have Cassio demoted.
IAGO'S HATRED FOR OTHELLO
Iago provides us with absolutely no reason for his hatred of Othello.
He claims at one time that Othello has slept with his wife (Emilia) and that he will get his revenge "for
mere suspicion" -- in other words, he needs no real reason whatsoever.
Nevertheless, he gives no proof for this suspicion and in fact states that he himself doesn't really believe
it. Nevertheless, he still intends to get his revenge just at the idea of it.
A more understandable reason is that Othello has promoted Michael Cassio to be his 2nd in Charge even
though he is incompetent for the position.
Iago, on the other hand, has been promoted only to be Othello's Aide-de-Camp or Ancient -- i.e. his 3rd
in Command -- even though he believes he is more competent than Michael Cassio.
This, however, happens all the time in life and one has to live with it, not seek revenge every time it
happens -- otherwise one will live a life that is absolutely full of hatred.
Apart from that, Iago appears to be full of anger and resentment, and spends his life attempting to revenge
himself on someone or something. Ultimately, of course, he will come unstuck. It usually happens.
There is a psychological term for someone like Iago: One who believes he is the centre of the universe
whom everyone should love. Do you know what the term is?
Does Iago have any morals whatever? He appears to be a totally amoral person who will wreak havoc
for the mere enjoyment of it. There lurks in him an evil which is impossible to explain.
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:
[Aside] He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said, whisper. With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great
a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do. I will catch you in thine own courtesies . . . You say true, 'tis so,
indeed . . . If such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed
your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in. Very good; well kissed! an
excellent courtesy! . . . 'tis so, indeed . . . Yet again your fingers to your lips? Would they were
clyster-pipes for your sake!"
- Was there anything wrong with Cassio's kissing Desdemona's hand? (2)
[Need help?]
No, nothing wrong at all. It was simply Venetian courtesy, although perhaps Michael Cassio did overdo
it somewhat. But most Italians had a reputation for that.
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- Iago makes fun of Cassio's kissing of his own three fingers. What was wrong with this
action? (2)
[Need help?]
The kissing of three fingers was supposedly a common Venetian custom and therefore good manners.
On the other hand, the custom was made fun of by the English during Elizabethan times.
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- Iago says that it would be better if Cassio's three fingers were "clyster-pipes". Why does he use
the term "clyster-pipes"? What does Iago mean by this? (2)
[Need help?]
"Clyster-pipes" were pipes by which enemas were pushed into a person's rear end. Once again,
Iago is being obscene.
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- Why does Iago resent Cassio so much? (2)
[Need help?]
Iago resents the fact that Othello has promoted Cassion to the position of lieutenant or 2nd in Command
while promoting Iago only to the rank of Ancient or 3rd in Command.
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"IAGO:
Sir, [Cassio] is rash and very sudden in choler, and haply may strike at you. Provoke him that he may,
for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny, whose qualification shall come into no true taste
again but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires by the means
I shall then have to prefer them, and the impediment most profitably removed, without the which there
were no expectation of our prosperity."
- Is it true that Cassio is "rash and very sudden in choler"? (2)
[Need help?]
Yes, indeed. At least one thing that Iago says is true. Cassio, if just a little drunk, became totally
aggressive and unable to control his temper.
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- What is the point of Iago's trapping Cassio in this way? Is it successful? Why? (4)
[Need help?]
Iago wishes to make Michael Cassio lose his temper and attack Roderigo. The ensuing fight will cause
a disturbance which will draw Othello's attention and he would punish Cassio by demoting him and
promoting Iago in his place.
The plan was indeed successful. Cassio was demoted and Iago was then able to use this in a further plan
to revenge himself on Othello.
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- What does Iago mean when he tells Roderigo, "So shall you have a shorter journey to your
desires"? (4)
[Need help?]
Iago kept promising Roderigo that he would eventually be able to marry Desdemona. This plan against
Cassio, then, would enable Iago to bait Othello to strike at Cassio, killing him, and thereby having Othello
executed for murder. If that were to happen, Desdemona would be a widow and would be free to marry
Roderigo.
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"IAGO:
For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leap'd into my seat; the thought whereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;
And nothing can or shall content my soul
Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife,
Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgment cannot cure."
- Has Othello truly slept with Iago's wife, Emilia? If not, why does Iago keep referring to him as if he
has? (4)
[Need help?]
This is the second time that Iago has mentioned this idea. The first time, however, he admitted that he
had absolutely no reason to be suspicious.
It was indeed highly unlikely that Othello would have slept with Emilia unless, of course, Emilia were a
prostitute.
Is this latter idea a possibility?
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"IAGO:
I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb --
For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too --
Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me.
For making him egregiously an ass
And practising upon his peace and quiet
Even to madness."
- What is meant by "For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too"? (2)
[Need help?]
It would seem that, just as Iago suspected Othello of sleeping with Emilia, he also suspected Cassio of
sleeping with her -- wearing Iago's night-cap.
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- Does Iago have any reason for this fear? If not, what is it that drives the man in this
way? (4)
[Need help?]
No evidence is presented in this play for Iago having this fear unless Emilia had been a prostitute (and
he does sometimes treat her as if she might had been one, although he would probably treat any wife as
such).
It would appear, however, that Iago has a furtive imagination which causes him to fear the worst even
when there was absolutely no evidence to support it.
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