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Iago plants the seed of doubt in Othello's mind.
The strange thing, however, is that he does not have to say much before Othello is hopelessly convinced
of Desdemona's unfaithfulness. Indeed, with absolutely no evidence, Iago has Othello eating out of his
hand.
WHY IS OTHELLO SO EASILY CONVINCED?
Othello himself provides THREE reasons why Desdemona might have proved to be unfaithful to him, and
these reasons point to psychological weaknesses within his own character:
OTHELLO'S BLACKNESS
Othello was a Moor and therefore dark of skin although by no means black. Indeed, Shakespeare
obviously confused the appearances of Moors and Black Africans, indicating that his audience too was
ignorant of the difference.
Moors would have had a difficult time in the Elizabethan mind-set and were treated with suspicion. They
were always regarded as "the other".
They were, in fact, culturally different from the other Europeans because they came from a Moslem
background and therefore had Moslem traditions, even though they had converted to Christianity.
Indeed, Moors tended to keep to themselves, maintaining their own identity and customs. There was even
suspicion that their conversion from Islam many centuries earlier had been one of convenience (to prevent
being killed) but that they remained at heart Moslem.
Second, blackness in itself was suspicious. Western society right up until the 18th century was imbued
with the idea that white was pure while black was the colour of evil.
Brides wore white. The devil was black. The black sheep of the family was the outcast. Black people
were the biblical "sons of Ham" and therefore outcasts and slaves.
A Black person was therefore not equal to a White person in Western society.
UNSOPHISTICATION
The entire basis for the plot of this play was that Othello lacked sophistication. He was not naturally
imbued with the traditions and manners of Venice but relied on others to guide him into how to act.
Once he had been removed to Cyprus, therefore, he was out of his depth. He could handle warfare and
command soldiers. Once the war with the Turks was over, however, he was expected to act as Governor
to the island but he knew not how.
He had promoted Michael Cassio to the rank of lieutenant because he could rely on the man in battle.
On the other hand, he naturally trusted Iago in matters of etiquette. The moment he landed on Cyprus,
therefore, he turned to Iago for support, and accepted his advice without question.
OLD AGE
It is clear that Othello is advanced in years. He said so himself but, in any case, young people did not get
to command armies.
His wife, however, is young and he is afraid that her eye will be captured by the advances of any
handsome and refined young man.
In this, of course, he does not understand women but judges them as if they were men. This is
comprehensible given that Othello exists in a world of soldiers.
Men mostly look to women who are younger than themselves. It is not often that one will find men
marrying a woman who is significantly older than they.
Othello somehow believes this of Desdemona. He expects her head to be turned by men of youth,
especially by a man who enacts all the customs of Venetian society, a man such as Michael Cassio.
Cassio is not only young but he reveals all the Venetian manners and etiquette, such as his repeatedly
kissing his fingers.
In conclusion, Othello feels insecure in his marriage and will readily believe any suggestion that
Desdemona could be unfaithful. He therefore does not need much proof -- just enough to cement the
suspicions which he already harbours.
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:
"Ha! I like not that."
- What does Iago not like? Does he have any reason for not liking it? (4)
[Need help?]
Iago has noticed Cassio take his hurried departure from Desdemona. He is claiming that he is sneaking
away guiltily, as if he should not have been speaking to her.
Iago has no reason for not liking it. Cassio is not sneaking away at all but is rather taking a hurried
departure simply so that he does not have to speak to Othello until such time as Desdemona has spoken
to him on his behalf.
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"Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,
That he would steal away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming."
- Explain how this is a very good example of putting thoughts into Othello's mind. (4)
[Need help?]
Othello did not see Cassio depart from Desdemona. Iago therefore puts thoughts into Othello's head by
using loaded language.
He says that Cassio "stole" away "guilty-like". This would make it seem as if Cassio had
something to hide, that he was hurrying away hoping that Othello would not see him in the presence of
his wife.
Since Othello has not noticed the action, he is inclined to believe Iago's explanation -- and he does so
without so much as questioning it.
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"Ay, sooth; so humbled
That he hath left part of his grief with me,
To suffer with him. Good love, call him back."
- What is the difference between Iago's interpretation of Cassio's departure and
Desdemona's? (2)
[Need help?]
Iago stated that Cassio was sneaking off in guilt. Desdemona says he was departing in humility and in
grief.
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- Since Othello had not noticed Cassio's departure till Iago brought it to his attention, why then is he
more inclined to take Iago's interpretation than his wife's? (4)
[Need help?]
It would appear that Othello is already afraid of his wife's being unfaithful to him, even without Iago pointing
it out. Indeed, he himself confesses that he has three fatal personality limitations:
- He feels that, being a Moor (being black), he is a misfit in society;
- He knows he is out of his depth in cultured society whereas his wife is very much cultured;
- He believes that, being old and his wife being young, it is highly probable that she will have an affair
with a younger man who has all the traits of a cultured gentleman.
Before Iago speaks to him, therefore, Othello is already inclined to believe that his wife could prove
unfaithful to him.
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"And yet his trespass, in our common reason --
Save that, they say, the wars must make examples
Out of their best -- is not almost a fault
To incur a private cheque. When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul,
What you would ask me, that I should deny,
Or stand so mammering on."
- Desdemon's reprimand of Othello "To incur a private cheque" must have stuck deeply in his
manly pride. Why is this? (4)
[Need help?]
There are two things apparently at stake here.
First, Desdemona really is interfering in Othello's work. Cassio was his lieutenant who has committed a
breach in military code by getting drunk and injuring Montano. It really has nothing to do with her.
Second, she is saying that Othello is punishing Cassio for private reasons, not military. In other words,
Cassio does not deserve to be punished so but that Othello is doing so because of some personal grudge.
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- Her words "mammering on" is also a clear reprimand. Why is this so? (2)
[Need help?]
"Mammering on" really is a term of derision. "Why are you babbling on so about something that
is quite insignificant?"
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"What! Michael Cassio,
That came a-wooing with you."
- Why would Michael Cassio have gone "a-wooing" with Othello? (4)
[Need help?]
It was customary in those days for a man to take along a friend when he went "a-wooing". This
friend would act as a witness lest any promises were made, but he also acted as an intermediary to take
messages to the lady-love.
It was not deemed good manners to be seeking the attention of a woman, even if he and she had already
made promises to marry. Dating was done secretly, and using other people as intermediaries to carry
messages.
Did you know, for instance, that the whole purpose of a garter was to serve as a secret gift from the man
to his lady-love, a sort of secret engagement present. She wore it on her thigh so that no-one knew about
it.
Which is why, when the man publicly removed the garter at the time of the wedding, everyone was so
surprised to know that he had been courting the woman for quite some time. This was indeed the origin
of today's rather silly garter-removing ceremony at the wedding feast. It had its purpose but not any more.
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- Why does that very fact aid Iago in putting a wedge between Othello and Cassio? (4)
[Need help?]
The intermediary, because he was with the woman almost as often as was the suitor, had every possibility
of wooing the woman in his own name. Iago is hinting to Othello that Cassio did this very thing.
Indeed, this is a favourite plot in Elizabethan plays, e.g. Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing:
a man proposes to a woman on behalf of a friend but then marries her himself.
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"Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again."
- What does Othello mean when he says, "Chaos is come again"? (2)
[Need help?]
Is Othello referring to some past incident when his life was in chaos? Is he referring to the fact that he
has gone through life in the chaos of not marrying anyone -- remembering that he is fairly advanced in
years?
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