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READ THIS
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:
"Think, my lord!
By heaven, he echoes me,
As if there were some monster in his thought
Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something:
I heard thee say even now, thou likedst not that,
When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like?
And when I told thee he was of my counsel
In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst 'Indeed!'
And didst contract and purse thy brow together,
As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought."
- What, do you think, is Iago's purpose in echoing Othello's words? (2)
[Need help?]
It could be that Iago is waiting for an opportunity for a good idea and so merely echoes everything that
Othello says.
On the other hand, it is likely that Iago is drawing Othello along, verbally saying nothing while making it
seem that he knows something that Othello doesn't know.
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- What effect does this echoing of Othello's words have on Othello? Why? (4)
[Need help?]
For some reason, the echoing of his words appears to drive Othello into a frenzy.
Othello believes that Iago knows something important about Desdemona but Iago, instead of coming out
with it, merely echoes Othello's words as if he knows nothing.
Othello therefore becomes desperate to know what Iago is hiding.
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"Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:
For such things in a false disloyal knave
Are tricks of custom, but in a man that's just
They are close delations, working from the heart
That passion cannot rule."
- Why would "these stops" of Iago's "fright" Othello? (4)
[Need help?]
Iago is hinting at something about Desdemona. Othello probably already has his own suspicions (see
previous worksheet) and wants to know Iago's secret thoughts.
They "fright" Othello because Iago's apparent secrecy can only substantiate what Othello already
suspects.
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- Is Othello's reasoning correct? Explain. (4)
[Need help?]
Othello is in fact thoroughly deluded. Iago knows nothing and his apparent hesitation reveals nothing
whatever. There is absolutely no truth behind the idea that Desdemona might be unfaithful.
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"Men should be what they seem;
Or those that be not, would they might seem none!"
- What does Iago mean by all this? (2)
[Need help?]
Iago's cryptic comment probably means nothing whatever. "Men should be what they seem" is a
truism but "those that be not, would they might seem none!" is totally meaningless.
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"Nay, yet there's more in this:
I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
The worst of words."
- What words of substance has Iago said thus far to make Othello suspicious of Cassio's
behaviour? (4)
[Need help?]
Iago has thus far said absolutely nothing of substance. He has only made one very vague hint which most
sane people would simply have disregarded with contempt.
Indeed, he has made only a baseless comment, "Ha! I like not that" when he saw Cassio depart
from Desdemona, and then he has asked Othello whether or not Cassio had been with him when he was
"wooing" Desdemona.
Nothing of substance here, is there?
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- Why does Othello ask for "thy worst of thoughts" and "the worst of words"? What
difference would it have made if he has asked for "the best of words"? (4)
[Need help?]
This demand by Othello reveals the nature of the man. He thinks negative thoughts.
It would appear that he already takes it for granted that Desdemona is likely to be unfaithful to him (see
previous worksheet) and therefore looks for evidence that this might be correct.
A positive man would have taken it for granted that Desdemona would be faithful, and he would then look
for positive substantiation of that fact.
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"Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false?"
- Comment of the truth of Iago's statement. In what way does this indicate that Othello is indeed
delusional? (2)
[Need help?]
What Iago says is perfectly true. How can he utter his every thought?
Every person has a negative perception at times, a perception that is not in any way based on fact. We
keep these thoughts hidden.
Where would the world be if we were all to spit out every negative thought?
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"I do beseech you --
Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,
As, I confess, it is my nature's plague
To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy
Shapes faults that are not -- that your wisdom yet,
From one that so imperfectly conceits,
Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble
Out of his scattering and unsure observance."
- What is Iago asking of Othello? (4)
[Need help?]
Iago is actually asking Othello to take no notice of his baseless thoughts. He is, he says, prone to look
on the dark side of life and to allow jealousy to shape his every thought. Othello, he says, must therefore
be careful not to believe everything he says.
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- How truthful is Iago being? (2)
[Need help?]
In this case, Iago is being very truthful. He has correctly summed up his own nature of baseness and
jealousy, and warns Othello not to believe what he says. What greater truth does Othello need?
And yet, Othello disregards this very truth and follows a lie. Why? Possibly because Othello already
believes that the lie (that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him) is the truth. (See previous worksheet.)
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