2020 Othello – William Shakespeare ‘Cassio is
a tragic innocent ensnared in Iagoʼs plot.ʼ
2020
Othello – William Shakespeare ‘Cassio is a tragic innocent ensnared in Iagoʼs plot.ʼ
To what extent do you agree with this view of Cassio? Remember to include in your answer
relevant comment on Shakespeareʼs dramatic methods.
Cassioʼs presentation in the play and contradictions of Iagoʼs philosophy of human
condition.
Othelloʼs lack of trust towards Cassio – his drinking and lack of self-control hinting at
infidelity.
Treatment of women being far from innocent. The contrasting depictions of Desdemona
and Bianca.
How do audiences feel when Cassio becomes general at the end of the play?
Typical to tragedy texts, Othello presents a play where there are many tragic victims associated
with tragedy. One of these victims is Cassio who becomes enmeshed into Iagoʼs web of deceit
and manipulation becoming the target of Othelloʼs and Roderigoʼs hatred which Iago reflects
from himself upon them. However, the questions use of the noun “innocent” suggests that
Cassio has no flaws and lacks all complicity in the tragedy he is involved in, which may not be
completely true using further analysis. In this essay I will therefore discuss to what extent
Cassio is ‘a tragic innocent ensnared in Iagoʼs plotʼ.
The critic V Walker stated that “Cassio seems to represent the better man” through his
presentation of bravery, benevolence, and honesty. This can be seen as his character often
times is played off against Iagoʼs acting as both a source of motivation and a foil to Iagoʼs place
as the Machiavellian tragic villain who uses all ‘ends to justify the means of his unscrupulous
endsʼ. When asked by Othello in Act IV why Iago is willing to murder Cassio he responds with
“he hath a daily beauty about him which makes me look ugly”. Although on the surface level the
quote can be seen as a depiction of Iagoʼs masculine and socio-economic jealousy for Cassio it
can also be seen as a presentation of Cassioʼs psychological outlook on life which is so different
to Iagoʼs cynical and manipulative psyche. Because Cassio is a ‘good manʼ and succeeds in life
attaining the spot of “lieutenant” without deviance or cruelty he challenges Iagoʼs worldview in
such a way in which Iago decides he must eliminate Cassio. As Iago views those who love and
are kind in terms of animalistic and zoomorphic imagery; “goats and monkeys!”, Cassio eludes
to heaven and purity viewing life in a positive way Iago could never possibly imagine; “Hail to
thee, lady! And the grace of heaven”. This juxtaposition of the two characters which occurs
from the very first scene presents Cassio as a foil to Iago where if Iago is supposed to represent
a tragic innocent ensnared in Iagoʼs plot.ʼ
2020
Othello – William Shakespeare ‘Cassio is a tragic innocent ensnared in Iagoʼs plot.ʼ
To what extent do you agree with this view of Cassio? Remember to include in your answer
relevant comment on Shakespeareʼs dramatic methods.
Cassioʼs presentation in the play and contradictions of Iagoʼs philosophy of human
condition.
Othelloʼs lack of trust towards Cassio – his drinking and lack of self-control hinting at
infidelity.
Treatment of women being far from innocent. The contrasting depictions of Desdemona
and Bianca.
How do audiences feel when Cassio becomes general at the end of the play?
Typical to tragedy texts, Othello presents a play where there are many tragic victims associated
with tragedy. One of these victims is Cassio who becomes enmeshed into Iagoʼs web of deceit
and manipulation becoming the target of Othelloʼs and Roderigoʼs hatred which Iago reflects
from himself upon them. However, the questions use of the noun “innocent” suggests that
Cassio has no flaws and lacks all complicity in the tragedy he is involved in, which may not be
completely true using further analysis. In this essay I will therefore discuss to what extent
Cassio is ‘a tragic innocent ensnared in Iagoʼs plotʼ.
The critic V Walker stated that “Cassio seems to represent the better man” through his
presentation of bravery, benevolence, and honesty. This can be seen as his character often
times is played off against Iagoʼs acting as both a source of motivation and a foil to Iagoʼs place
as the Machiavellian tragic villain who uses all ‘ends to justify the means of his unscrupulous
endsʼ. When asked by Othello in Act IV why Iago is willing to murder Cassio he responds with
“he hath a daily beauty about him which makes me look ugly”. Although on the surface level the
quote can be seen as a depiction of Iagoʼs masculine and socio-economic jealousy for Cassio it
can also be seen as a presentation of Cassioʼs psychological outlook on life which is so different
to Iagoʼs cynical and manipulative psyche. Because Cassio is a ‘good manʼ and succeeds in life
attaining the spot of “lieutenant” without deviance or cruelty he challenges Iagoʼs worldview in
such a way in which Iago decides he must eliminate Cassio. As Iago views those who love and
are kind in terms of animalistic and zoomorphic imagery; “goats and monkeys!”, Cassio eludes
to heaven and purity viewing life in a positive way Iago could never possibly imagine; “Hail to
thee, lady! And the grace of heaven”. This juxtaposition of the two characters which occurs
from the very first scene presents Cassio as a foil to Iago where if Iago is supposed to represent
