Roderigo’s attitude towards killing Cassio:
Roderigo is reluctant and doubtful over whether he could kill- ‘I may miscarry in ’t.’ 'I have
no great devotion to the deed.’
Persuaded by Iago even following such reluctance, showing how he has remained Iago’s
pawn until the end.
Even though there has never been any suggestion of him as a ruthless, violent character, the
fact that Iago convinces him shows his powers of manipulation. He has done the same to
Othello.
What the audience learn from Iago’s aside about his attitudes to Cassio (lines 11-22.)
He is willing to sacrifice human life for his own personal success in his plan- ‘Every way
makes my gain.’
The image used to describe Roderigo as a ‘young quat’ (pimple or boil) reminds us of his
arrogance. When he is finished with Roderigo, ‘he must die.’
Iago never does his own dirty work, and his manipulation of Roderigo demonstrates his evil.
‘I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense’- He has used Roderigo almost as much
as he can. Now he must do this one last time.
The unfairness of Cassio's happy life rankles Iago as evidenced in his first speech in Act I and
continues to frustrate him now: "[I]f Cassio do remain, he has a daily beauty in his life, that
makes me ugly" Sense of Iago’s jealousy has been maintained throughout.
Iago also needs to also kill Cassio for practical reasons, out of fear that Othello he might
‘unfold’ him to Cassio.
Iago’s security is clearly threatened at this point, and he is willing to do anything for the
success of his plan.
Iago manipulates Roderigo's jealousy and sense of honor to get him to attach Cassio. Iago
now shows the depths of his depravity. He doesn't just want to ruin Othello, he's willing to
trick people into attacking each other and dying as long as it serves his own ends.
Iago as a puppet master- never does anything himself. Everything is done out of his
manipulation of others.
Othello’s state of mind (lines 31-37)
Othello is little more than an automation in this scene. Yet again he is an onlooker who fails
to see the truth. Ironically, it is a misunderstanding that spurs Othello on to his own act of
violence.
Melodramatic speech, emotion taking over. This speech style however detracts from
heroism, but reminds us of how completely his mind has been corrupted by Iago.
Irony of Othello’s words: ‘Oh, brave Iago, honest and just, That hast such noble sense of
thy friend’s wrong!’ He believes that Iago has killed Cassio for him.
Othello's professed admiration for Iago, coupled with his newly misogynistic and violent
plans for Desdemona, contrast poignantly from his declarations of love in 1.3.
‘Minion, your dear lies dead, and your unblest fate hies’, now that he believes Iago has
killed Cassio, he plans the murder of Desdemona- he wants her too to be punished for her
sins. He does not take responsibility for his actions here, claiming that he is only fulfilling her
‘fate’, as if there was nothing else he could do.
He talks like a villain, announcing his evil intentions in a dramatic way: ‘strumpet, I come.’
Roderigo is reluctant and doubtful over whether he could kill- ‘I may miscarry in ’t.’ 'I have
no great devotion to the deed.’
Persuaded by Iago even following such reluctance, showing how he has remained Iago’s
pawn until the end.
Even though there has never been any suggestion of him as a ruthless, violent character, the
fact that Iago convinces him shows his powers of manipulation. He has done the same to
Othello.
What the audience learn from Iago’s aside about his attitudes to Cassio (lines 11-22.)
He is willing to sacrifice human life for his own personal success in his plan- ‘Every way
makes my gain.’
The image used to describe Roderigo as a ‘young quat’ (pimple or boil) reminds us of his
arrogance. When he is finished with Roderigo, ‘he must die.’
Iago never does his own dirty work, and his manipulation of Roderigo demonstrates his evil.
‘I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense’- He has used Roderigo almost as much
as he can. Now he must do this one last time.
The unfairness of Cassio's happy life rankles Iago as evidenced in his first speech in Act I and
continues to frustrate him now: "[I]f Cassio do remain, he has a daily beauty in his life, that
makes me ugly" Sense of Iago’s jealousy has been maintained throughout.
Iago also needs to also kill Cassio for practical reasons, out of fear that Othello he might
‘unfold’ him to Cassio.
Iago’s security is clearly threatened at this point, and he is willing to do anything for the
success of his plan.
Iago manipulates Roderigo's jealousy and sense of honor to get him to attach Cassio. Iago
now shows the depths of his depravity. He doesn't just want to ruin Othello, he's willing to
trick people into attacking each other and dying as long as it serves his own ends.
Iago as a puppet master- never does anything himself. Everything is done out of his
manipulation of others.
Othello’s state of mind (lines 31-37)
Othello is little more than an automation in this scene. Yet again he is an onlooker who fails
to see the truth. Ironically, it is a misunderstanding that spurs Othello on to his own act of
violence.
Melodramatic speech, emotion taking over. This speech style however detracts from
heroism, but reminds us of how completely his mind has been corrupted by Iago.
Irony of Othello’s words: ‘Oh, brave Iago, honest and just, That hast such noble sense of
thy friend’s wrong!’ He believes that Iago has killed Cassio for him.
Othello's professed admiration for Iago, coupled with his newly misogynistic and violent
plans for Desdemona, contrast poignantly from his declarations of love in 1.3.
‘Minion, your dear lies dead, and your unblest fate hies’, now that he believes Iago has
killed Cassio, he plans the murder of Desdemona- he wants her too to be punished for her
sins. He does not take responsibility for his actions here, claiming that he is only fulfilling her
‘fate’, as if there was nothing else he could do.
He talks like a villain, announcing his evil intentions in a dramatic way: ‘strumpet, I come.’
