The Relationship Between Othello and Iago In this scene Iago persuades Cassio, who is on watch, to drink, knowing that he is not a drinker and that he will be easy to antagonise. (5.1.76-77). Iago's love for his job and his wife, Emilia changed into a destructive hatred of Cassio and Othello. His incompetent behavior can lead to his dismissal from the lieutenant’s position. As a result of their hatred Cassio, Emilia, and at the end themselves were killed. Othello, Roderigo and Cassio Effectively Manipulated by Iago "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" is a quote that very well describes how two-face Iago really is. When Roderigo fails and only wounds Cassio, he no longer serves Iago’s plans so Iago kills the defrauded fool, blaming him for Cassio’s wound. Iago convinces Roderigo that Cassio is the big problem, so while Cassio is drunk, Roderigo aggravates him until he starts a fight. Iago Manipulating Othello, Cassio, and Roderigo The main reason that Iago ha d suc cess on manipulating Oth ello was b ased on the social di ffer ences of these two character s . Another form of misguided love in Othello occurs between Bianca and Cassio. The audience gets this impression immediately in Act 2 Scene 1. His desperate pleading to be re-instated in Othello’s favour, and the fact that he does this via a female mediator (Desdemona) can come across as slightly pathetic. Cassio is a good-natured gentleman, and he uses gracious and refined language. Othello directly told Cassio not to drink too much and to keep order. 6.5.1. Cassio's? Although Roderigo’s love for Iago doesn’t directly cause the demise of Othello and Desdemona’s relationship, he blindly assists Iago in destroying the relationship. The best way to do this, says Iago, is by killing Cassio. This angers Iago—Cassio's kissing Emilia in front of Iago is a bad idea. Iago and Roderigo are left on stage. Iago counters this threat by telling Roderigo that Desdemona will leave for Mauritania with Othello unless Roderigo can delay them. Cassio quickly turns and stabs Roderigo, wounding him very badly. He then tells Roderigo about Cassio being promoted by the Duke to take Othello 's place as defender of Cyprus. Brabantio. If Cassio kills Roderigo or if Roderigo kills Cassio, Iago will benefit from the outcome. The relationship between Iago and Emilia is not that of a strong and equal tie of love which we expect to find existing between man and wife. Roderigo misses when he attacks Cassio. Iago and Othello act upon what each other says and does. Second, Cassio's a little too much of a lady's man. Iago wants revenge because Othello gave the promotion of lieutenant to Cassio instead of him. He binds Cassio's wound, calls for a chair (the kind that is carried as we carry a stretcher), pretends to be surprised that Roderigo is the dead villain, and twice more tries to throw suspicion on Bianca. Iago’s intrigues provoke the dramatic end of the tragedy. The two men stand outside Brabantio's house and shout to wake him up. Othello strips Cassio of his rank for conduct unbecoming an officer. His attempt to kill Cassio, however, is unsuccessful, and instead he is the one injured (1175). Roderigo's love for Desdemona was transformed into hate towards any man that he thought was loved by her. He intends to disgrace Cassio in front of Othello. Iago speaks to Roderigo, convincing him that Desdemona will stray from Othello, as she has already done with Cassio. He urges Roderigo to provoke Cassio “to put our Cassio in some action/that may offend the isle”. Being a blind fool and maintaining hopeless love for Desdemona, a woman of his dream, Roderigo is hurt by Iago who uses his weak spots to fulfill the revenge. Roderigo’s rage at Cassio is a part of Iago’s evil plan. Iago seems to be trying to get a read on Cassio’s feelings about Desdemona by encouraging him to praise her. But he adds a lie: that Othello, rather than returning to Venice, is being sent to Mauritania along with Desdemona. Iago has convinced Roderigo that Cassio, Othello's ex-lieutenant, is having an affair with Desdemona and that killing Cassio is the only way for Roderigo to be with Desdemona. This quote demonstrates Desdemona's strength and bravery. The character tries to discredit Cassio … Cassio states, “Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds, as having sense of beauty, do omit their mortal natures, letting safe go by the divine Desdemona”. Iago then wounds Cassio in the leg. Iago gains from Roderigo’s death because he will not have to repay him for all the jewels and money he has taken from in to woo Desdemona, in Roderigo’s name. Bianca. Along the way, he still wants to cash in on Roderigo, remove Cassio from the road, and harm Desdemona. O Cassio, / Cassio, Cassio!" Roderigo is downcast and talks of drowning himself. Cassio and Roderigo fight only to be broken up by Montano and thus their fight ensues which othello ends Cassio will keep it and then Othello will see it in the ex-lieutenant's possession. Roderigo is greatly angered by this and resolves to do what it takes to stop Cassio from getting Desdemona even if it means taking his life. Manipulating Roderigo is actually masked by the animosity that Iago feels for Othello, however. 6.5. Therefore, Iago is able to manipulate Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello by exploding their weaknesses. Iago, being standard-bearer, aspires to the higher post of lieutenant, occupied by Cassio. Her father appears to be a controlling man, and she stands up to him. From Hamlet, an ideal prince, and other essays in Shakesperean interpretation: Hamlet; Merchant of Venice; Othello; King Lear by Alexander W. Crawford. While Iago, Lodovico, and Gratiano tend to Cassio… Who actually wounds Cassio? Roderigo wants revenge because Othello is married to Desdemona, the woman Roderigo is madly in love with. In the dark streets of Cyprus, Roderigo attacks Cassio, who, uninjured, stabs Roderigo. This way Iago once again manages to stay in the shadow and out of harms way. Roderigo provokes Cassio into a fight and Othello, hearing the disturbance, arrives to find the nobleman Montano seriously injured. those lies, which Iago then uses to manipulate Roderigo into believing that he can distinguish the relationship between Desdemona and Othello. Iago tells Roderigo ‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’. ... Iago has the insight and tact to manipulate the other characters, such as Cassio, Roderigo, Desdemona, and in this case, Othello. ... she was forced into this relationship with Othello by witchcraft. As usual, Roderigo is duped by Iago’s manipulative words and agrees to do this, even though all he ends up with is a sound beating from Cassio. Iago then kills the wounded Roderigo. Badger, 1916. Another form of misguided love in Othello occurs between Bianca and Cassio. Roderigo, protesting to Iago that his gifts to Desdemona have won him no favor from her, threatens to ask for the return of the gifts. It is revealed that he has previously warned Roderigo of his daughter, saying “My daughter is not for thee,” (Act One, Scene One), but she takes control.She speaks for herself instead of letting her father speak for her, and she defends her relationship with Othello. Cassio death would keep Iago’s promise to Othello: What happens when Roderigo attacks Cassio? Othello, hearing Cassio cry out, thinks that Iago has killed him, and departs to murder Desdemona. Act 1 Scene 1 The play opens as Iago is telling Roderigo that he hates Othello because Othello has promoted Cassio to be his lieutenant instead of him, even though Cassio ‘never set a squadron in the field’ and has much less experience. When this descends into quarrelling and a fight with Roderigo, and then Montano, he is lost for words and overcome with shame. By provoking Cassio, Roderigo manages to get him stripped from his rank of lieutenant. However, Roderigo’s death is not instant and he is finally able to provide evidence which implicates Iago, leading to his punishment. Later on in the play, Roderigo attempts to stab Cassio, but misses. As she tries to comfort Cassio, Iago tends to his business. Othello's Relationship with Iago. The lack of trust in Cassio can also make him suspicious regarding his relationship with Desdemona. The first scene of Othello presents a conversation between Roderigo, the disappointed suitor of Desdemona, and Iago, concerning incidents of which Othello is the chief agent. By this time, Othello's suspicions will be ripe with Iago's "poison" (325), for "trifles light as air / Are to the jealous confirmations strong / As proofs of holy writ" (322-324). Roderigo is talked into angering and fighting Cassio by Iago during Act 2.1. Although Roderigo’s love for Iago doesn’t directly cause the demise of Othello and Desdemona’s relationship, he blindly assists Iago in destroying the relationship. The Impact of the Relationship between Othello, Iago and Cassio Upon the Themes of Othello The major themes present in Othello are Jealously, Betrayal and Appearance vs. He convinces Roderigo to attack Cassio that night, as he plans to visit mischief on both Othello and Cassio. However, although Roderigo agrees to provoke Cassio, there is still the matter of the fact that Desdemona has rejected Roderigo a long time ago, and had already said that she wouldn't have him if he were the last man on earth, so Iago's plan doesn't make much sense. 250-260 stating that by doing this Roderigo will “have a shorter journey to your/desires” (2.1.259-260) namely Desdemona. In William Shakespeare's play, Othello, Iago's hatred toward the Moor, Othello, leads him to devise a plan against him. Roderigo is no longer … This is the weakness that Iago exploits when Iago gets Cassio drunk and sends him off to fight Roderigo. Cassio compliments Desdemona to Iago as the two men praise Desdemona’s beauty. Reality. -Iago told Roderigo that if he can show Cassio as being undisciplined, he can cause “these Cyprus to mutiny” and have Cassio relieved of his duty. Boston R.G. ... Also Iago will aim to get Cassio's position of lieutenant, which he thinks should have come to him. Analysis.