The play portrays Othello, the main protagonist, as a respected and confident military man. The Duke’s words, “I think this tale would win my daughter too,” when Othello describes his love for Desdemona, refers to the fact that Othello was admired for his eloquence (Shakespeare 41). He is in great demand due to his military skills, which can be seen from Cassio’s lines that the senate “sent about three several quests to look for Othello” (Shakespeare 46).
Meanwhile, Desdemona’s strength is her independent and honest nature as she insists on marrying Othello. For instance, the lines “My noble father, / I do perceive here a divided duty” shows Desdemona’s determination to convince her father that she has a right to make her decision (Shakespeare 42). Iago’s main strength is his ability to manipulate people by understanding their strengths and weaknesses. In lines “and what’s he then that says I play the villain,” Iago acknowledges that he seduces his victim, Cassio, by pretending to display good intent (Shakespeare 104). Thus, he can create different machinations while also retaining his image as an honest and loyal person.
Iago manipulates Cassio into a position of disgrace by carefully designing and following his plan. First, Iago tells Cassio that he suspects Desdemona is interested in him by saying that her eye “sounds a parley to provocation” (Shakespeare 83). Second, Iago persuades Cassio to drink with him and invites others to join them in this “night of revels” (Shakespeare 85). He orchestrates a fight between Rodrigo and Cassio by ordering the former to “cry a mutiny” (Shakespeare 91).
Meanwhile, Iago reports to Montano about the need to cure Cassio of his “evil,” referring to his drinking problem (Shakespeare 91). This scene ends with Cassio stabbing Montano, who tried to stop Cassio (Shakespeare 93). Thus, Iago successfully persuades Othello and others that Cassio is irresponsible and disgraced by luring Cassio into drink and fighting. Therefore, Cassio is unfortunate because he was trapped in Iago’s plan to humiliate him.
Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. Simon & Schuster, 2017.