Othello [final blog]

 

At the start of Act 3, we read that Cassio truly feels badly about what he had done the night before.  He is upset that he lost his position of lieutenant from this brawl, even more so, he is mad at himself for not being able to control his emotions and losing all trust from Othello.  Because of this he sends his musicians to play to Othello in the hopes it might lighten the tension between the two, “Masters, play here. I will content your pains. Something that’s brief and bid “Good Morrow General.”” (III.i. lines 1-2)

However, this plead for forgiveness is soon overlooked as Othello is soon approached by Iago who informs him that he believes Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Othello becomes enraged and tells Iago to make sure that he is right and not just making false assumptions, “Make me to see’t; or at the least so prove it That the probation bear no hinge nor loop To hang a doubt on –or woe upon my life.” (III.iii. lines 361-363)

Othello is so pissed off at Desdemona he even considers having her executed too for her “adultery” that she has apparently committed. He goes to fetch her and ask her where the handkerchief is that he gave to her as their first present together. Unfortunately she had lost it only hours ago and has to lie to him and tell him it is in safe keeping. What Desdemona does not know is that the handkerchief was actually stolen from her in order to make her look like, well like a whore.

But, what I have not mentioned yet, is that this whole act is based on the devilish plan thought up from Iago. I had it right from the beginning; he is just a backstabbing you know what and only seems to be friends with Othello in order to gain his power from his downfall in the end.  

Othello wants Cassio to be killed for what he does and has Iago do it. However, Iago is so worried about his personal image that he has Roderigo do it for him. “I have no great devotion to the deed, And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons. ‘Tis but a man gone. Forth my sword! He dies!” (act V. i. lines 8-10) Unfortunately, Roderigo thinks that what he is doing is for the greater benefit of his country. And because of that he is killed in the process of trying to kill Cassio.

Othello has Desdemona over to his place to talk things over. But things take a turn for the worse as he believes nothing she says and relies on only the information given to him by Iago. “.. Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin, For to deny each article with oath cannot remove nor choke the strong conception That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.” (V.ii. lines 53-56) Othello suffocates Desdemona and only moments later learns that all he did was in sin.

Othello soon unearths all of Iago’s dirty secrets in order to gain his power. Othello feels so badly about not believing anything that other people told him that he believes that he must kill himself in order to make up for all the wrongs he has committed.  “I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss.” (V.ii. 354-355)

In the end, Iago’s true intentions are revealed and even though it doesn’t go on to say what happened to him, I can only imagine that it was an eye for an eye of what Othello had to endure. Sadly, even the greatest of men are killed when they don’t pay attention to the little details.