Othello: Iago Makes Othello Believe His Wife Is Having An Affair

Othello: Iago Makes Othello Believe His Wife Is Having An Affair

In Shakespeare's "Othello," Iago carefully and masterfully entraps

Othello into believing that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with Cassio.

He does this through a series of suggestions and hesitations that entice and implant images into Othello's head that lead him to his own demise. More importantly, Iago gives Othello the motive to murder his own innocent wife

Desdemona, satisfying Iago's immense appetite for revenge.

The motive for Iago's devious plan is initially made clear in the first of three major soliloquies, in which he proclaims Othello has had an affair with his wife, Emilia: "And it is thought abroad that t'wixt my sheets/ He's done my office" (I.iii.381-383). The irony behind this line is where he continues: "I know not if't be true/ But I, for mere suspicion in that kind; / Will do as if for surety"(I.iii.383-385). Iago is so exceedingly paranoid and insane that he will go far as murdering, and deluding even a general into murdering his wife.

Iago simultaneously conducts a devious plan to obtain Cassio's position as lieutenant, using Desdemona's prime weakness; her naivety. He disgraces

Cassio by intoxicating him enough so he strikes Roderigo. Othello then discharges Cassio of his Lieutenancy when he says: "Cassio, I love thee,/ But nevermore be officer of mine" (II.iii.242-244). It was therefore understandable that he would fall to the mercy of Iago, completely oblivious to the inevitable effects. Iago reveals his plan to the reader in his third soliloquy when he states: His soul is so unfettered to her love,

That she may make, unmake, do what she list, even as her appetite shall play the god

With his weak function...

And she for him pleads strongingly to the Moore,

I'll pour this pestilence into his ear:

That she repels him for her body's lust,

And by how much she strives to do him good,

She shall undo her her credit with the Moor (II.iii.330-350).

&n...

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...xpress their love and passion for each other:

Othello: O my fair warrior!

Desdemona: My dear Othello!

Othello: It gives me wonder great as my content

To see you here before me. O, my soul's joy (II.i.175-180)!

Perpetual love and affection and contrasted with lusting animal attraction. What does Iago feel when he sees Othello and Desdemona together? How his mind must associate the same atmosphere with Othello having had an affair with his wife, enticing the "green-eyed monsters" within him.

The feelings Iago feels is common jealousy. But to have it without surety, and to take it to such a great extent as to only describe it as being

"mad." In an attempt at revenge, he does more than Othello supposedly did to him.

By putting Othello through the same feelings he himself had gone through, he does not rid or relieve his feelings, but merely gains sadistic pleasure from brutal revenge That is not to say Othello is not a compelling and flawless character. Generally, it can be said that is more the function of our imagination and understanding of our own nature through which we determine Iago as who he is.