Hi guys and welcome back to Othello's analysis. The last post went really really bad 😅, so if you have suggestions about how this analysis should go forward, please let me know in the comments section!
Act III 1st scene
In an effort to win Othello’s good graces, Cassio sends musicians to play music under the general’s window. Othello, however sends his servant, a clown, or peasant, (we're not sure actually) to tell the musicians to go home. Cassio asks the clown to entreat Emilia to come speak with him, so that he can ask her for access to Desdemona. When the clown leaves, Iago enters and tells Cassio that he will send for Emilia straightaway and figure out a way to take Othello, also Emilia enters and tells to Cassio that Othello and Desdemona have been discussing his case. Desdemona has pleaded for Cassio, but Othello is worried that Montano’s influence and popularity in Cyprus would make Cassio’s in danger, no matter how much Othello cares for his former lieutenant. Emilia allows Cassio to come in and tells him to wait for Desdemona. Cassio is looking for some way to get Othello's forgiveness
Act III 2nd scene
Iago, Othello, and a gentleman walk together at the citadel. Othello gives Iago some letters to deliver and decides to take a look at the town’s fortification.
Act III 3rd scene
Since act III, Othello slowly starts to lose control, we’ll see why.
Cassio tries to intercede for Desdemona in order that she can make a good word upon Cassio. So the scene open with mid-talk between Cassio, Desdemona and Emilia.
Cassio asks help to Desdemona to make Othello change his mind. Here’s the answer of Desdemona.
Do not doubt that; before Emilia here
I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,
If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it
To the last article: my lord shall never rest;
I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I'll intermingle every thing he does
With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, Cassio;
For thy solicitor shall rather die
Than give thy cause away.
In this case Desdemona uses legal language, defining herself a solicitor of him, she commits herself to Cassio’s cause.
At the same time Othello and Iago arrives, for this reason Cassio goes away rapidly,
Desdemona entreats Othello to forgive Cassio and reinstate him as lieutenant. Othello assures her that he will speak to Cassio, but he answers evasively when she tries to set a meeting time. She criticizes Othello for responding to her request so grudgingly and hesitantly, and he tells her that he will deny her nothing but wishes to be left to himself for a little while.
Iago remarks the fact Cassio goes away saying nothing. A perfect opportunity to implement the strategy of say not say.
“Ha! I like not that.”
Continuing to be ambiguous, he doesn’t give a bold definition. Also, Desdemona insist to convince Othello to reinstate Cassio and Othello answer evasively. So here Iago starts his mind control on Othello.
Here’s Iago is planting the firsts doubts in Othello’s mind. Desdemona, who, really cares about Cassio’s situation (without any sentiment, this is for sure), uses a very insistent language, that makes the moor more suspicious.
Desdemona also asks when he can take the decision.
Why, then, to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn;
On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn:
I prithee, name the time, but let it not
Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;
And yet his trespass, in our common reason--
Save that, they say, the wars must make examples
Out of their best--is not almost a fault
To incur a private cheque. When shall he come?
Othello is still in love with her, so he accepted to talk to Cassio. And when he won’t love her anymore something will go wrong. A sort of prophecy.
Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.
Iago find the perfect moment to strengthen his plan. The first temptation scene:
Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady,
Know of your love?
OTHELLO
He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask?
IAGO
But for a satisfaction of my thought;
No further harm.
OTHELLO
Why of thy thought, Iago?
IAGO
I did not think he had been acquainted with her.
OTHELLO
O, yes; and went between us very oft.
IAGO
Indeed!
OTHELLO
Indeed! ay, indeed: discern'st thou aught in that?
Is he not honest?
IAGO
Honest, my lord!
OTHELLO
Honest! ay, honest.
IAGO
My lord, for aught I know.
OTHELLO
What dost thou think?
IAGO
Think, my lord!
OTHELLO
Think, my lord!
By heaven, he echoes me,
As if there were some monster in his thought
Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something:
I heard thee say even now, thou likedst not that,
When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like?
And when I told thee he was of my counsel
In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst 'Indeed!'
And didst contract and purse thy brow together,
As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me,
Show me thy thought.
Here's his strategy, retreating his words, echoes him, in order to create more strength in his mind. Iago doesn’t say anything. Iago make Othello make anything by himself.
IAGO
For Michael Cassio,
I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.
OTHELLO
I think so too.
IAGO
Men should be what they seem;
Or those that be not, would they might seem none!
(he’s not what he is! So, every utterance is completely opposite)
OTHELLO
Certain, men should be what they seem.
IAGO
Why, then, I think Cassio's an honest man.
OTHELLO
Nay, yet there's more in this:
I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
The worst of words.
(no, I’m not convinced, tell what you’re thinking)
Iago refuses to explains his though, claiming he doesn’t want to tell anything influenced by fear. It is a confession, but Othello doesn’t figured out it. Iago does not speak clear so that confuse Othello’s mind. Giving the opposite answer, echoing ecc… saying nothing.
I do beseech you--
Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,
As, I confess, it is my nature's plague
To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy
Although Othello seems to insist on extort some confession, so Iago gave him, his definition of Jealousy.
O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!
Why Iago introduces this discourse? Am I jealous? I am not jealous cause my wife is fair (Othello is stable), she chooses me for what I am.
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