Iago (Shakespeare's Othello)

The Plot of Othello

The drama opens with Iago exploiting the angry resentment of Roderigo, a wealthy bachelor in love with the well-born Venetian lady Desdemona, newly and secretly married to Othello. Roderigo had unsuccessfully sought her hand in marriage, and Iago contrives to stir ill feeling between him and Desdemona's new husband. The initial cause of Iago's own particular animus against Othello appears twofold. He expresses anger at Othello for promoting Cassio (a younger fellow officer) above him and also claims that Othello has been sleeping with his wife, Emilia.

The removal of the central players at this juncture from Venice to Cyprus, where the Venetian military has been detailed to repel a Turkish attack, provides Iago with an open field of opportunity to indulge further and fully his zeal for disruption. His machinations begin in earnest when he drives a wedge between Roderigo and Cassio. During the celebrations arranged when the Turkish fleet is scuppered in a storm offshore, Iago persuades Roderigo and a drunken Cassio (whom he has been deliberately plying with alcohol) to brawl: Cassio is held responsible by Othello and is demoted.

Next, Iago sets out to make Othello jealous by having him believe that his wife, Desdemona has been unfaithful with Cassio. To this end Iago convinces Emilia to steal a dropped handkerchief that had been given to Desdemona by Othello. Iago plants it in Cassio's room and has Othello watch as Iago, sowing seeds of jealousy, interrogates Cassio about the handkerchief. Cassio is having an affair with a prostitute, Bianca, and utters her name. But he speaks indistinctly, and Othello falls into the trap of believing that Cassio is actually talking about Desdemona. Furthermore, Othello overhears Bianca herself blaming Cassio for giving her a secondhand gift. As Iago had planned, Othello is now convinced of his wife's guilt and Cassio's betrayal. Enraged, he strikes the distraught and uncomprehending Desdemona and asks Iago to kill Cassio.

Iago's malicious campaign of slur and rumor has been working well so far. His next move is [Page 492]to convince Roderigo to kill Cassio. Iago assures Roderigo that this needs to happen because Cassio has been appointed governor of Cyprus: If Cassio takes up that position, Othello and his wife will leave the island and return to Venice, frustrating Roderigo's designs on Desdemona. Roderigo duly assaults Cassio in the street, and a disguised Iago takes advantage of the ensuing confusion to cut Cassio's leg. Bystanders come to Cassio's assistance, and Iago also pretends to help. When Cassio starts to accuse Roderigo of attacking him, Iago covertly stabs and kills Roderigo to prevent the truth from coming out. He then lays the blame for the attack on Cassio at Bianca's door.

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