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Why does Iago hate Othello?
The main reason Iago gives for plotting to destroy Othello is a suspicion that Othello may have had an affair with Emilia. However, Iago himself admits that he doesn’t know whether these rumors are true or not, explaining that “I know not if’t be true / But I, for mere suspicion in that kind / Will do as if for surety” (1.3.). Iago also mentions that he is attracted to Desdemona himself: “I do love her too” (2.1.). Neither of these reasons seem totally sufficient for just how much Iago hates Othello, and notably, he declines to answer when Othello asks him his motivation at the end of the play, saying only “Demand me nothing. What you know, you know” (5.2.). The lack of clear reason for Iago’s destructive hatred is part of what makes him such a chilling and effective villain, since in part he seems to take pleasure in destruction for destruction’s sake.
How does Emilia help Iago?
Emilia gives Desdemona’s handkerchief to Iago, explaining that after Desdemona dropped it, she “being here, took’t up” (3.3.). Because Emilia steals the handkerchief, Desdemona is unable to produce it when Othello asks her to show it to him, leading him to become even more convinced that she is guilty of adultery. Because this belief, and his resulting jealous rage, lead him to kill Desdemona, Emilia does have some connection to the murder. However, Emilia is clearly horrified and distraught when she learns that her mistress is dead, lamenting “thou hast killed the sweetest innocent / That ere did lift up eye” (5.2.). She also insists on uncovering the story of what really happened and demonstrating Iago’s guilt, even when this endangers her, explaining that “Let heaven and men and devils, let them all / All, all cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak” (5.2.).
Why does Othello care about Desdemona’s handkerchief?
Othello first explains that he has a sentimental attachment to Desdemona’s handkerchief because it was the first gift he ever gave to Desdemona: “I gave her such a one; ’twas my first gift” (3.3). He later elaborates on the family history of the handkerchief, telling Desdemona that it was a gift from his mother, who had used it as a charm to maintain his father’s love. He explains “There’s magic in the web of it”(3.4.), leaving Desdemona unsure of whether or not to believe him. Because of Othello’s strong attachment to the handkerchief, he is particularly upset that Desdemona cannot find it, and horrified that she might have given it away to another man. Iago’s scheme to make it appear as though Cassio then gave the handkerchief to Bianca further disrespects the family heirloom, making it appear as something that can simply be passed around in a cycle of sexual exchange.
How does Iago manipulate Desdemona?
After Cassio falls from Othello’s favor, Iago exploits Desdemona’s eagerness to bring the two men back together : “So will I turn her virtue into pitch / And out of her own goodness make the net” (2.3.). Iago plants the idea to Othello that something inappropriate may be happening between Cassio and Desdemona, and encourages Othello to pay attention to whether “your lady strain his entertainment / With any strong or vehement importunity” (3.3.). As a result, when Desdemona does intercede on Cassio’s behalf, Othello becomes very jealous and suspicious. Her innocent hopes that “let Cassio be received again” (3.4.) combine with other fears Iago has planted, and drive Othello almost mad with jealousy.
How does Iago use Bianca to trick Othello?
Iago tricks Cassio into speaking about Bianca, a woman he is having an affair with, while leading Othello to believe Cassio is describing Desdemona. As a result, Cassio’s comments, such as “She is persuaded I will marry her / Out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise” (4.1.) sound to Othello like Cassio is admitting to sleeping with Desdemona. The confusion between Desdemona and Bianca is significant because Bianca’s status as a prostitute means Cassio does not respect her. Iago points out that “He, when he hears of her, cannot restrain / From the excess of laughter” (4.1.). Othello is enraged because he believes he is hearing his wife being joked about and described like a prostitute, but he also can’t help seeing her in that light. Othello goes on to refer to Desdemona as a whore a number of times, presumably because of the way he believes she has been treated by other men.
Why does Iago hate Cassio?
Iago resents Cassio for being promoted by Othello to the rank of lieutenant, a position Iago wanted for himself. Adding insult to injury is the fact that Iago believes Cassio isn’t qualified for the job—he points out to Roderigo that Cassio knows as much about commanding men in battle as a “spinster.” Iago feels that he proved his battle skills at Rhodes and Cyprus, and yet he has been passed over for Cassio, a man of “[m]ere prattle without practice.”
Why does Roderigo wake up Brabantio?
Under Iago’s influence Roderigo wakes Brabantio to tell him that his daughter, Desdemona, has run off in the night with Othello. Roderigo is madly in love with Desdemona and is willing to do anything for a chance to make her his own, even manipulate her father into a rage that could ruin her and Othello’s marriage. Brabantio behaves just as Roderigo and Iago hoped: He flies into a panic, rouses his entourage, and immediately sets out to apprehend Othello.
Why does Othello go to Cyprus?
Othello goes to Cyprus per orders of the Duke of Venice. The Turks are sailing to attack Cyprus and, as Othello is known to be a superior commander, the Duke sends him to Cyprus to take command of the soldiers there and protect the island. Othello proudly accepts the post but makes one request: As Desdemona is no longer welcome in her father’s home, he asks that she be allowed to join him in Cyprus.
How does Cassio fall from Othello’s grace and get fired?
Set on revenge and sabotage, Iago purposefully gets Cassio drunk in the hopes that he can get Cassio to do something “[t]hat may offend the isle.” Once Cassio is drunk, Iago takes two more steps that lead to Cassio’s downfall: First, he tells Montano that Cassio drinks heavily every night, and then, as prearranged with Roderigo, he has Roderigo pick a fight with Cassio, knowing Cassio will react violently. The fight causes some men to ring the alarm bells, and when Othello arrives and learns of Cassio’s behavior, he says, “Cassio, I love thee / But never more be officer of mine.”
Why does Roderigo agree to kill Cassio?
Iago convinces Roderigo that Cassio has been promoted to be the new governor of Cyprus, which means that Othello and Desdemona will soon be leaving the island. He tells Roderigo that, if he kills Cassio, Othello and Desdemona will have to stay in Cyprus longer, giving Roderigo time to make his moves on Desdemona. Iago goes so far as to say, “If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from the world with treachery and devise engines for my life.”
Does Cassio die?
When Roderigo attacks Cassio, Cassio reacts quickly, draws his sword, and wounds Roderigo in self defence. The moment Iago notices that Roderigo has failed to murder Cassio, he sneaks up behind Cassio and slashes his legs, hoping to kill his rival himself. But Cassio receives medical attention and survives both attacks.
How does Roderigo die?
After Roderigo fails to murder Cassio, Iago arrives on the scene, pretending to be concerned for Cassio. Iago plays the role of devoted comrade so well that he angrily curses the man who hurt Cassio and calls out to others for aid. When Cassio identifies Roderigo as his attacker, Iago—pretending to be honorable—calls Roderigo a “murd’rous slave” and stabs him to death.
Does Othello kill Desdemona?
Act 5, scene 2 opens with Othello entering his bedroom to wake a sleeping Desdemona. He tells her to pray to ensure she leaves no “crime unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,” and then he confronts her about her giving her handkerchief to Cassio, accusing her of having an affair with Cassio. Despite her passionate denials and her declarations of love for and loyalty to him, Othello smothers her in their bed.
Why does Emilia die?
When Emilia learns that Othello murdered Desdemona because he believed she was unfaithful to him with Cassio, a claim he supports by the fact that Iago told him of the affair and that Cassio had Desdemona’s handkerchief—Emilia becomes enraged. She courageously confronts Othello, and informs him that Desdemona didn’t give the handkerchief to Cassio, but that Iago ordered her to steal it, and that Desdemona was faithful to Othello until the very end. While Emilia reveals the truth, Iago repeatedly orders her to remain silent, but she refuses. In an act of guilt and rage, Iago then stabs and murders Emilia.
Does Othello die?
Upon realizing that he murdered an innocent Desdemona, Othello admits he killed the most precious thing in his life. He asks his men to remember him as “[n]othing extenuate, / Nor set down ought in malice.” And as “one that loved not wisely, but too well. / Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought, / Perplexed in the extreme.” He then uses a weapon he had previously hidden in his bedroom to stab himself.
