Othello (Act 3)

Othello – Act 3

In Act 3, we see Iago “play the field”, so to speak, very nicely as he weaves his web of lies, and does so without flaw. It is in Scene 3 of this act that Iago first plants his seed of doubt about Desdemona being faithful in Othello’s mind, and does so by acting as if he knows something more that could be of bad faith towards Othello. Although in the beginning Othello more or less refuses to believe him, Iago slowly encompasses Othello’s mind with thoughts that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with his friend, Cassio. We see Iago as truly a master of manipulation as he seems to do this while trying to defend Othello’s honor and prove to him that Iago is still loyal to Othello. One example of the latter is when Iago first speaks of Desdemona’s supposed disloyalty to Othello, and he says, “She that so young could give out such a seeming, / To seel her father’s eyes up close as oak, / He thought ‘twas witchcraft! But I am much to blame. / I humbly do beseech you of your pardon / For too much loving you.” (3.3.212-217) This scene becomes quite dark, quite quickly as Iago further pushes Othello to have belief that Desdemona has done him wrong by sleeping with Cassio through much of the same technique. In fact, at one point Iago says his final words to Othello about the matter and moves to leave only to come right back and say something further about Desdemona. Not only does Iago deceive Othello, but he also does so to his own wife, Emilia, as he leaves her in the dark about what he wishes to do with Desdemona’s handkerchief and makes her believe it is nothing of concern. Throughout 3.3, Iago manipulates almost everyone into believing that he has “exceeding honesty,” but especially both Othello and Desdemona as he plays both of their sides leaving each to believe he is truly a good man. (3.3.262) We see Iago further secure this sense of honesty with Othello in scene 3 as he speaks more on the matter of Desdemona and Cassio and says, “But sith I am entered in this cause so far, / Pricked to’t by foolish honesty and love, / I will go on.” (3.3.416-418) Iago is so crafty in the end that he is able to make Othello completely believe that Desdemona has been cheating on him with Cassio, and thus orders Iago to kill Cassio within three days.

It is then in Act 3, Scene 4, that we see Iago’s work come into action as Othello finds Desdemona looking for her handkerchief that Othello gave her, and questions her about it’s whereabouts. Furthermore, Othello becomes quite angry with Desdemona in this scene and even makes it seem like Desdemona will be unworthy of him if she has completely lost it. Iago is barely present in this scene, and yet we see his powers of manipulation play out in full through the actions of Othello’s jealousy and anger towards Desdemona and Cassio.

After watching the Insider’s Guide, I find it interesting how Michele Osherow compares Iago’s manipulation to a game of chess. It is very fitting to compare it to this, however, chess is a game of strategy, not manipulation, and as she says later in the video it is quite clear that Iago never truly has a set strategy, but instead things just seem to fall in his lap. This being said, what I truly do agree with is how Iago is compared to, and even called, the devil in this video, as he really is evil and only wishes to please himself.