Chapter Commentary of The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice - Study Guide by William Shakespeare

influence of Iago. Cassio has no head for drink ("I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking") but Iago convinces him with a light-hearted persistence to drink "to the health of black Othello" (2.3.29), for "...’tis a night of revels, the gallants desire it..." (2.3.40-1). Once drunk, he is vulnerable, "full of quarrel and offence" (2.3.47). Iago has already briefed Roderigo to provoke a fight. He also tells Montano, who is on watch with them, that Cassio has a problem with drink and that he fears Cassio may be dangerous in this state,

I fear the trust Othello puts in him

On some odd time of his infirmity

Will shake this isle(2.3.122-4)

As Iago and Montano speak of the hazards of Cassio’s "ingraft infirmity", they hear a cry of help. They find Cassio beating up Roderigo. Montano tries to restrain him and Cassio turns on him, letting Roderigo escape. Roderigo runs off to stir the town with cries of mutiny. Othello arrives on the scene to find his lieutenant brawling with a gentleman. He asks what is going on. Cassio cannot speak; Montano neither. Othello becomes more and more angry and begins to throw off the vestiges ofcaution,

Now, by heaven,

My blood begins my safer guides to rule

And passion, having my best judgement collied,

Assays to lead the way.(2.3.200-3)

He is aware of his weakness, his passionate decisiveness, that is seen later both in his treatment of Cassio and of Desdemona. Iago is called upon to explain the situation and, whilst his direction of events up until this point is impressive, his control of the situation is masterly. He effectively blames Cassio but does so in such a way as to appear loath to do so.

I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth

Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio,

Yet I persuade myself to speak the truth(2.3.217-9)

He also claims to have pursued Cassio’s first victim (i.e. Roderigo), the crying fellow and thus conveniently misses the start of the fight between Cassio and Montano, "When I came back...I found them close together...More of this matter cannot I report." (2.3.232-6).He hastily qualifies his accusation by saying "But men are men, the best sometimes forget...Though Cassio did some little wrong to him...Yet surely Cassio, I believe, received / From him that fled some strange indignity / Which patience wouldn’t pass". Iago succeeds in both accusing Cassio and seeming reluctant to do so. As Othello says, "I know, Iago, / Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, / Making it light to Cassio". Iago is so convincing in this that, although Cassio loses his lieutenancy through the malign scheming of Iago, it is to Iago that he turns for help.

Iago’s advice to Cassio is to use Desdemona, the"general’s general"to petition Othello on his behalf to restore him to his former post as lieutenant. On this ground, Iago plans to sow the seed of Othello’s jealousy. Iago’s speech with Cassio raises a number of interesting points. The first is "reputation". Cassio feels so hurt in his reputation – from Othello’s second-in-command to a common drunken brawler - that he sees it beyond repair, "Ay, past all surgery...I have lost the immortal part of / myself – and what remains is bestial. My reputation, / Iago, my reputation" (2.3.256-261). Iago dismisses the whole concept of reputation as "an idle and false improvisation". What Cassio has lost, Iago says, is no more than Othello’s pleasure, "a punishment more in / policy than in malice" which skilfully concurs with Othello’s own words, "I’ll make