ipl-logo

The Failure To Lose His Reputation In Shakespeare's Othello

463 Words2 Pages

The major conflict in this scene surrounds Cassio’s distraught over losing his reputation. The conflict is between Cassio who is unable to decide a rational path to move forward and Iago who tries to push Cassio to take a path that will further his plans to destroy Othello. The despair from being removed from the position as lieutenant overwhelms Cassio allowing Iago to easily manipulate him.

The conflict arises from the situation as Cassio loses his reputation due to his inability to control himself after consuming alcohol. Iago who is well aware of this, takes advantage of it by urging Cassio to drink to the point he is completely drunk. He then uses Roderigo to provoke Cassio which quickly escalates into a large fight. The fight ends only after Othello jumps in and Montano gets stabbed by Cassio trying to stop the fight. This results in Cassio being removed from his position and the conflict that appears now.

Iago clearly has the greatest status because he has control over everyone else in the scene. He is the puppeteer and the other people are his puppets for him to manipulate. Cassio is in a lower status after being demoted from his position as lieutenant. At this moment in the scene, he is ashamed of himself and he regrets his actions with no hope for …show more content…

Iago has the greatest status in this scene because he is able to take advantage of each character by manipulating them to follow his plans out of their own will. His advice is true and reasonable yet pushes them to follow his plans without resistance. Cassio’s low status in this scene is caused by his loss of reputation and his willingness to follow any hope of restoring it even if it means listening to Iago. Roderigo has the lowest status in this scene because he is so obsessed with trying to gain Desdemona’s affection that he is willing to listen to anyone, especially Iago who promises that he will do everything to make Desdemona fall in love with

Show More
Related

  • Internal Conflict In A Painted House

    796 Words  | 4 Pages

    The play introduces us to two characters Roderigo and Iago, which sets up the first external conflict of which Roderigo owes Iago money , “That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.” (Shakespeare, Act I) . Roderigo was referring to his payments to Iago in return Iago would get him his dream girl, Desdemona, which brings up another external conflict because Desdemona is married to the illustrious general Othello. Iago has some animosity towards Othello because Cassio got the job of lieutenant instead of himself. Iago instigates a fight between a drunken Cassio and Roderigo which results in Cassio being fired by Othello.

    Read More

  • Iago And Marxist Criticism In Shakespeare's Othello

    992 Words  | 4 Pages

    Iago saw himself as the best for the position just as a person would who wanted control. He never sees Cassio as the superior Lieutenant, but as a man who was no better than him. Iago wanted for himself what he couldn’t have, so he did what he knew best, took

    Read More

  • Othello Character Flaws

    491 Words  | 2 Pages

    In “Othello”, some of Cassio flaws lead to this play’s outcome. In act 2 scene 3, Iago persuades Cassio to have some wine to drink. Iago does this so Cassio could get drunk and start doing things he won’t do when he isn’t drunk. At first, Cassio is set up to fight Rodreigo.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Sacrifice In Othello

    565 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the beginning of the novel, Shakespeare describes Iago as a mastermind of manipulating others. Iago holds a grudge and resentment towards the Moor, Othello, because another soldier, lieutenant Cassio, has been promoted

    Read More

  • Examples Of Manipulation In Othello

    901 Words  | 4 Pages

    Secondly, Iago manipulates Cassio the most throughout the book. He uses Cassio’s social status and his trust with Othello to ruin his reputation. Iago is jealous of Cassio because he is higher status and has a strong relationship with Othello. For Iago’s plan to work he needs to get closer to Othello, but first he needs to break Othello and Cassio’s trust first. So one night Cassio is supposed to be keeping a party under control Othello tells him “good Michael, look you to the guard tonight.

    Read More

  • The Destruction Of Honesty In Shakespeare's Othello

    522 Words  | 3 Pages

    But never more be officer of mine. — (II.iii.210-214) refers to Act 2 Scene 3. This demonstrates Othello’s trust in Iago because he was the one to talk most and also provide more on what happened to the situation since he is the one that planned the whole thing. Throughout the rest of the story after Othello demoting Cassio as officer, Iago’s whole plan is to cause problems between

    Read More

  • Reputation And Honor In Shakespeare's Othello

    1039 Words  | 5 Pages

    To clarify, Cassio too, acknowledges the perceptions of others when he claims “O, I have lost my / reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains / is bestial” (II.iii.241-42). Demonstrated by these two men, they ironically trust a man with no honor, under the impression he is essential and supportive but, in actuality Iago’s perceived righteous actions are only beneficial to himself in hopes of furthering his own

    Read More

  • How Othello's Character Changes

    844 Words  | 4 Pages

    Othello starts to believe Iago’s lies about his friends and wife, leading Othello to change his behavior towards his closest allies. Iago instigates a fight between Cassio and Montano, and Othello must take charge of his soldiers, he says: Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee But never more be officer of mine. (2.3.210-213) Othello makes the decision to fire Cassio, and things get worse when Iago makes his wife, Emilia, steal Desdemona 's handkerchief.

    Read More

  • The Audience In Othello

    931 Words  | 4 Pages

    Iago’s determination to destroy both Othello and Cassio represent gossip and rumour in everyday life. That being said the complication and lack of communication is simple yet brilliant. Lastly the role of women plays a big part in the appeal of the play as it shows how Desdemona enforces the idea of

    Read More

  • Overt Racism In Othello

    1097 Words  | 5 Pages

    He expresses his jealousy for Cassio when he says that Othello “already chose [his] officer” who he calls “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine” who “never set a squadron in the field.” Iago believes he should have gotten the promotion because he had more military experience and training. After he gets Cassio drunk and dismissed from service, he devises a plan to manipulate Othello into believing he is cheating with Desdemona in order that Cassio never gets his position again or even killed. Iago also hears a rumor that Othello slept with his

    Read More

  • How Does Iago Manipulate Othello's Character

    681 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the play Iago manipulates Cassio by exploiting his drinking problem. Shortly after they arrive in Iago convinces Cassio to drink, knowing that he can not hold his liquor very well, he then tells Roderigo to provoke him, this causes a fight to break out ending with cassio stabbing and wounding Montano, a

    Read More

  • The Failure Of Cassio In Shakespeare's Othello

    154 Words  | 1 Pages

    Within Othello Cassio is portrayed as a soldier who , “never set a squadron in the field”and is portrayed as having a general lack of experience (Act I.i.23). Even though this is the case Cassio is still Othello 's officer because he understands the theory behind war and is an honorable man. Cassio throughout the early stages of the book treats Desdemona extremely kindly because he is a noble man not because of lust but this proves to be his downfall. Due to his lack in experience Cassio is extremely gullible and fails to see through Iago 's plot to take his position and become closer to Othello. After Iago causes Cassio to lose his position as officer Cassio is only concerned about his reputation as he says, “Reputation. reputation,

    Read More

  • Othello Act 3 Scene 3 Analysis

    982 Words  | 4 Pages

    As a scheming villain, Iago begins to ensnare Othello into his trap of vengeance by echoing in Othello’s mind prospect of an affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago begins his insinuations by reminding Othello that Cassio served as their go-between during their courtship through a rhetorical

    Read More

  • The Dark Side Of Human Nature In Shakespeare's Othello

    517 Words  | 3 Pages

    He is jealous of Othello, show in, “I confess it is my shame to be so fond/but it is not in my virtue to amend it” (1.3:316-317). Roderigo is desperate for Desdemona and Iago takes advantage of this and makes him do thing such as kill Cassio. Roderigo does all of Iago’s dirty work and makes his plan successful. Also, Roderigo is unintelligent and realizes too late that his “money is almost spent” (2.3:364-368). Iago makes several false promises to Roderigo and he does not expose Iago because he is desperate for love.

    Read More

  • How Does Jealousy Lead To Othello's Downfall

    970 Words  | 4 Pages

    Iago is the mastermind behind all of the mayhem in this play, and it all starts in act one when Othello made Michael Cassio the lieutenant over him. This left Iago flabbergasted saying Cassio "never set a squadron in the field" (I.i.22) and he sarcastically says " And I-God bless the mark! His Moorship 's ancient" (I.i.33). Iago was more qualified than Cassio, in experience and also, as Iago thinks, ability.

    Read More

More about The Failure To Lose His Reputation In Shakespeare's Othello

Open Document