Essay On Roderigo And Iago In William Shakespeare's Othello

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Roderigo and Iago converse in the streets of Venice sharing their hatred of Othello. Othello recently married Desdemona whom Roderigo has long been pursuing, employing the help of Iago in his pursuit. Othello also passed up his ensign Iago for the position of lieutenant in favor of Cassio whom Iago believes is inferior. Roderigo urges Iago to quit, but Iago insists he is only working for Othello to take advantage of him. Wanting to get back at Othello, the pair go Desdemona’s father Brabantio’s house and tell him Othello and Desdemona are having sex. Brabantio goes to see if this is true and Iago leaves not wanting to be seen betraying Othello. Brabantio returns unable to find his daughter and sets of with his men and Roderigo to find …show more content…
While he is off consummating his marriage with Desdemona, Iago gets Cassio drunk and Roderigo incites Cassio’s anger. Cassio gets in a fight with former Cypriot governor Montano which Othello returns to break up. Othello demands to know who started the fight. Iago feigns concern for Cassio but ultimately tells Othello Cassio started the fight, causing Othello to dismiss Cassio as his lieutenant. In the wake of the fight, Iago guilefully consoles Cassio, convincing him to plead to Desdemona for Othello’s forgiveness. Iago knows Desdemona will take Cassio’s side s convincing Othello Desdemona’s sympathy for Cassio is motivated by lustful …show more content…
Cassio pays the clown to tell Desdemona’s aide Emilia he wishes to speak with her and the clown leaves. Iago enters and tells Cassio he will send for Emilia and find a way to distract Othello while he speaks with her. When Emilia arrives, she tells Cassio Desdemona is defending him to Othello and while Othello still likes him, he cannot reinstate him because of his crime. Cassio asks Emilia to arrange a time where Desdemona and he can speak in private, and Emilia

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