One of the most significant key factors in the play is the handkerchief. It was given by Othello to his wife, Desdemona, in order to leave her with a symbol with his great love to her. This handkerchief has tremendous effect later on in the play. Iago is using his wife, in order to steal that token from Othello, and later on ‘plant’ it within Cassio, another part of his master plan of incriminating him with sleeping with Othello’s wife, Desdemona. Emilia is confessing her bad deeds –

 I am glad I have found this napkin.
This was her first remembrance from the Moor.
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Wooed me to steal it. But she so loves the token
(For he conjured her she should ever keep it)
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I’ll have the work ta’en out
And give ‘t Iago. What he will do with it
Heaven knows, not I.
I nothing but to please his fantasy. (AIII SIII, 334-343)

I find this a great example to see how Iago is a mastermind, once again, manipulating everything and turning around what’s needed for his benefit. He is actually so good at it, that he doesn’t even need to commit the things himself, therefore reserving a huge advantage of looking innocent, while being the brain behind this whole plan.

Even though Emilia states that she is unsure about her husband’s plan, the fact she is stealing this love symbol from Othello’s wife, cannot be in good context. It shows how mch influence Iago has over her, and reflects on how he manage to manipulate the people who are close to him for his favor.

Furthermore, the handkerchief is one of the major instruments in this play, reflecting Othello’s love to Desdemona. When it is taken from her, the play is turning around showing us that Othello and Desdemona do have a crisis in their love, and are facing problems in their relationship. Later on, when Othello is finally confronting Desdemona, the first things he is asking for is to see the handkerchief. This proves us once again its significance signifying the love between them in the actually ‘money time’ (when their love and relationship are put on a test)

In Act III Scene III, I noticed a great aspect shedding some light over Iago’s manipulations techniques. Right after Cassio leaves, Iago is jumping on the window opportunity in order to influence Othello’s mind into thinking his wife, Desdemona, is cheating on him with Cassio. More precisely he simply says right after Cassio leaves –

Ha, I like not that (A III S III , 36)

I chose this passage since it gives us an insider look to a specific method or technique used by Iago to achieve his ultimate goal. He is quickly planting the desired idea in Othello’s mind and backing out almost. Right after, he is acting as if the dialogue was naturally started (He doesn’t say much – less is more in this case). It gains the important advantage of credibility, which Iago uses over and over again into deceiving Othello.

Right after, Othello is asking –

What dost thou say? (A III S III , 37)

And Iago replies –

Nothing my lord; or if – I know not what (A III S III , 38-39)

Iago started this discussion by making Othello notice the coincidence, but when Othello is asking him what this is about, he is playing innocent, like as if he doesn’t know. Brilliant. Right after, we notice that the message has been successfully delivered to Othello –

Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? (A III S III , 40)

‘Mission accomplished’ by Iago. He is basically modifying he’s methods by forcing Othello to get information from him about his wife’s loyalty, as if it comes naturally out of his mind and personal concerns, thus, releasing the weight from Iago not to seem like undermining between them himself (which is actually the case!). Right after that, Iago says as if he is surprised from the connection made:

Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it

The he would steal away so guiltylike.

Seeing your coming (A III S III , 41-43)

Iago is trying to allegedly question his own point in this discussion, to gain more and more credit from Othello and make his presence and self-interests disappear from the topic, making it only about Desdemona and Cassio, and not about: how did this topic come up? (which is to cause damage).

This is a fascinating way of undermining in my opinion, even though he is far from being a good person and a friend as he pretends to be. Another interesting part here is that the whole thing happened in a very short time frame (at least that’s how it feels from the textual vibe of the play) and escalates very quickly in Othello’s mind (from not noticing à to thinking about it himself). As Jose said in class – it is admirable.