1. We said in class on Tuesday that Iago is drawing on certain assumptions about Moors andabout women in order to put his plan into action. How do you see those assumptions being deployed by Iago in Act Two? Take a look especially at how Iago speaks to Roderigo, Cassio, and the other men in this play. Use specific quotes in your answer.

In Cyprus, a storm destroyed the Turkish fleet before the Venetians fought against them. Casio has already landed; Othello’s ship, as expected by Desdemona, Iago, Rodrigo and Iago’s wife, Emilia, arrived before another ship appears. Among them a somewhat shameless conversation was formed. It appears Othello and leave with Desdemona. Iago convinces Roderigo that Desdemona is actually in love with Cassio, and he is trying to convince Roderigo to encourage Cassio to remove his post as Othello’s replacement. “That Cassio loves her, I do well believe’t; That she loves him ‘tis apt and of great credit.” Iago 283-284. Cyprus is on a holidays: Iago wants to get Cassio drunk, who is leaves, but returns with others, including Montano, that have already got to drink, and goes again. Iago sent Roderigo to provoke Cassio, which makes chasing Rodrigo. Cassio, fighting, injures Montano, who wanted to retain. Othello appears, to find out why are those fights. Iago with his two-faced statements contribute to dismiss Cassio from his lieutenant post. Iago and Cassius left alone; Iago convinces him to appeal to Desdemona, and then and only, decides that Emilia also help Cassio in this task.

Iago makes the assumption in Act II that it will be easy for him to put his plan into movement because women are looking out for lust rather than just being in love with someone. Iago can make it seem as if Desdemona acting upon lust and that she is sleeping with Cassio. As Shakespeare said, Iago’s plan of using Desdemona and Cassio seems so foolproof it will “ensnare a great fly as Cassio.”

Iago also bases his plan about what he thinks of Moors. The way Iago speaks about Othello shows the prejudice towards him, how he refers to him as mostly just the Moor instead of his name or his title of position in the military. It seems as if he is acting in jealously, spite, and prejudice towards Othello; Othello has a position of rank and a wife like Desdemona and Iago has neither.

In Othello, a person’s reputation seems to depend on military duty and public behavior, while women often depends on the identity of her reputation. Iago’s true identity, and ultimately unknowable- to play the characters and the audience. “CASSIO：Reputation, reputation, reputation! Oh, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago,
my reputation! (2.3.24)” From here, we can see as a solider, his reputation is depending on his military duty and public behavior. Othello was a convert to Christianity. In Act 2, Scene 3, telling us that Othello has indeed been baptised. And yet, as a Moor, it seems highly unlikely that Othello could have been born a Christian, as Moors were Muslim and circumcised. Othello has been converted to Christianity, as his own words seem to suggest a little later in the play:”For Christian shame put by this barbarous brawl!” and “Are we turned Turks?” From these sentences, we can see Othello is，actually a Christian. But due to logic Othello is a Muslim and he has married a Christian woman “Desdemona” so he could be Christian. Othello is appointed general in the Venetian Army, So, he is Venetian. Venice is a prosperous Italian city and a symbol of law and civilization. It’s also full of white people, which makes Othello, a black Moor, standing out among the Venetians.

Othello is described as a Moor , people who are Muslim and reside in South Africa. However, from reading  Act 1 and 2, it does not seem like he is Muslim. Maybe, Othello might have been a Muslim but he converted to Christianity after marrying Desdemona.I think he converted because it is unlikely that Othello could have been born a Christian, as Moors were Muslim and Muslim men usually get circumcised.Also, in Act 2 Scene 3, Iago says “ And then for her, To win the Moor, were to renounce his baptism.” Furthermore, on page 52 (ACT 2 SCENE 3, line 161), Othello says “For Christian Shame put by this barbarous brawl.”

The text does not clearly state whether Othello is a Venetian. I think he identifies himself as one after living there and being in the Venetian army. Since Othello is a skilled soldier and is in great demand by the duke and senate, the Venetian government trusts him to put him in full political command of Cyprus.

There are some clues in Act 2 that show Othello is a convert to Christianity. As it mentioned in class that Moors are assumed to be Muslims, there is no evidence can be found in Act II that prove Othello is a Muslims. However, I noticed some clues that shows Othello might be a Christian/Venetian. There are terms and phrases in Othello’s dialog can relate him to Christianity. The most obvious one is in the dialog when Othello wants Cassio and Montano to stop fighting : “For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl…” (Act 2, scene 3,164). He talks to others in Christian fashion. This line reflects that there is a higher chance of Othello is a Christian then a Muslim.

Besides details in Othello’s dialog show he might be a Christian, his attitude to the Turks also prove that he might be a Christian. After Othello knows the Turks’ fleet was drowned, Othello and other people celebrate the Turks death on a street (Act 2, Scene 2). I think this is an evidence of Othello is a Christian because Turks were mostly Muslims in 17th century. In other words, it is not really make sense that Othello celebrates the Turks’ death if he is a Muslims.

The clues in Act II about Othello’s identity inclines to he is a Christian. However, there is no direct proof throughout the entire Othello that shows the real identity of Othello.

In Act Two, Iago makes assumptions about women, but in particular Desdemona. In the beginning of scene 1, Iago identifies his wife, Emilia, as an actor in housekeeping and a prostitute in bed. He generalizes this assumption throughout the scene about women. His first slander on Desdemona appears at the end of scene one where Iago tells Roderigo, “The wine she drinks is made of grapes” (ActII.1, ll249). The quote means that Desdemona isn’t special; she is like any other woman. When Cassio holds Desdemona’s hand, Iago thinks to himself that this is the opportunity where I’ll ruin their lives. He mentions a metaphor about a small spider web “ensnaring a great fly as Cassio” (ActII.1, ll168). Through this imagery of Cassio holding her hands sparks the beginning of his calumnies. Even though Cassio holds her hand out of care and comfort than for lust, this marks the turning point of Cassio’s reputation and the beginning of Iago’s scheme.

Iago tells Roderigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio, and Cassio is also in love with her. Thus, this makes Desdemona sound like an ordinary woman who loves another man soon after she is bored of her current one. It is the “very nature that will instruct her in it and compel her to some second choice” because Othello lacks manner and beauty.

But aside from disparaging Desdemona, Iago also does the same to Othello. During Othello and Desdemona’s wedding party, Iago tells Montano about Cassio’s serious drinking problems, and how Othello instilled a lot of trust in a drunkard. This is ironic because it was Iago that encouraged Cassio to drink. In my opinion, the lies about Cassio’s potable problems and Othello’s irresponsibility have engendered a sense of prejudice towards Montano. He begins to view Othello as an irresponsible, lackluster general. “…’tis great pity that the noble Moor should hazard such a place as his own second (lieutenant) with one of an engraffed infirmity…” (ActII.3, ll131).

“When the blood is made dull with the act of
sport, there should be, again to inflame it and to
give satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour,
sympathy in years, manners and beauties; all which
the Moor is defective in: now, for want of these
required conveniences, her delicate tenderness will
find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge,
disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will
instruct her in it and compel her to some second
choice.”-Iago

This quote by Iago does a good job explaining how he believes that what Desdemona wants is a good looking man.  With Othello getting older and with the stress of wars his beauty will soon be gone and she will have to fall back to her second choice.  This generalization assumes that women only want men that are good looking and he uses this idea for his own self serving purposes. Iago is trying to find any way possible to convince Roderigo that his plan will work to make Othello believe Desdemona is having an affair.

“yet that I put the Moor At least into a jealousy so strong That judgment cannot cure.”-Iago

This quote by Iago again goes along with the idea that the Moor is a trusting man who will believe almost anything people tell him because at heart he sees the good in people. Once Iago puts the idea that his wife is sleeping with someone else, Iago is sure Othello will believe just based on who he is and the trusting nature he has. This jealousy will cause doubt in Othello and drive him crazy.  This generalization from Iago factors into his plan on how he will take advantage of him for his own agenda.

In this totally epic Shakespearian play, the protagonist, Othello, was a high ranking general in the Venetian army and government. He was despised by his peers for being an outsider. This distaste was fueled, mostly, by the sly, slick talking, evil Iago.

Iago’s intentions were undoubtedly self serving. Before I get carried away with the plot of Iago’s evil plan, which he may or may not have just been winging the whole time, lets get back to the topic at hand.
Iago felt no need to hold back his views and distaste for Othello calling him, such as, but not limited to – “The Moor,” “an old black ram,” “poopy pants” – although Shakespeare may have cut this one out in his final draft.

However, according to the text, it is unclear if Othello is identified as Muslim. Although Moor’s were characterized as muslim; it is not specifically stated in the play if he was or was not. Though it is indicated that Othello was possibly a Christian – “To win the Moor, were to renounce his baptism.”

I was unsuccesful in finding a quote from Act Two indicating wether Othello was, or was not, a Venetian. In Act One, however, this quote stuck out – “Rude am I in my speech, / And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace.” In this quote Othello may be indicated that he lack the eloquence that of his venetian peers. But in Act Two, the only indication of Othello being an outsider is the constant use of the word “Moor” being used when referring to Othello.

Question 2 of Act 2-Othello

In Act 2 of the play we get a few hints that Othello might have actually converted from Muslim to Christian. Othello is a great general for the Venetian Army fighting the Ottoman Turks, who were Muslims. This suggest that during that period there’s no way the Venetian Army would allow a Muslim, their enemies, control the army. Although Othello is a great general, he is clearly an outsider for Venetian culture as he is a Moor. Moors during the time were predominately Muslim but Iago may suggest that Othello had to be converted to Christianity “And then for her To win the Moor, were’t to renounce his baptism, All seals and symbols of redeemed sin…”(2.3.332-333). With Iago stating this it tells us that Othello indeed did get baptized and converted to Christianity.

Another example one can see that Othello is Christian is that when he broke up the brawl “Are we turn’d Turks, and to ourselves do that Which Heaven hath forbid the Ottomites? For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl” (2.3.163-165). In this scene Othello is not only referring to his people as Christians but also including himself in it by adding the “we” thus identifying himself as a Christian while also insulting the Muslim Turks for being barbarous. We see that Othello indeed is an outsider from Venetian culture as he is a Moor and had converted from Islam to Christianity. Othello identifies himself as a Christian and not a Muslim, but also as an outsider from Venetian culture.

-Matias Hernandez

Iago is using his assumption of women, and in this specific case of Desdemona, to manipulate Roderigo into thinking that WHEN Desdemona leaves Othello (Because according to him she will grow tired of him, his older age, and his bad looks) she will go after Cassio. Iago is telling Roderigo that Cassio is the obvious next choice. “The knave is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in him that folly and green minds look after. A pestilent complete knave, and the woman hath found him already. (247-251) He starts feeding Roderigo’s mind with ideas that, Desdemona has already started flirting with Cassio, and flirtation eventually leads to sexual relations. “Lechery, by this hand, an index and obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so near with their lips that their breaths embraced together.” (260-263)

Iago sees that the love Othello and Desdemona share is deep, and because of this love Othello would do anything to please Desdemona. He assumes women have a certain power over men that allow them to do as they please. “That she may make, unmake, do what she list.”(334) He uses this knowledge to his advantage to convince Cassio to reach out to Desdemona and beg her to speak to her husband in his behalf. While this is happening Iago is going to be instilling suspicion in Othello’s mind about Cassio and Desdemona.

In all of Act II, Iago draws on assumptions to execute his master plan.