In Act 4 Scene 1 Lines 91- 104 we see more of Iago’s manipulation of Othello.  At this point in the play, Othello has just come to after passing out from a fit of anger.  Iago is telling Othello to be patient and hide because Cassio is about to return.  He subtly insults Othello by saying passing out is “unsuiting” for such a man.  He also tells him how he had to come up with a story to explain to Cassio why he was unconscious and told him to return soon to talk.  Iago told Othello to hide so that he can hear Cassio recount the story of him and Desdemona’s relationship.  Iago says he will get Cassio to confess to the infidelity and that Othello should watch Cassio’s facial gestures while he talks about his relationship with Desdemona. He also insults Othello again by saying if he doesn’t stay hidden and patient then he “…shall say you’re all in all in spleen,/ and nothing of a man” (Lines 103-104).  This meaning that if Othello was to reveal himself, it would show that he is only overwhelmed with anger and not thinking clearly.

I felt that this was an important passage to note because it perfectly displays Iago’s manipulation of Othello and Cassio.  In this scene we are able to see how cleverly Iago takes complete control over every character in the story.  He is basically using Cassio as a puppet to spin this fabricated story to Othello, yet Cassio doesn’t even realize that he is being used and set up.  In this scene we also see how easily Othello is able to be convinced by anything Iago will tell him.  He sees how Iago is planning on tricking Cassio into saying what they want to hear, yet doesn’t consider that Iago is doing the same thing to him by manipulating his thoughts.