othello iago vs. othello
.... The second instance in which the contradiction was shown was after the Turkish fleet was destroyed by the storm in Act II; Iago acts like a friend to Cassio during the celebration and drinks with him. Knowing Cassio's low tolerance for wine, Iago easily gets him drunk while he is supposed to be on watch. He convinces Montano that this is Cassio's normal nightly routine. Roderigo begins a fight with Cassio and Montano was injured while attempting to stop Cassio. When Cassio becomes sober he is unable to provide rationale for his actions and is hence dismissed by Othello. The other characters believed that Iago had been a Good Samaritan, but he had really set up the lavish scene to relieve Cassio of his duty and line himself up for the position of lieutenant. To clear himself from any suspicion on the part of Cassio, Iago once again pretends to befriend Cassio and offers his help in reinstating Cassio as lieutenant, but he has alterior motives involving a conflict with Othello and Desdemona. He proceeds to play on Othello's jealousies hinting at an affair between Cassio and Desdemona. During this time he was working with them to get Cassio reinstated and he was making himself appear to be helpful and caring in the eyes of all three characters. Iago sets up encounters between Cassio and Desdemona that he will have secretly witnessed by Othello in which he will alter speech and actions to heighten the jealousies of Othello. All three unsuspecting characters progressively believed in the "purity" of Iago as he further plays on their ignorance. He did this to suit his desire of being the lieutenant and for his deal with Roderego to free the hand of Desdemona for the likes of Roderigo. He appears to succeed in the beginning, but as he tangles the characters in his lies, he gets himself tangled as well and the truth came about. Iago was thus put into custody and forced to await certain doom. Unfortunately, for Iago his misunderstanding of character, which he thought suited him so well, left him victim of his own foul play. A mean watchfulness or prying suspicion is the last thing Othello could be guilty of. He is of free and noble nature, naturally trustful, and with a kind of grand innocence. Retaining some of his barbaric simplicity of soul in the midst of the discriminating and astute politicians of Venice. He is great in simple heroic actions, but unversed in the complex affairs of life, and a stranger to the bitter deceits of Iago, in which he also shows his discrepancy of nature. Othello despite his not so respected race as a Moor, was the well-respected and talented general of Venice. His love was true to all those he was associated with. He was known to all he cherished as loyal and fair. For example, he accepted Cassio back as a lieutenant despite the inappropriate behavior displayed previously because he respected Cassio and the opinions of Desdemona who pleaded on Cassio's behalf. His goodness could not theoretically be pinpointed in the play, but rather it is a constant display of valor and honor to all those around him. Unlike Iago, his true person was always evident to all. However, Othello showed evil qualities as well, which were consequently the cause of his downfall as well as that of others around him. After being led to believe, without doubt, of an affair between Cassio and Desedemona he ...