Othello Commentary Essay

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Act 2. Scene 3. Lines 356-383

This is a passage from Othello by William Shakespeare. It occurs in Act 2, Scene 3, Lines 356 to 383. In the passage, Iago delivers another soliloquy, like the previous one, detailing the continuation of his plan to bring down Othello. Preceding this passage, as part of Iago’s master plan, Cassio is stripped of his lieutenancy following a drunken rage. Following this passage, Roderigo, who has completely exhausted his finances, comes to tell Iago of his return to Venice, who convinces him to stay by telling Roderigo that he will drive a wedge between Othello and Desdemona with Cassio. . This passage is significant because through Iago’s soliloquy we learn of the next part of his plan in which he will use Desdemona’s good spirit, Othello’s true love for Desdemona and Othello’s jealous nature to convince Othello of an affair. As revealed by Iago’s soliloquy in lines 356-383, the first step in the next part of Iago’s grand plan is to manipulate Desdemona’s good spirit. Iago believes it will be easy to have “th’ inclining” Desdemona convince Othello, for such an “honest suit” as Cassio’s lieutenancy. The irony in having Iago call Desdemona request “honest” is that later on he will attempt to, and succeed in convincing Othello that Desdemona’s request is anything but honest. It is also interesting to note that Iago speaks so kindly of Desdemona, which is likely due to the fact that he loves her, but, he will is planning a scheme which will no doubt crush her. Iago claims that it is “out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all.” Iago reveals that his plan relies on Othello’s true love for Desdemona, which Iago is attempting to crush. Iago believes that Desdemona has the ability to convince Othello to do anything because “his soul is so enfettered to her love”. He also believes Desdemona knows this, which is the
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