Othello: Act III scene iii to the end

We come into Act III scene iii and Desdemona is trying to help Cassio come back into Othello's good graces. Desdemona says, "Assure thee, if I do vow a friendship, I'll preform it to the last article. My lord shall never rest, I'll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience; his bed shall seem a school, his board a shift, I'll intermingle every thing he does with Cassio's suit." (III, iii, lines 20-26). She seems very determined to get Cassio his job back. I think that this is just out of friendship though, and nothing more. It's not even her friendship with Cassio that she wants to save. Desdemona says, "Michael Cassio, that came a-wooing with you, and so many a time, when I have spoke of you dispraisingly, hath ta'en your part-to have so much to do to bring him in!" (III, iii, lines 70-74).

Although Iago is just plain evil I really do admire how well his plan worked. First off, He knows his plan early on and is able to manipulate all the right people in all the right ways. I don't think that there's a single thing Iago did that didn't become useful in the end. He played on the persons previous beliefs and suggested the actions that would most benefit Iago in breaking Othello and Desdemona up. That is how evil should be done.

Iago only really shows doubt when he thinks that Cassio is dead and he has to leave the rest of his plan to the others. "This is the night that either makes me, or foredoes me quite." (V, i, lines 128-129). I think that what he means by make me or break me, other than breaking Othello and Desdemona up, is that he could possible have Othello's job. Just before he says this he is speaking to Gratiano and is trying to impress him with his manners, "Signior Gargantio? I cry your gentle pardon; these bloody accidents must excuse my manners that so neglected you." (V, i, lines 94-96). I also think this explains why Iago wanted to try to make sure that Cassio was dead. Cassio could pose a threat to Iago because he had been trusted by Othello before and had recently been the second in command.

I think that the fact that Othello was so concerned with the handkerchief says that he's probably already considered that Desdemona is cheating. This could possibly come from an inferiority complex; he considers Desdemona to be better than him because people have always looked down on him for his race. "Her name, that was as fresh as Dian's visage, is now begrim'd and black as mine own face." (III, iii, lines 386-388). Regardless of why he thinks she's cheating he already believes it enough to be asking for proof instead of defending his wife's honor. "Villan be sure thou prove my love a whore; be sure or it. Give me the ocular proof," (III, iii, lines 358-360). In my opinion Iago only spread the process along. Othello's mistrust of his wife would have lead to their separation any way. Othello is completely convinced of Desdemona's infidelity by the end of his and Iago's conversation. He tells Desdemona, "The hearts of old gave hands; but our new heraldry is hands, not hearts." (III, iv, lines 46-47).