Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore,
Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof
Or by the worth of mine eternal soul
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
Than answer my waked wrath!
Speaker: Othello
Person Spoken to: Iago
What is going on when this passage is spoke? Othello is enraged by the thought of Desdemona being with Cassio, after firing him. Iago had just brought it up, since they just had seen him leave Desdemona hastly. Though if Iago is lying to Othello, he would be forced to kill him.
Comment: Othello says " Be sure of it; give me ocular proof." Though Othello does ask for the handkerchief that he had given to Desdemona but she says that it is not with her, and does not believe that she has it.
Other than Iago being “Tactical”, he was also
very “Misleading”, in that he had to lie his way through a lot of these
problems. One example for when he lies, is when he and Roderigo were outside
telling Brabantio about how his daughter was getting it in with Othello at that
moment. That was most likely true, though saying Othello had kidnapped her,
drugged her and had his way with her is a huge lie. Though, it did work for
Iago, in that he almost had gotten Othello arrested because of Iago’s lies.
Another example would be when Desdemona and Cassio were talking, and they hear
Othello and Iago coming, which makes Cassio hastily disappear. Iago then
pounces on saying “Ha, I like not that” “ What dost thou say?” “Nothing, my lord: or if
I know not what.” “Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?” “Cassio, my lord!
No, sure, I cannot think it, that he would steal away so guilty like, seeing
you coming.” “ I do believe ‘ Twas he”. This could not have come at a better
opportunity for Iago, to even screw with Othello like this. Lastly, Iago also
lies about being friends with Roderigo, he calls him “This poor piece trash of
Venice, whom I trash for his quick hunting, stand putting on.” Though he calls
him a friend here “ I have professed me thy friend and I confess me knit to
they deserving with cables of perdurable toughness”. I don’t think anybody
would call they’re friend “This poor trash of Venice”. All of these quotes show,
how Iago is a misleader towards everybody. Though being as diabolical as he is,
he will do anything it takes to have Othello ruined.
Revision:
Other than Iago being “Tactical”, he was also very “Misleading”, in that he had to lie his way through a lot of these problems. One example for when he lies, is when he and Roderigo were outside telling Brabantio about how his daughter was getting it in with Othello at that moment. That was most likely true, though saying Othello had kidnapped her, drugged her and had his way with her is a huge lie. Though, it did work for Iago, in that he almost had gotten Othello arrested because of Iago’s lies. Another example would be when Desdemona and Cassio were talking, and they hear Othello and Iago coming, which makes Cassio hastily disappear. Iago then pounces on saying “Ha, I like not that”. Iago has made Othello curious to why Iago has just said that. Though Iago is just using Othello's insecurities with his relationship between him and Desdemona. This is a big part to where Othello starts to have some skepticism towards his wife Desdemona. Anyway this could not have come at a better opportunity for Iago, to even screw with Othello like this. Lastly, Iago also lies about being friends with Roderigo, he calls him “This poor piece trash of Venice, whom I trash for his quick hunting, stand putting on.” Though he calls him a friend here “ I have professed me thy friend and I confess me knit to they deserving with cables of perdurable toughness”. I don’t think anybody would call they’re friend “This poor trash of Venice”. All of these quotes show, how Iago is a misleader towards everybody. Though being as diabolical as he is, he will do anything it takes to have Othello ruined.
