Cassio

Question 1

Iago is bitter because Cassio has been promoted to Othello’s lieutenant instead of him. According to Iago, Cassio hasn’t ordered troops in battle before and therefore doesn’t have any experience - just theoretical knowledge. Cassio is from Florence, not Venice which is an additional reason for Iago to dislike him. Contextually, Florence was known for being a place which embraced femininity.

Answer 1

'’One Michael Cassio, a Florentine - / A fellow almost damned in a fair wife / That never set a squadron in the field’’

Question 2

Cassio does not understand Iago’s crude joke about Othello and Desdemona . Shows that he is respectful, character foil to Iago. Stichomythia.

Answer 2

I: ‘‘Faith, he tonight hath boarded a land carrack,/ If it prove lawful prize, he’s made for ever.’’

C:’’ I do not understand’’

Question 3

Alone on stage, Iago returns to blank verse demonstrating his ability to manipulate his style to suit his audience and the purpose of his speech.

Answer 3

I; ‘‘Cassio’s a proper man[…]/ After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear/ That he is too familiar with his wife.’’

Question 4

Cassio is extremely complimentary about Desdemona and this is one of the first introductions Desdemona has to the audience. Cassio expresses that Desdemona is so beautiful that words cannot describe her appearance and that she would exhaust the imagination of the artist who paints her because she is so beautiful. This contrasts heavily with Iago’s use of Zoomorphism to describe Desdemona.

Answer 4

C: ‘‘He hath achieved a maid/ One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,/ And in th’essential/ vesture of creation/ Does tire the ingener.’’

Question 5

Cassio’s language expresses that he is infatuated by Desdemona. He depicts her as a goddess which could contextually be interpreted as slightly blasphemous.

Answer 5

'’Their mortal natures, letting go safely by/ The divine Desdemona.’’

Answer 6

I: I lay with Cassio lately […] / There are a kind of men so loose in sou