Cassio

Question 1

Does Othello actually like Cassio?

Answer 1

Othello may respect Cassio on a professional level but there are cultural and personal reservations that Othello feels towards his Florentine officer.

First sign - Othello and Cassio’s parting at sea (“the sea and skies parted our fellowship”) foreshadows the splintering of the men’s relationship as the play progresses.

Elemental imagery of “sea and skies” conveys a sense of cosmic inevitability about Othello and Cassio’s soon to be fractured relationship.

2.3 - ‘teach ourselves that honourable stop’ - he knows Cassio’s weakness about drinking?

Othello dislikes Cassio for the risks his weaknesses could bring to Othello’s delicate because foreign reputation.

Question 2

Cassio’s flaw

Answer 2

Cassio’s naivety and lack of self-awareness about showing his ‘goodness’ so openly is what sabotages him.

Question 3

Iago’s sexual diction vs Cassio’s saintly register

Answer 3

Iago - “she is sport for Jove”
Cassio- “she’s a most exquisite lady.”

Iago paints Desdemona as the siren-like seductress who’s down for sport and game with provocation of men as her goal.
On the other hand, Cassio worships her as a saintly goddess.

Is Cassio’s haloisation of Desdemona also a form of objectification?

Question 4

Iago and Cassio in bed

Answer 4

In 3.3 Iago paints a nude imaginary vignette of Cassio and himself lying in bed. Perhaps because of how shocking and graphic Iago’s description is about Cassio’s sleep talking and kissing of him, Othello misses the other if not more bizarre premise that the two men should have been lying together to begin with.

In Iago’s description the word “kiss” is thrice repeated in a flurry of erotically charged lines.

Homoerotic desire??

Question 5

Is Cassio really that good?

Answer 5

“The monkey’s own giving out”
Association of Bianca with a nuisance animal - suggests Cassio’s rather lowly opinion of Bianca’s statement.

“She haunts me in every place” - Shakespeare portrays Cassio’s disrespect towards a cortisone. Contrasting attitude to other women in the play e.g. Desdemona. Shows for all his respectability and decency for this well regarded soldier and citizen, he’s no less exempt from judging others (especially women) by double standards and lack of empathy.

Bianca - “I am no strumpet” - Bianca deserves equal respect but Cassio doesn’t have enough depth to grant her this respect.

Cassio isn’t supposed to be viewed as any more moral or righteous than the others. Everyone no matter how good they are can be shallow and unempathetic.