Cassio

Cassio

1. He's Othello's second in command- his lieutenant

   • He's a Florentine which makes him an outsider to Venetian society, like othello is. Loyal and helped court Des in beginning of their relationship.
   • can be easily led an dis too trusting, makes him easy victim for iago's schemes. attractive, which makes Iago jealous of his "daily beauty"
   • Despite gentlemanly manner, doesn't treat everyone with respect, - towards Bianca his lover, he's cruel and thoughtless.

2. Seems to be intellectual

   • Iago portrays him to be a "great arithmetician" and a "bookish theoric", trying to present his intelligence to be negative by saying he's all theory and no practice.
   • In spite of his smartness, Iago is still able to manipulate him causw eh e only has "bookish" intelligence rather than practical common sense. - fails to see iago is decieveing him.

3. Has a complex relationship with women

   • Clear he appeals to women: "a fellow almost damned in a fair wife" - uses charming lang to flatter women but can be cruel
   • Worships Desdemona
     • Praises her using hyperbolic lang- "Hail to thee lady! And grace of heaven"
     • Uses religious lang to elevate her to a divine level- "That paragons description and wild fame"
   • Mocks Bianca
     • Treats her with contempt and mocks her affections - Iago comments that when Cassio "hears of her, cannot refrain / From the excess of laughter
     • Treats her kindly when they're alone, calling her "fair bianca" and "sweet love" but he's concerned about being "womaned" with her. he = hypocrite cause he's happy to take advantage of her but only if his reputation remains intact. he 's more concerned with having a good appearnace tha with treatign people with actul kindness

4. Concerned with his appearance

   • Concerned with seeming polite and respectful- "Let it not gall your patience, good iago / That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding"
   • Losing his reputation due to his fight with Roderigo leaves him ashamed and embarassed - "Reputation, reputation, reutation! O, I have lost my reputation!" repeated "reputation highlights how much he valued it

5. Iago exploits aspects of Cassio's character

   • Cause iago thinks he's intelligent, iago decides to outsmart him by exploiting the weaknesses in his character.
   • Iago takes advantage of the fact that Cassio:
     • is weak: Iago easily persuades him to get Des to take up his cause because Cas = reluctant to face Othello himself. Worried Othello will call him a "drunkard" This helps convince Othello that des is having affair cause it looks like she's showing favour to Cassio
     • Is charming: his good looks and flirtatious behaviour towards Emilia and Des in Act 2 scene 1 makes it easy for him to be "suspected, framed to make a woman false" - however his behvaviour is presented as entirely innocent, he's polite, well-mannered.