1. Re-read Act 2 scene 1 lines 95-100. What sort of person is Cassio?
In lines 95-100 Cassio is presented as a person who has good manners and respects women. When meeting Emilia he gives her a kiss which he calls "a bold show of courtesy,"(2.1.100) which shows he does not shy away from touching the women when being courteous and it is how he was brought up to be: " 'tis my breeding."(2.1.99)
2. How does Iago plan to use Cassio’s character traits to usurp and ensnare both Cassio and Othello? (Lines 167-176 will help.)
Iago plans to use Cassio's trait of being very kind and being tactile with Desdemona to bring him down and get closer to Othello. He shows this by telling the audience he will use "a little web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio,"(2.1.171) when he is holding Desdemona's hand. Iago plans to use Cassio's over the top way of being kind to Desdemona to not only get rid of him but get closer to Othello.
Iago plans to use Cassio's trait of being very kind and being tactile with Desdemona to bring him down and get closer to Othello. He shows this by telling the audience he will use "a little web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio,"(2.1.171) when he is holding Desdemona's hand. Iago plans to use Cassio's over the top way of being kind to Desdemona to not only get rid of him but get closer to Othello.
3. What does Iago tell Roderigo to do, and why does Iago say it will help Roderigo to win Desdemona’s heart? (Lines 249-278 will help you with this question.)
In line 211-212 in Act 2 Scene on Iago tells Rodrigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio, then he gives him instructions that Rodrigo thinks will help him win Desdemona. Iago says to "anger Cassio," (2.1.257) because he will act rashly and cause a scene which will lead to his fall of grace which will put Rodrigo closer to Desdemona by getting rid of the other man she apparently loves:"So you shall have a shorter journey your desires."(2.1.267)
In line 211-212 in Act 2 Scene on Iago tells Rodrigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio, then he gives him instructions that Rodrigo thinks will help him win Desdemona. Iago says to "anger Cassio," (2.1.257) because he will act rashly and cause a scene which will lead to his fall of grace which will put Rodrigo closer to Desdemona by getting rid of the other man she apparently loves:"So you shall have a shorter journey your desires."(2.1.267)
4. What more do we learn about the nature of Iago in Act 2? What is the effect of having him share his thoughts and plans with us through his soliloquies? Pay attention to the language used in Iago's soliloquies. What sorts of descriptive language does he use? How does it contribute to the picture of Iago that Shakespeare is drawing?
In Act 2 Scene 1 we learn more about Iago's nature that he is very cunning and intelligent. He shows this when he is coming up with his plot to usurp Cassio and Othello, the way this presents Iago as clever and intelligent is how he recognizes Cassio's character trait of being over friendly towards women (especially Othello's wife Desdemona) and is able to come up with a plan to use his nature against him: "whisper// With as little a web as this I will ensnare a great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her,do." (2.1.163-165). The soliloquies spoken by Iago in these scenes give us a look into his cunning and intelligent nature because he is letting the audience into the process of plotting Cassio's down fall and how he figured out how to do it. The picture of Iago as a scheming man is apparent when he is looking upon Desdemona and Cassio's interaction and the language he uses. He uses strong language and imagry when describing his plan to "ensnare" Cassio in a web, this might give the audience a image of Cassio as a fly who is prey for the Spider who represents Iago as a fierce predator.
In Act 2 Scene 1 we learn more about Iago's nature that he is very cunning and intelligent. He shows this when he is coming up with his plot to usurp Cassio and Othello, the way this presents Iago as clever and intelligent is how he recognizes Cassio's character trait of being over friendly towards women (especially Othello's wife Desdemona) and is able to come up with a plan to use his nature against him: "whisper// With as little a web as this I will ensnare a great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her,do." (2.1.163-165). The soliloquies spoken by Iago in these scenes give us a look into his cunning and intelligent nature because he is letting the audience into the process of plotting Cassio's down fall and how he figured out how to do it. The picture of Iago as a scheming man is apparent when he is looking upon Desdemona and Cassio's interaction and the language he uses. He uses strong language and imagry when describing his plan to "ensnare" Cassio in a web, this might give the audience a image of Cassio as a fly who is prey for the Spider who represents Iago as a fierce predator.
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