Chapter Commentary of The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice - Study Guide by William Shakespeare

of Cassio towards the end of the play, "He hath a daily beauty in his life / That makes me ugly" (5.1.19- 20). When Cassio is then asked about Desdemona, he describes her as "My captain’s captain". It is Desdemona’s influence over Othello to which he appeals when he is stripped of his lieutenancy.

Desdemona, Iago and Roderigo join Cassio and Montano on the shore. Again, this time in response to Desdemona’s worried query, Cassio speaks of the loss of Othello at sea and again his words are unwittingly prophetic:

The great contention of the seas and skies

Parted our fellowship(2.1.92-93)

Cassio greets Emilia, saying to Iago,

Let it not gall your patience, good Iago

That I extend my manners; ‘tis my breeding

That gives me this bold show of courtesy(2.1.97-99)

Iago’s resentment and contempt for these manners, these shows of courtesy, are voiced a number of times: Of Cassio’s election as lieutenant he is disparaging - "mere prattle without practice" (1.1.25) and his resentment of both are unified in his plan – "Ay, smile on her do: I will / gyve thee in thine own courtesies..." (2.1.169-170), "If such tricks as these strip you out of/ your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft...Very good, well kissed, and excellent courtesy" (2.1.171- 5). He, just as Othello, is an outsider to Venetian society, both foreigners to this world of manners and courtesies.

Iago enters into a sort of word game with Desdemona (2.1.118-161). This is an interesting reflection of Desdemona’s character, as it of Iago’s. That Desdemona enters into this game at all suggests that she is, as Iago suggests, a Venetian woman who plays and flirts.

I am not merry; but I do beguile

The thing I am by seeming otherwise

Come, how wouldst thou praise me?

(2.1.122-24)

Iago responds with clever words; they are, after all, his tools as a villain. "She never was foolish that was fair, / For even her folly helped her to an heir...There’s none so foul and foolish thereunto / But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do". Desdemona recognises that these are crude illusions – she is certainly not naive – and that they are "...old fond paradoxes to make / fools laugh i’th’ alehouse" but her innocence is shown by her perseverance. She does not know when to stop. This lack of tact, if you like, can be seen here as elsewhere, most tragically in her petitions to Othello on Cassio’s behalf. Asked how he would praise a "deserving woman indeed?", one that "did justly put on the vouch of very malice itself?", Iago continues his rhyming game concluding with Desdemona’s question "To do what?" with the answer, "To suckle fools and chronicle small beer". Desdemona laughs at this most lame and impotent conclusion", but does she not suckle the poor fool, Cassio? And is not a handkerchief but small beer? Is not the conclusion of the play of a lame general, and impotent Desdemona and Iago, trapped in his web, once so powerful and now both lame and impotent?

Othello arrives, addresses Desdemona as "my fair warrior" and proceeds to speak of his joy that he is once again united with her.

If after every tempest come such calms