Cassio

• "A great arithmetician, one Michael Cassio, a Florentine."


  - The play begins with Iago's discontent about Cassio's promotion to lieutenant by Othello.

  - Iago makes his discontent evident. He does not agree with Cassio's promotion because of Cassio's lack of military ability. He is intelligent and has intellectual ability, yet, he lacks military ability according to Iago.

  - In stating that Cassio is a "great arithmetician", Iago preys on Cassio's military ability, putting himself on a pedestal and deeming himself and his military ability to superior to Cassio's.

  - However, we begin to question Iago's discontent. Intellectual ability is necessary in being a successful lieutenant. Therefore, it could be argued that Iago is using Cassio's promotion as an excuse for his plans to go forward.

  - Iago is also upset by Cassio's promotion because Cassio is a "Florentine"; an outsider. Iago's focus on Cassio's origin helps the audience anticipate Iago's character and his dislike towards outsiders. If Iago despises Cassio for his promotion because he is an outsider, how would he feel about Othello's position as a military general?

  - It is evident that Iago has a coloniser mindset - he despises anyone who is not of his same origin who has a better position than him. Perhaps, he believes that only Venetians are worthy of these positions.

  - Iago hates anyone that is different to him.

  
  

  SAID BY IAGO
• "Mere prattle without practice is his soldiership."


  - Iago questions Cassio's military ability and implies that although Cassio is smart and well-planned with his military tactics, he is not successful in practicing them.

  - Iago's targeting of Cassio's military ability from the very beginning of the play makes us become wary of Cassio as a lieutenant, making us closely observe him.

  - However, Iago's judgement of Cassio also sets up Iago to judgment by the audience. In presenting himself as a better candidate to lieutenancy than Cassio, we as the audience, want to observe if Iago is right. Thus, throughout the play, we are likely to observe and judge his military abilities too.

  - This quote is ironic; not only could this be applied to Cassio's military abilities, but Iago's plans too. Iago is well-calculated in his plans, yet, his "practice in his soldiership" is evidently failing. He orchestrates his plans through the manipulation of other characters, making them do his dirty-work.

  - If Iago is afraid of carrying out his own plans, how would Iago succeed in carrying out military plans which are of a larger intensity and scale? We begin to question Iago's ability too.

  
  

  SAID BY IAGO
• "This is some minx's token."


  - Cassio gives Bianca the handkerchief which is owned by Desdemona. Cassio is unaware that it is Desdemona's.

  - There is a common trend throughout this play. Many of the characters are jealous and become a victim of sexual jealousy. It is especially ironic that Bianca gets jealous at Desdemona's handkerchief and so does Othello.

  - However, the way the two characters act on their jealousy is different. Bianca remains rational and does not result to violence, whereas Othello is desperate to seek revenge in killing Cassio. The difference in attitudes makes it clear that although jealousy is a common feeling amongst both men and women, it is always men who weaponise it, thus showing the trend amongst males of toxic masculinity. This discovery also emphasises that women are victims of male toxicity.

  
  

  SAID BY BIANCA
• "O, my dear Cassio, my sweet Cassio, O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!"


  - All the female characters represent and follow the Jacobean courtesy books - being dutiful and obeying wives/lovers towards their husbands or partners.

  - This is also significant to the tragedy. Although we do not necessarily see Bianca suffer or get killed wrongfully, we see her get mistreated by Cassio. Despite her mistreatment, she still provides him with devoted and endless love.

  - Regardless of their social class women are still victims of their lover's mistreatment even when providing them with an abundance of love.

  - Moreover, this is also a sign that women, regardless of their treatment and social position, have to follow their roles as wives or loves. It is a visibly patriarchal society and no woman can escape. Thus, it can be argued that even if Desdemona was innocent and Othello was aware of her innocence, one way or another, Desdemona would fall victim to patriarchal and misogynistic norms and values.

  - Bianca is courtesan. However, it is important to note that in using terms of endearment such as "dear" or "Sweet", it could be argued that Bianca has fallen in love with Cassio. Perhaps, Cassio too, has used some forms of manipulation on Bianca to win her over and exploit her for her sexual benefit. CASSIO AS A MISOGYNIST?

  - Bianca = emotionally exploited. Cassio rejects her and abuses her emotions, but she loves him. Cassio as selfish and lacking empathy. It can perhaps be argued that Cassio loved Desdemona more than Bianca because of his differing treatment of the two female characters. He despises Bianca for having "customers" but worships Desdemona as being the epitome of "divine".

  
  

  SAID BY BIANCA