Cassio

• Cassio

  Michael Cassio is Othello’s newly appointed young lieutenant.
• Cassio

  • Cassio has been appointed in preference over the longer-serving Iago and this partially motivates Iago to see both him and Othello wronged.
  • He is suspected of adultery with Desdemona and so Othello is both suspicious and jealous of him.
• Deception

  • Despite his apparent success as a military tactician, he is very gullible and believes everything that Iago insinuates.
  • He is tricked into starting a brawl with Roderigo.
  • In the ‘reputation’ scene he is forced to look at himself and his actions and his character almost disintegrates.
  • He becomes another fool like Roderigo—ready to be plucked for Iago’s scheming.
• Cassio and Othello

  • Cassio and Othello are very similar in certain ways.
  • Both depend on a code of honour, but this strength can easily be turned into a flaw.
  • Both suffer a collapse of their own personalities, only Cassio’s results in him being maimed.
  • Although he is dignified and obviously attractive to Bianca, Cassio realises he has been duped.
  • Before committing suicide, Othello apologises to Cassio.
• Love

  • Cassio is often seen in the play as the woebegone lover, but when he has the possibility of love with Bianca, he appears to reject it.
  • Perhaps he considers her too low for a man of his status.
• Tragedy

  • Cassio’s pretensions do not result in him being killed but he is maimed during events in the tragedy.
  • He is also deceived by Iago’s manipulation.