- How do ideas about difference and otherness help Iago's manipulation of Othello in this scene? Consider:
Iago manipulates the insecurities Othello has about the crude way in which he speaks, and although Othello often speaks eloquently Iago still registers the reservations Othello has to speaking in front of people who's opinions he values. His insecurity about this is revisited when he is reminded by Desdemona that Cassio was there for most of her and Othellos courting process 'Cassio that came a wooing with you' and often spoke on his friends behalf 'so many a time when I have spoke of you dispraisingly hath ta'en your part' but this reminder only served to plant further doubt that perhaps the only reason Desdemona loves him is because of Cassio. It seems as though Othello continuously feels the stereotypes of who others think he should be seep in and poison the ideas about who he is as a man, and despite him being someone who can supposedly rule army's he seems to leave many parts of himself open for attack. Iago wastes no time using Othellos weaknesses, and issues with his identity, to further his plan of social success and dominance. Iago reminded Othello how different he is to Desdemona pushing on this feeling of otherness,he insinuates that now Desdemona has had Othello she will see the error of her ways and marry someone more like her (Cassio) 'may fall to match with her country forms' the idea that Desdemona will leave him for someone 'of her own clime, complexion, and degree' is already something Othello fears as it has been commented on continuously throughout the play, Iago picking up on this insecurity targets it immediately reminding Othello how different he is from not just Desdemona but all the people he now surrounds himself with, filling Othello with the idea Desdemona could not possibly truly love him as they are so different it's 'unnatural'. Othellos metal devolution begins shortly after this as he becomes increasingly inraged as he speaks more about Desdemona he begins to play into some of the stereotypes about black men at the time namely that they lack control over their emotions. He begins speaking about how he simply wants Desdemona to be happy and once again compares her to a bird this time a bird he must set free. The contrast between the beastly animals Othello is described as and the delicate birds Desdemona is likened to shows the fundamental differences between them something Othello regognises clearly. Othello comments on the fact he is black and how that has stripped him of 'those soft parts of conversation' highlighting that he evidently took on board what was said about it being Cassios words that wooed Desdemona.
