Emilia and Iago's relationship

From the beginning of the play we have seen Iago’s secret plan to ruin Michael Cassio’s reputation and the Moor’s marriage unfold before us. Though he is fanatical, persistent, daring, and clever in his efforts to control and deceive the other characters, particularly Othello, Iago’s motivations are very muddled. At some points in the play he declares to be motivated by bitterness that Othello, a moor, passed him over for a promotion in favour of Michael Cassio, and suspicion because he heard a rumour that Othello slept with Iago’s wife, Emilia. Iago believes another rumour that Cassio slept with his wife too. Iago acts as the villain of the play; a man you love to hate while his wife acts as an aid to his plan unknowingly. In Act 3 Scene 3, Iago’s plan of destroying the love between Desdemona and Othello takes hold. He imprints ideas into Othello’s head that Cassio and Desdemona are secretly seeing each other. To make his plan more concrete and give proof to his lies, Iago convinces his wife Emilia to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief, the first gift she received from the Moor. When Emilia presents her husband with this gift he snaps at her for the disturbance saying, “How now? What do you here alone” (Act 3 Scene 3, Page 119). Once she states that she has brought the gift Iago has been eagerly waiting for his demeanour changes, however, he still treats with disrespect as if she was his pet, “A good wench! Give it to me” (Act 3 Scene 3, page 119). So far throughout the play we have seen Iago insult his wife’s appearance, intelligence, and daily activities calling her a “foolish wife” (Act 3 Scene 3, Page 119), and says she talks too much, “...I grant/ She puts her tongue a little in her heart/ And chides with thinking” (Act 2 Scene 1, Page 55). Iago treats his wife disregard , while Emilia is convinced into helping with his plans unknowingly falling for his untruthful appearance.

Iago's Actions

In Act II Scene III Iago, Othello’s right hand man, main action is to destroy Cassio’s image in the eyes of Othello. Already from the first act we could see that Iago was a conniving and vengeful man. We are able to see more and more that he acts as the trouble stirrer as the story unfolds before us. Iago’s hatred for Cassio starts in the opening scene of the play when he is angered that Michael Cassio gained a promotion over him, and must serve under a Moor. However, Iago is a clever man and will serve Othello “faithfully” for his own purposes. He persuades Cassio to join his at a party with fellow friends. Iago hopes Cassio will get extremely intoxicated and become unruly, wishing to start a fight with anyone that crosses him. Iago being the snake has figured out Cassio’s one weakness, alcohol. Iago says, “O, they are friends – but one cup; I’ll drink for you” (Act 2 Scene 3, Page 69). Intoxicated Cassio begins to fight with Roderigo, “Zounds, you rogue, you rascal” just as Iago had secretly planned (Act 2 Scene 3, Page75). The fight between Roderigo and Cassio gets out of control and wakes the army general, Othello. In a rage Othello storms into the room to break up the fight and dismisses Cassio, making him an example to the rest of the men, “Cassio, I love thee, /But never more be an officer of mine” (Act 2 Scene 3, Page 81). The keep his faithful place but Othello’s side, Iago gives an account of how Cassio started the fray while still maintaining his imaginary loyalty to Cassio, and innocence in the matter, “Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth/ Shall nothing wrong him. This it is, general: … / There comes a fellow crying out for help, / And Cassio following him with a determined sword/ To execute upon him” (Act 2 Scene 3, Page 81). Iago’s vengeful plan worked better than he could have imagined. His enemy was dismissed and humiliated, and he has proven once again his “loyalty” to Othello.