The Lieutenant in Othello Essay -- Othello essays

The Lieutenant in Othello Iago, in the Bards tragedy Othello, detests in an irrational way the very soul of Cassio. Does Michael Cassio deserve the governorship of the island of Cyprus? What is his relationship with Bianca? Lets look at these and other questions relating to the lieutenant in this essay. David Bevington in William Shakespeare Four Tragedies concludes that it is the daily beauty in the flavour of the lieutenant which underlies the destructive behavior of the antagonist The daily beauty in Cassios life makes Iago feel ugly by comparison (5.1.19-20), engendering in Iago a profound sense of lack of worth from which he can temporarily find relief only by reducing Othello and others to his own miserable condition. He is adept at provoking self-hatred in others because he suffers from it himself. (223) Blanche Coles in Shakespeares Four Giants comments on the character of Cassio In a casual recitation of Othello, it may seem that the character of Cassio is not suff iciently well drawn, because, for reasons connected with his portrayal of Iago, Shakespeare delays the full characterization of Cassio until almost the end of the play. However, we have a deed of brief divine revelations of his personality that mark him distinctly in his genuine anxiety for Othellos safety, in his abstaining from taking part in the bold and suggestive comments of Iago to the both women as they wait for Othellos ship and, a little later, in his sincere regret about the loss of his reputation after he has partaken of the wine which Iago has forced upon him. (85-86) Cassio makes his first appearance in the play in Act 1 Scene 2, when he is conducting the official business of the... ... another emotional revelation for Michael Cassio. Finally, the ultimate emotional blow to the ex-officer comes when Othello stabs himself and dies This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon / For he was great of heart. As lord governor of the island of Cyprus now, Michael Cassio has hit of the censure of this hellish villain, / The time, the place, the torture. Lodovico appeals to Cassio to let his justice, not his mercy prevail O, enforce it WORKS CITED Bevington, David, ed. William Shakespeare Four Tragedies. New York Bantam Books, 1980. Coles, Blanche. Shakespeares Four Giants. Rindge, New Hampshire Richard metalworker Publisher, 1957. Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http//www.eiu.edu/multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos.