Character grid and thorough summary of Shakespeare's 'Cassio' in Othello
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Course
Unit 1 - Drama
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
This is a character grid which identifies four key themes in relation to the character of Cassio in 'Othello', exploring these in detail. These headings make the basis for a thorough essay/exploration of the character and all assessment objectives required in the A level exam are touched upon. Henc...
The ‘charming’ Florentine soldier: Influence of Iago:
The honest, trusting nature of Cassio is shown in Iago’s ease in manipulating him. Cassio’s worst qualities are revealed under Iag
Cassio exhibits youth and a charming passion for life, enjoying every moment, as evinced by his rollicking between Cassio and Othello. They both becom
romance with Bianca. After getting Cassio involved in the drunken br
The lieutenant is presented as gallant, his praise of Desdemona innocent and sincere. replace himself as Othello’s right-hand man. Fr
Cassio is presented as a naturally flirtatious and charming character. For example in Act 2.1 he greets vices, and make it seem he is betraying Othello
Emilia with a kiss, telling Iago: ‘Tis my breeding That gives me this bold show of courtesy.’ Cassio did not Though he is dragged into the brawl, he is loya
mean any disrespect but explains that this behaviour is simply part of the good manners he is used to about Othello and Desdemona. He remains loy
displaying. He might also be commenting on manners in his native Florence being different from what when others do not.
would be expected in Venice. A03 The quote is significant because it shows how Cassio’s gallant and In Act 1.1 we are offered a belittling portrait of
possibly even flirtatious behaviour could be open to misinterpretation- a weakness Iago will later exploit. have are through his eyes. Iago presents Cassio
Cassio performs shows of gallantry and courtesy, which are open to misinterpretation as flirtation. This has ben promoted beyond his deserving. In rea
becomes incredibly risky for Cassio, his behaviour endangering both him and Desdemona, allowing Iago to beauty’ of Cassio’s life makes him ‘ugly.’
stir up trouble. After watching Cassio touch Desdemona’s hand in Act 2.1, Iago schemes: “Ay, smile upon At first the relationship between Cassio and Ot
her, do! I will gyve thee in thine own courtship” ‘’Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his and Othello calls Cassio by his first name ‘Mich
hand?’’ characters. Iago soon corrupts this however.
Iago comments that ‘Cassio’s a proper man’- ie he is charming and handsome. If Cassio was not a Iago is able to play on Cassio’s fragilities in the
potentially appealing lover, the idea that Desdemona was having an affair with him would be much less the lieutenant’s courtesy, recognising that Cas
plausible. hath all those requisites in him that folly and
Iago recognises that Cassio is charming, and this actually becomes his weakness as it means that Othello is Iago puts up a front and presents himself as Ca
more likely to believe he has charmed his wife and that he is a more appropriate suitor. ‘He hath a person The weakest moment for Cassio is when he en
and a smooth dispose To be suspected, framed to make women false’ (Act 1.3) Ultimately Iago is saying orchestrated by Iago. He is able to manipulate
here that Cassio is a smooth talker, the kind of man people would expect to be a seducer. for drink- ‘I have poor and unhappy brains for
In many ways, Cassio is the foil of Othello. Unlike Othello he is less experienced in battle, as Iago remarks: this scene Cassio is stripped of his title and rep
he knows not “the division of a battle” and is “without practice [in] all his soldiership”. However unlike he attacks what means most to Othello (his ma
Othello, Cassio is a charming orthodox suitor. Cassio has physical beauty and grace; Othello has calculating Iago places the handkerchief in Cassio’s lodgin
finesse and wisdom. ‘With as little a web as this will I ensnare as g
Cassio is able to charm Desdemona, as she thinks highly of him and defends his name to her husband. ‘for the power he has- predator vs prey dynamic.
the love I bear to Cassio’- ironic. By Act 4.1, Othello is plotting to kill Cassio afte
A03- Though Cassio is somewhat an outsider in Venice, as he comes from Florentine, unlike Othello he is speaking of his wife Desdemona. Othello’s first
still an educated white man- a cultural insider. Florentine had a reputation as a city of culture so he is a murder him, Iago’ ‘nine years a killing’- this vi
social sophisticate. Hence though Cassio is still not from Venice, he is seen as a more orthodox suitor for relationship and how Cassio has lost the trust o
Desdemona still as he is white. Cassio is a victim to Iago when he faces the con
A05- A.C Bradley says: ‘there is something very lovable about Cassio.’ Othello’s relationship with Cassio mirrors his re
A05- Dr Johnson had a very positive view of Cassio’s character. He said that ‘Cassio is brave, benevolent Othello and Desdemona are happily married, h
and honest.’ destroys this harmony with a fictitious love tria
A05- Can we argue that Cassio’s worthiness and charm outweighs his weaknesses or not? Cassio.
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