Othello: Act 3 Scene 3
This discussion looks into the various facets of the kingdom presented in the play ‘Othello’ in the act 3 scene 3 and how the interrelationships within the command structure are affected by the motives of the individuals involved in the structure (Shakespeare and Cornelis 6). In specific terms, it explains the structure of the Venetian Society with keen concern on the functions of the hierarchy, the correlation between military service and the religion and the act of honesty. Additionally, the paper gives a concise look into Iago’s disregard for the Othello in which it discusses how he antagonizes the once profound relationship between Desdemona, Othello, and Cassio. Lastly, it looks into the various effects of corruption that is spearheaded by Iago in this noble kingdom that almost ruins it apart. In Act 3 Scene 3 of Othello, Iago is presented a person who uses corruption, facades, and loyalty as the primary tools of pursuing his agenda. The character is perceived as one who does not take any chances to accentuate his motives and selfish agendas. He is capable using the various forces of evil to disrupt the events of the authority which are to be upheld at all times. This scene presents different precepts that are used as a tool of creating cracks in the leadership of any organizational structure.
A closer look at the hierarchy of power presented the play; the top-notch leaders have a critical influence on the choosing of the immediate subordinate. For example, Othello had doubts of reinstating Cassio as his lieutenant since he feared that the power that his superior would have on this appointment will not favor his decision hence he was quite reluctant to reinstate him. In the hierarchy, Othello has the mandate of leading the people of his jurisdiction while at the same time adhering to the stipulations brought out by his superiors like Montano, who has a high level of influence than him. Iago, who is the right-hand man for Othello, has the responsibility of advising Othello, who is his superior on the pertinent matters of the kingdom (Burkina 8). Othello as the Kings is expected to take heed to the connotations brought out by Iago. Iago, on the other hand, is supposed to pledge loyalty to his boss.
The wife of Othello, Desdemona also has a say in helping Othello in making profound decisions. This notion is evident where she becomes quite robust and resilient to her husband on the reinstatement of the former lieutenant Cassio. In this structure as presented in the play, it is the duty of the military to pledge their loyalty to the public, the peers and those people that are superior (Ancona and Mary 14). This notion is evident on the level of respect that Othello on Montano, who is his superior and has a stronger influence than him where he tries to take it slow on the reinstatement of Cassio as a lieutenant on the account that Montano would object this decision. Furthermore, it is expected that honesty and integrity prevail through the kingdom, and everyone should respect each peer’s opinion. The conception is seen at the point where Othello believes the advice from Iago and takes action about it by snubbing off her wife when she tries to help her with the handkerchief.
In this scene, we see Iago taking advantage of the whole situation of respect and loyalty he has with Othello to misadvise. Iago, who understands the doctrines of the inception of the whole of this hierarchical structure, seems to go ahead to destroy it to have some selfish gains from it. when Iago accentuates that “I am glad I have found this napkin”, at this point, he is planning a plot to destroy the relationship between Othello and his wife. The connotations brought forward in this stance revolve around the pest behavior that is portrayed by the assistant lieutenant. He takes his position to deconstruct the whole hierarchy by trying to work against his fellow military man who they used to work. This notion is seen at the point where he uses his position to fill the mind of Othello with the filth that Cassio could be having an affair with his wife Desdemona (Burkina 6).
The whole context of argument transcends to the disregard that he has on the loyalty he should be having pledging not only to the military but also to the structure that is put in place to accentuates the whole connotation of leadership and peaceful coexistence. Using his position as the adviser, Iago goes ahead to gain and control the mindset and the perception of Othello. And has the motive of corrupting the mind of Emilia in such a way that they would discard the notion of reinstating Cassio and also separate Othello from his lovely and loyal wife (Ancona and Mary 24). In this prospect, Iago has been portrayed to have misinterpreted real honesty that the hierarchy upholds. This move is because he uses the honesty brought out in this structure to undermine it through falsehood and pretense. The whole scene gives the picture of how greed and malicious motives can be a building block for destruction and disruption of the peace that is deemed to prevail in the leadership structure of any organization.
The corruption act done by Iago has various adverse effects on the management and the relationships between the peaceful hierarchical structures that had been built for years. One of them is the destruction of the marriage. In his quest to fulfill his questionable motive, Iago fills the mind of Othello with the imagination of his wife cheating on him with Cassio, who is the man he does not want to be reinstated.
The filth placed in the mind of Othello gives the Othello an impression that his wife is an infidel for which he wholeheartedly believes Iago (Burkina 4). These miraculous signs have been postulated in the scene where Othello refuses to be tendered by his wife using the handkerchief, and he pushes her away and tries to refuse her advances of help vehemently and says “She’s gone,” as he laments (III.iii.271). In the quest to take revenge the corruption the hierarchical structure is deemed to be changed through the killing of the superiors and the enticements by position (Ancona and Mary 34). Othello swears after the information given to him by Iago that he would take revenge on both his wife, Desdemona and Cassio. Additionally, he goes ahead to entice Iago with the position of a lieutenant and cries “O fool! fool! fool!” after being confused by Iago.
In conclusion, Iago is presented a person who uses corruption, facades, and loyalty as the primary tools of pursuing his agenda. The character is perceived as one who does not take any chances to accentuate his motives and selfish agendas. He is capable using the various forces of evil to disrupt the events of the authority which are to be upheld at all times. This scene presents different precepts that are used as a tool of creating cracks in the leadership of any organizational structure. Iago uses the loyalty that most stakeholders in the hierarchy have towards him to destroy them. The adverse effect of this move has conflicted in marriage and change of hierarchical structure among others.
Works Cited
Ancona, Francesco Aristide, and Mary Ives Thompson. He Says/she Says Shakespeare. University Press of America, 2008.
Bourkiba Larbi, Abdelrhaffar. “Parody and ideology: The case of Othello.” (2005).
Shakespeare, William, and Cornelis Opzoomer. Othello, the Moor of Venice. Cornmarket Press, 1969.