In the play Othello, the villan Iago forms a plan to cause the downfall of Leutenet Micheal Cassio and the Moor Othello. Each of these characters have vulnerabilities and traits that make them ripe for Iago’s paln of distruction. The character of Micheal Cassio is easily manipulated. He is very involved with his work as leutenant in Othello’s army. He also continues to see the good in people even when they do him wrong. He continues to stay loyal to Othello, even after his is puplicaly humiliated and stripped of his duties by the Moor. “Thy honesty and love doh mince this matter, Making it light to Cassio.
Cassio, I love thee, But nevermore be officer of mine. ” ( Act 2 Sc. 3, pg. 97) His public displays of weakness also make him a likely target for manipulation. Cassio can also be described as a weak person. His military experience is limitid to statagy, and he severly lacks credibility in the combat department. “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damned in a fair wife, That nevetr set a squadron in the feild, Nor the division of a battle knows more than a spinster – unless the bookish theoric, wherein the toged consouls can propose as mastery as he.
Mere prattle without practice is all his soldiership. ” (Act 1 Sc. 1, pg. 9) Hius weakness is displayed even more when he begs Desdemona to talk to Othello to regain his job. By begging, or bowing down to a woman, which was not to be done in those times, Cassio shows more of a weakness. “Bouteous madam, whatever shall become of Micheal Cassio, He’s never anything but your true servant. ” (Act 3 Cs. 3, pg. 117) Cassio oalso has a bit of a melo-dramatic streak to his character. An example of this is when he sapeaks to Iago about how upset he is after Othello fires him.
Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation! ” (Act 2 Sc. 3, pg. 99) Othello the Moor, is a very trusting person, and this makes him vulverable. His involvment with Desdemona translates into a deeper trust with heart. Being older than Desdemona, Othello has fears that she will find a younger man who is more attractive than Othello. This makes him very vulnerable and open to Iago’s plan.
When Iago creates rumors of Desdemona’s involvment with Cassio, Othello’, being already insecure with himself falls deep into Iago’s trap. Besides tha fact that he is older than his wife, Othello also has insecurities about his race. He is a black man who is not representative of the people he’s defending. He lives among white men who are constantly making judgements about his race and how it affects his work. “And she, in spite of nature, of years, of country, of credit, everything, to fall in love with what she feared to look on!
It is a judgement maimed and most imperfect that will confess perfection so could err against all rules of nature, and must be driven to find out practices of cunning hell why this should be. I therefore vouch again that will some mixtures powerful o’er the blood, or with some dram conjured to this effect, he wrought upon her. ” (Act 1 Sc. 3, pg. 37) He is very consious and involved with his image. This constant comparision to other men, who are nothing like him, creates a greater insecuritiy within himself.