ago, and Iago's wife, Emilia, arrive in Cyprus, Cassio welcomesEmilia with a kiss, then says to Iago, Let it not gall yourpatience, good Iago, That I extend my manners. Tis my breedingThat gives me this bold show of courtesy (2.1.97-99). Cassio ismaking a big point of what a charmer he is, but Iago shoots himdown by saying, Sir, would she give you so much of her lips asof her tongue she oft bestows on me, you would have enough(2.1.100-102). He's saying that if Emilia kissed Cassio as muchas she nags Iago, Cassio would have more than enough kissing.This apparently casual devaluation of Emilia and her kisses is adeception; a little later we learn that Iago is intensely jealousand suspects Cassio of having an affair with Emilia. Also, Iagoconvinces Cassio that the best way to get his job back is toappeal to Desdemona, then sends him off. Alone on stage, Iagoasks us why we think he's a villain, since his advice to Cassiois free and "honest," and after all he is called honest Iago.Answering his own question, he comments, When devils will theblackest sins put on, They do suggest at first with heavenlyshows, as I do now. (2.3.351-353). Iago knows that he is adevilish hypocrite, but he seems to be getting a kick out of it. Much like Shakespeares, Iago, Geoffrey Chaucer created adevious and deceptive character by the name of the Pardoner. ThePardoner is strictly In it for the money. He sells phony relicsto gullible villagers. He convinces these people that theserelics are of important religious value. Like he says, Then Ibring out my long glass jars, crammed full of rags and bones;these are relics--as they all suppose. (p.339-341, lines 20-21).He tells his stories of how he has deceived people into buyinghis relics. He tells the story of a metal shoulder bone from aholy Jews sheep and how if it is washed in any well, thelivestock would be cured from eating a worm or getting stung byone if it drank from the well. The Pardoner is not at all ashame...
