r, then becoming closer to separating Othello and Desdemona: “Two things are to be done…coldness and delay” (II, iii, 382-8). Without Iago, Roderigo is in fact stronger. Alone, he begins to walk down the path towards the truth and loses strength to go on. But Iago always leads him off into a direction away from what is known by all but Roderigo. “I have been tonight exceedingly well cudgeled” (II, iii, 365-366): not only has Roderigo been physically beaten, but also he is weakened every time he is turned around and lost on his way to the truth.Throughout the first act, hints of a false friendship appear, some more clearly than others. In the opening lines, Roderigo states that Iago controls him: “That thou, Iago…were thine,” (I, I, 2-3). He says that Iago has his money, and is controlled by strings, as if he were a puppet. But Iago easily sways Roderigo’s view of their friendship. He openly lies to Roderigo, telling him he is speaking nonsense: “If I did…abhor me” (I, I, 3-4). Once he knows Roderigo will do anything for him, Iago then explains his intentions to crush Othello. It is ironic that Iago says he would never dream of controlling his buddy, and goes on to coerce Roderigo into working with him against the Moor. Later in the act, Roderigo gets discouraged and depressed: “I will incontinently drown myself” (I, iii, 300). It takes skillful planning on Iago’s part to keep Roderigo in his plans. A torn friend approaches him, and only the perfect wording will give Roderigo strength again. “Put money in thy purse” (I, iii, 335): the extended metaphor of money is brought up again, meaning patience and strength. Iago repeats at least six times that Roderigo needs to make money, or take heed of patience and strength. “Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on the issue?” (I, iii, 358-9): Roderigo is already...
