to her "proper" place" (179). Othello is not a strong person. I do not mean bodily strength, but I mean mental strength. The Moor is a very gullible person. Othello is easily fooled into believing what Iago tells him. Instead of trusting in his wife, "Othello surrenders himself to jealousy, and the overthrow of his moral and intellectual nature is signaled by a shift in the vehicle of communication he is assigned" ( Scragg 16). Othello is defeated by doubts, which are placed by Iago, that he should have sure domestic ownership. However, Othello is not completely stupid. He does want proof that Desdemona is cheating on him. "Othello's insistence on "proof" of course becomes the opening that Iago needs to "abuse Othello's ear" (Garner and Sprengnether 202). Iago gives Othello the proof that he needs. He frames it so that Cassio is in a jail cell holding onto Desdemona's handkerchief. Poor Cassio does not know that it is not Desdemona's handkerchief. He thinks it is the woman's that he loves, who is not Desdemona. Iago plays it just right so that Othello never hears the two say any woman's name. "Othello debates with himself and with Iago, the honesty of others, of Desdemona and Cassio . . . but Iago's own honesty is never called in question. To Othello, Iago's is the absolute by which other's honesty is to be measured" (Evans 118). "Iago argues that Desdemona loves Cassio and likely once she has tired of Othello, to choose Cassio. . . " (127). "Cassio loves Desdemona and probably she loves him.." (128). "Iago assures his victim that such is indeed the case . . . " (120). Othello is then pushed into confronting Desdemona. "When after succumbing to Iago's temptation, Othello begins to confront Desdemona with his suspicions.." (Garner and Sprengnether 219). Iago has convinced Othello that Desdemona loves Cassio. He cannot lay in the bed with her because he sees her fantasizing about Cassio. He is driven to kill her ...
