Commentary

It is possible to divide this parting speech of Iago’s into a series of instructions: he asks Othello to give no further thought to the matter; not to reinstate Cassio for some time so that he will apply to Desdemona for help; to take careful note of how Desdemona pleads for his reinstatement; to judge Iago as too suspicious and to treat Desdemona as though she were innocent.

Iago’s power over the man who is his commander is now very clear. He advises Othello not only on military matters, i.e. the reinstatement of Cassio which he wants Othello “to hold … off awhile”, but also on his marriage and how to conduct himself: he encourages Othello’s suspicion by asking him to spy on Cassio and Desdemona and to examine her behaviour towards Cassio. Iago has succeeded in making Othello, a man who had formerly with complete confidence asked Desdemona to speak of her love for him before the Venetian Senate, into one who later will stoop to eavesdrop on Cassio.

Iago prefaces and concludes his instructions by advising Othello to take no further note of what has passed between them, suggesting that all suspicion is the result of his own “fears”, which are ironically the product of Iago’s malign intention “out of her goodness [to] make the net / That shall enmesh them all”. The audience knows that Othello cannot live with uncertainty; he has already in this scene declared, “No: to be once in doubt / Is once to be resolved.” It will be impossible for him to obey Iago’s first and last instructions; once he has begun to doubt he must turn that doubt into a certainty.

Iago has also ensured that Othello will not speak of what has happened between them to Desdemona. This has obvious tragic consequences as Desdemona will be given no opportunity to clear her name and all her attempts to help Cassio serve to convince Othello of her guilt.