Othello #1

I do beseech you,

Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,

As, I confess, it is my nature’s plague

To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy

Shapes faults that are not, that your wisdom,

From one that so imperfectly conceits,

Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble

Out of his scattering and unsure observance.

It were not for your quiet nor your good,

Nor for my manhood, honesty, and wisdom

To let you know my thoughts.

(Act 3, Scene 3, page 8) 

Iago has this whole masterplan to oust Cassio and plant suspicions in Othello’s mind, but Iago goes on for at least a page and a half that he is usually always wrong in his suspicions and Othello should disregard his thoughts. Why would he plant so much doubt in Othello’s mind about how bad his word is before he accuses Desdemona of adultery? I know he is trying to throw Othello off his trail, but Iago goes to great lengths to talk Cassio up and negate his own word. Jealousy is a large theme in the book as it is what drives Iago to destroy Othello. Iago’s maddening jealousy over his wife is what drives him make Othello filled with rage and jealousy. Which to me makes him the most static, but intriguing character out of all of them and this passage stood out to me in the way he is capable of lying. I think it just shows how powerful jealousy can be because it makes Iago lie with the greatest ease and the need to instill violence in Othello’s mind.