7.1.5

Cassio

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Cassio

Michael Cassio is Othello’s newly appointed young lieutenant.

Cassio

Cassio

  • Cassio has been appointed in preference over the longer-serving Iago and this partially motivates Iago to see both him and Othello wronged.
  • He is suspected of adultery with Desdemona and so Othello is both suspicious and jealous of him.
Deception

Deception

  • Despite his apparent success as a military tactician, he is very gullible and believes everything that Iago insinuates.
  • He is tricked into starting a brawl with Roderigo.
  • In the ‘reputation’ scene he is forced to look at himself and his actions and his character almost disintegrates.
  • He becomes another fool like Roderigo—ready to be plucked for Iago’s scheming.
Cassio and Othello

Cassio and Othello

  • Cassio and Othello are very similar in certain ways.
  • Both depend on a code of honour, but this strength can easily be turned into a flaw.
  • Both suffer a collapse of their own personalities, only Cassio’s results in him being maimed.
  • Although he is dignified and obviously attractive to Bianca, Cassio realises he has been duped.
  • Before committing suicide, Othello apologises to Cassio.
Love

Love

  • Cassio is often seen in the play as the woebegone lover, but when he has the possibility of love with Bianca, he appears to reject it.
  • Perhaps he considers her too low for a man of his status.
Tragedy

Tragedy

  • Cassio’s pretensions do not result in him being killed but he is maimed during events in the tragedy.
  • He is also deceived by Iago’s manipulation.
Jump to other topics
1

Context

1.1

Introduction

1.1.1Specifications
1.2

Background

1.2.1Shakespeare1.2.2Love1.2.3Tragedy1.2.4Historical Context
1.3

Othello

1.3.1Setting1.3.2Social Issues
2

Act One: Summaries & Themes

2.1

Act and Scene Summaries

2.1.1Structure2.1.2The Exam
2.2

Scene One

2.2.1Key Events2.2.2Key Themes2.2.3Key Ideas
2.3

Scene Two

2.3.1Key Events2.3.2Key Themes2.3.3Key Ideas
2.4

Scene Three

2.4.1Key Events2.4.2Key Events 22.4.3Key Themes2.4.4Key Ideas
3

Act Two: Summaries & Themes

3.1

Scene One & Two

3.1.1Scene One: Events3.1.2Key Events 23.1.3Key Ideas: Love & Tragedy3.1.4Scene Two: Events
3.2

Scene Three

3.2.1Key Events3.2.2Key Ideas
4

Act Three: Summaries & Themes

4.1

Key Events

4.1.1Scene One & Two4.1.2Scene Three4.1.3Scene Three: Key Ideas4.1.4Scene Four
5

Act Four

5.1

Scene One

5.1.1Key Events5.1.2Key Ideas
5.2

Scene Two

5.2.1Key Events5.2.2Key Ideas
5.3

Scene Three

5.3.1Key Events5.3.2Key Ideas
6

Act Five

6.1

Scene One

6.1.1Key Events6.1.2Key Ideas
6.2

Scene Two

6.2.1Key Events6.2.2Key Ideas
7

Character Profiles

7.1

Major Characters

7.1.1Othello7.1.2Iago7.1.3Desdemona7.1.4Emilia7.1.5Cassio
7.2

Minor Characters

7.2.1Roderigo & Brabantio7.2.2Other Characters
8

Key Themes

8.1

Love & Tragedy

8.1.1Love8.1.2Love 28.1.3Tragedy8.1.4Tragedy 2
8.2

Other Key Themes

8.2.1Public versus Private8.2.2Appearance & Reality
9

Writing Techniques

9.1

Writing Techniques

9.1.1Structure9.1.2Genre9.1.3Form & Language9.1.4Language & Imagery
10

Critical Debates

10.1

Criticism & Performance

10.1.1Shakespeare's Legacy10.1.2Traditional10.1.3Modern & Contemporary
10.2

Approaches

10.2.1Feminist Approach10.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach10.2.3Marxist Approach
11

Approaching AQA English Literature

11.1

Specification A

11.1.1Specification A11.1.2Love Through the Ages
11.2

Specification B

11.2.1Specification B11.2.2Aspects of Tragedy
12

Issues of Assessment

12.1

The Exams

12.1.1AOs12.1.2Mark Scheme

Practice questions on Cassio

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What is Cassio's military position?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Similarities between Cassio and Othello:Fill in the list
  3. 3
    Comparing Cassio and Othello:True / false
  4. 4
    Why does Iago want revenge on Cassio?Multiple choice
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Emilia

Roderigo & Brabantio