Cassio's Loss of Promotion

Iago Getting Cassio Drunk

While Othello, the Moorish general of the Venetian army, and Desdemona, the Senator of Venice’s daughter, went off to their chambers, Iago, Othello’s standard bearer, and Cassio, Othello’s (newly promoted) lieutenant, joined in the cellar.

Iago suggests that Cassio take a drink of wine to celebrate the Turk's loss and Othello’s good health. Cassio refuses and tells Iago that he has “ very poor and unhappy brains for drinking.” Iago consistently insists, but Cassio still declines. Iago then calls in all the men into the cellar hall for a pint So, we all gathered around to celebrate our victory against the Turks.

Montano, the governor of Cyprus, servants, and Cassio enter the hall with buckets of wine. It was clearly Iagos goal to get Cassio to drink. He followed him around like a dog, asking him to take in a pint of wine. Montano insists that he can only have a singular pint, as he is a soldier

Iago then stands on a stool and begins to sing,

“And let me the canakin clink, clink; and let me the canakin cling a soldiers man; a life’s but a span; why, then, let a soldier drink. Some whine boys!

And once again offers Cassio a drink after explaining the story behind where he had learned the tune. Cassio finally gave in and started drinking his wine Montano joined in and Iago began to sing once again.

“King Stephen was and—a worthy peer, his breeches cost him but a crown; he held them sixpence all too dear, with that he call’d the tailor lown; he was a wight of high renown, and thou art but of low degree. ’Tis pride that pulls the country down, then take thy auld cloak about thee. Some wine ho! “

Cassio enjoys the tune but insists that everyone go back to their affairs and watch over the city while Othello enjoys his slumber. Cassio, drunk as can be, leaves the hall. Montano and Iago then begin speaking about Cassio and his promotion. Iago looked mildly disturbed when hearing Montano talk of Cassio but spots his friend Roderigo, and tilts his head toward where Cassio had exited. Roderigp nods and follows Cassio.

Cassio’s Drunken Incident

Soon after, shouts come from outside. We all rush outside and we see Roderigo and Cassio arguing. Cassio yells, “You rogue! You rascal!”

Montano intervened and asks Cassio what is going on, in which Cassio replies,

“A knave teach me my duty! I’ll beat the knave into a twiggen botte.”

Roderigo continues to entise Cassio into a battle, but Montano holds Cassio back, telling him that he is reacting impulsively due to his drunken state. Cassio asks Montano to let go of him before he begins to fight him too. Both Cassio and Montano draw their swords.

Iago begins shouting for help. Another man begins to ring the town bell to get the attention of Othello. After a few seconds, Othello came rushing down from his chamber. As Othello approaches the fight, Cassio had stabbed Montano in the stomach Ohtello intervenes,

“What is the matter here?”

Montano explains that he is bleeding out, and begins to faint. Iago begins to speak to Montano, trying to make sure he stays alive. Montano doesn’t respond, and Othello begins ranting about how we were acting as if we were the Turks/Ottomans ourselves; fighting our brothers. Othello asks his trusted Iago to tell him who started this brawl and why. Iago spoke in a rushed tone, explaining how Michael Cassio had started the fight and had been intoxicated.

Othello turns to Cassio and asks, “How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?”

Cassio was speechless Montano awakens and Othello apologizes to him on Cassio’s behalf. Othello expresses his regret for promoting Cassio to Montano. Montano then says, “thou art no soldier.”

Iago then further explains the reason behind Cassio’s behavior, and Othello requests that Cassio be demoted and removes Cassio’s lieutenant status pin. Othello asks the surrounding men to take Montano to a medic.

Desdemona then ushers in to see what the commotion is about but is asked to return to her quarters. Iago and Cassio then leave the scene. I followed Iago and Cassio into the lower courtyard and witness Cassio weep to Iago.

“Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!”

Iago tells Cassio to hold himself together, but Cassio was weak.

“I will rather sue to be despis’d than to deceive so good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? And speak parrot? And squabble? Swagger? Swear? And discourse fustian with one’s own shadow? O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil!”

Iago then asked what Cassio had been thinking in that moment of sword drawing, but Cassio drew a blank. He had no memory or answer to what had just occurred. He was too stunned and disappointed in himself to think. Cassio accepts he is and was a drunken fool; regretful of his actions.

Iago suggests he speak to Desdemona, and ask her to put in good words for him to Othello to gain his position as lieutenant back. Cassio was intrigued by this idea.

“You, or any man living, may be drunk at a time, man. I ll tell you what you shall do. Our general’s wife is now the general—I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces. Confess yourself freely to her; importune her help to put you in your place again. She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so bless’d a disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested. This broken joint between you and her husband entreat her to splinter; and my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before.”

Cassio agrees to the idea and says his goodnight to Iago, and Iago does the same They both go off to their chambers and we await for the morning to come.