Act 3 Scene 3 (Lines 91-283)

Act 3 Scene 3 is when Desdemona pleads Othello is reinstate Cassio.

After doing so, Iago poisons Othellos mind, implying that Cassio has
committed adultery with Desdemona. This sparks Othellos jealousy
and Shakespeare introduces the theme of jealousy in this scene. In
addition, the imagery of seeing and knowing is also used throughout
this scene while there is a shift from the love between Desdemona
and Othello to the false love between Iago and Othello.
In this particular scene, the theme of love is developed into the
theme of war. In the beginning of the play, Othello had support from
the Venetian council and was united with Desdemona. However,
Desdemona now begins to make the boundaries between domestic
and public life rather vague when she mediates for Cassio, making
Othello uneasy and feeling as if he is being attacked. This becomes
obvious when Othello asks Desdemona to leave after line 89,
perhaps implying that Othello now sees Desdemona more as an
enemy rather than an ally. Shakespeare effectively makes this shift
in this particular scene of the play. This is ironic as Iago takes this
opportunity to say, My lord, you know I love you in line 118. There
is a clash between Iagos false love and Desdemonas true love, but
because of Iagos astute thinking, he manages to take advantage of
this situation and manipulate Othello the way he wanted. Othello is
now united with his enemy as he tells Iago that he is now bound to
thee forever. (Line 215)
Right after Desdemona leaves the scene, Othello says perdition
catch my soul/ But I do love thee! And when I love thee not/ Chaos
is come again (lines 90-92). This clearly shows that Othello is
becoming jealous and Shakespeare purposely does this to introduce
the theme of jealously. One key point is the diction that is being
used here. The two negative words Chaos and perdition
foreshadow the approaching tragedy that is going to happen to
Othello. Shakespeare does this to intensify the dramatic irony as we
as the audience knows Iagos plans.
The theme of manipulation is also developed throughout this scene,
as this scene exposes how Iago poisons Othellos mind. Iago begins
to make comments and give his own interpretation of events to
Othello and then refusing to explain them clearly. By doing so,
Othello becomes curious and begins to become desperate to find
out what Iagos thoughts are. Othello begins to demand what these
thoughts are by commanding Iago to show me thy thought (line
117). Shakespeare does this to portray how Othello is becoming
more and more agitated. In addition, Iago makes his words
extremely nebulous by saying that his thoughts are vile and false
(line 137) and therefore Othello begins to assume and jump into
false conclusions.

Shakespeare also uses the imagery of seeing and knowing. Othello

tells Iago If more thou dost perceive, let me know more (line 241)
which emphasises how dependent Othello is on Iago now. Iagos
poison is working and Iago even says set on thy wife to observe to
Othello, which shows how successful Iago is. It is clear that the
villains power is increasing and the villain is manipulating Othellos
mind.
As an audience, we should question whether or not Othello is
vulnerable to jealousy. Or is Iago just a very convincing liar? Iago
provides a lot of proof about his judgements by constantly
reminding Othello that he does not understand the country
disposition (line 201) and therefore will provide an objective
viewpoint of this whole situation itself. This makes Iago dependable
in Othellos eyes. He also indirectly hints that Desdemona has
already rejected previous men and that she is recoiling to her
better judgement (line 238) and become attracted to Cassio.
Othello is slowing becoming more overwhelmed by all these
comments that he begins to believe all the compelling stories Iago is
making up.