Cassio

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Michael Cassio Character Sketch

Michael Cassio is a young and handsome lieutenant in Othello. The name Michael is a biblical name in reference to an archangel. In the play, Cassio is presented with angelic traits, as he is honourable, loyal, and highly respected in the eyes of Othello at the beginning of the play. This is crucial to the plot as Othello has a lot of respect for Cassio and gives him the position of lieutenant. However, this also causes another character, Iago, to feel jealous of Cassio. Iago see’s Cassio as a very inexperienced lieutenant as he has “never set a squadron in the field”(1.1.23). Iago also believes that Cassio is easily manipulated. Iago is able to easily able to get Cassio drunk as he offers “Some wine,ho!”(2.3.71). …show more content…
To Desdemona, Michael Cassio still comes of as a loyal and trusting figure, as Desdemona tries to appeal for Cassio and get him reinstated as lieutenant. He also appears friendly and noble to Emilia as he kisses her hand to greet her and justifies his actions by saying “Let it not gall you patience, good Iago,/That I extend my manners. ‘Tis my breeding/That gives me this bold show of courtesy.”(2.1.109-111). However, is it this appeal Desdemona testifies for that fuels Othello’s hatred for Cassio even further. Othello views him as cowardly after Cassio departs in his appearance. When Othello asks Iago if it was indeed Cassio, Iago responds “Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it/ That he would steal away so guiltylike…”(3.3.41-42). Othello also views Cassio as unloyal when he over hears Cassio and Iago laughing. Othello’s view is that the two men are laughing about Desdemona, which makes Othello furious. However, in actuality, Cassio is laughing about Bianca, a prostitute he visits often, and her neediness. This shows that Cassio’s personality is very rude as he teases Bianca as he refers to her as “my sweet Bianca”(4.1.175) even though he does not love her or want to marry her. Michael Cassio’s encounters with Bianca also prove that he is unloyal as he is married as Iago explains him as “A fellow almost damned in a fair wife…” …show more content…
His reputation means everything to him as he says, “Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.”(2.3.281-283). He is ashamed of what he has done, stab Montano, and lost his reputation to Othello. This reputation he loses is also a contributing factor to Cassio’s cowardly trait being highlighted when he flees at the presence of
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