Othello: Cassio's Relationships
Cassio's relationships present him primarily as a dual-sided, complex character, which indirectly aids Iago's plan. With Desdemona, Cassio is very polite and respectful, even referring to her as "divine" (2.1.73). Iago uses Cassio's good nature against him to muddle Othello's perception of him by offering a probable explanation of his close relationship with Desdemona. Contrastingly, with Bianca, Cassio is dismissive and curt. In the private scene between the two characters, the audience is shown a darker side of Cassio, decreasing the audience's sympathy for him a victim of Iago. His relationship with Bianca reflects Iago's plea that he is not truly a "villian" (2.3.303). Shakespeare effectively utilizes Cassio's relationships to shape the