William Shakespeare
In this Act, Othello and Iago get to work seeking vengeance for Desdemona's "infidelity". Although Cassio and Bianca come complaining about each other, Iago cleverly makes sure Othello thinks that Cassio simply is sleeping with both Bianca and Desdemona rather than that Iago is lying. While hiding, in an aside, Othello again mentions his position as a foreigner in an allusion to the Roman Empire.
While Othello is hiding and Cassio is discussing Bianca with Iago, Othello compares Cassio to a Roman general returning to a Triumph: "Do you triumph, Roman? Do you triumph?" (IV.i.116). Once again, Othello is implicitly labeled a slave to his Venetian peers. Since Triumphs were thrown for victorious generals, Othello claims that Cassio has achieved great success at his expense. Furthermore, Roman generals specifically received Triumphs for victories in Africa in which they displayed their African slaves. Thus, Othello states that Cassio has taken everything from him through conflict; he has taken Othello's wife and holds Othello himself captive.
Through this allusion, two motifs are reintroduced to the play. Othello's insinuation that Cassio has robbed him objectifies Desdemona a reveals a degree of misogyny that could turn out to be his hubris. Additionally, referring to Cassio as a victor and an Italian reveals a cultural rift caused by xenophobia that could turn out to be the hubris of several characters, including Othello and Iago.
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