Othello, like many of Shakespeares plays, treats women poorly. He depicts them as weak and easily manipulated. Although the women of this play do have intelligence and seem to know what is going on, they choose to go along with the men, until it is too late. They put up with so much mistreatment, and end up dead.

I read Aimin's Blog, and I agree with her on most of her main points. Othello's downward spiral really becomes present in Act 3, and his language shifts from romantic to dark and mean. The jealousy is clearly taking root in his mind. I found it an interesting theory that the handkerchief story is a lie, and I hadn't considered that before. Perhaps Othello is behaving like everyone else and lying for his own gain. If he is, I think this is another sign of his downward spiral. Lastly, I believe Aimin is right that Othello's Jealousy is beginning to spill over into each encounter with a character, and even Desdemona can see it now. I liked how Aimin's thoughts were very well organized in her blog, with a good flow from one point to another.

Scene 3 is where the real action begins. Iago's manipulations take hold, and Othello really begins to deteriorate.
    Equally interesting is Othello's view of Iago. In line 136 Othello says, "And for I know thou 'rt full of love and honesty..." He couldn't be more wrong if he tried! Later Othello seems to get suspicious, and accuses Iago of "conspiring" against Cassio. He is right, but he lets Iago pursuade him otherwise. Iago even warns Othello off jealousy, calling it hr "Green-eyed monster". Right after that Othello seems to have confidence in Desdemona saying, "...For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago, I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove..." (p 131) Othello says he has to have proof in order to doubt her. Yet a page later, he seems to doubt her by saying he thinks she is honest, but nature can err. Even more, just a page turn later, on 135, Othello exclaims "Why did I marry?". He goes on after Iago departs exclaiming yet again how honest Iago is.
On 141 Othello is sure Desdemona has cheated on him. "What sense had I <of> her stol'n hours of lust?", he says. Yet only a page turn away on 143, Othello demands proof again of Desdemona's affair from Iago, calling him a "Villain"for suggesting his accusations could be true. He asks for "the ocular proof". He continually flip flops throughout the scene between belief in Iago and wanting proof. He finally, sadly, settles on belief in Iago and no proof whatsoever.
    Scene 4 is also full of interesting things, but mostly I was concerned with Othello's speech deteriorating. He begins in his full on Captain-mode, giving speeches and using fancy words with eloquence. But at the end, and particularly on page 159, Othello can barely manage more than repeating his exclamation for his handkerchief. "The handkerchief!" he demands five times, not including his original speech for it. This clearly shows Othello's downward spiral and fixation on the handkerchief and proof of Desdemona's faithfulness.

    Scene 1 is interesting only because, despite its brevity, it contains vital information about Iago's plot. He deftly manipulates Cassio. Cassio even pays him! All just to get some facetime with Desdemona in the hope she can help him win back Othello. He has no idea he directly is helping Iago to his own downfall. Of course, all this has to go through Emilia. She is the one with access to Desdemona, and she does get Cassio an audience.
    Scene 2 is even shorter, only a few lines, and in this Othello sends Iago on a ship to go speak on his behalf to the Senate. He retains his commanding presence in words.

Othello's Voice and Downward Spiral
    Othello doesn't do very much in Act 2. He gives a few pretty speeches, talks about how much he loves Desdemona, sorrows over Cassio brawling. He still has his grand manner of speaking and uses very commanding language. But he doesn't seem to be very active plot-wise. Most of the action is created by Iago and his schemes and manipulation. His plan is only starting to unfold, so Othello hasn't fallen very far yet.
    I did think it was interesting how at the very beginning Othello reffers to Desdemona as "...my fair warrior!" (73) and then at the end of the act, tries to shield her from the more unsavory happenings. He says, "All's well <now,> sweeting. Come away to bed... Come, Desdemona. 'Tis the soldiers life To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife." (p 99) I thought this was funny, since he had hailed her as a soldier at the start, but now decides she should not be exposed to the brawl.

So Scene 3 is a very interesting scene. We meet Desdemona, soon to be the cause of so much strife. Iago's first scheme is revealed and played out. he infuriates and sets Brabantio upon Othello. Through this we learn who Othello really is. We find him not to be a despicable devil as Iago has made us think, but a confidant, good man who has truly won Desdemona's heart. Othello, we discover as he speaks, is very confidant and clearly a person who has a commanding presence. It will be very interesting to see if he retains this presence and confidence in words as he is driven mad by Iago. I find it a bit ironic that Othello says, "...Rude am I in my speech, And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace;" because he is the most loquacious and elegant speaker of them all. Where others speak a short sentence, he gives a paragraph of description.

I am also very interested in the foreshadowing of this scene. At one point Brabantio says to Othello "Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee." This lays the first hint of what is to come. Its like a little joke from Shakespeare. Its like he can say 'I told you so'.

If I didn't know better I would hate Othello. Iago is so convincingly the one who deserved the lieutenant position, and his sense of injustice seems justified. Obviously I know this is all a lie, but Shakespeare clearly designs this so that a first time reader without previous knowledge of Iago's evil would believe the namesake of this drama was the scoundrel, not Iago. We are meant to identify with Iago's sense of injustice and fall prey to his manipulations ourselves, perhaps so that later as Iago manipulates the other characters, we understand how convincing he is, and just how evil.