Act III scene III is very important in the play Othello. This is the scene that Iago changes Othello's mind about his wife, Desdemona. By Iago's words and everyone else's actions, Othello begins to believe that Desdemona is cheating on him with Michael Cassio. Othello trusts Iago and thinks he is honest, when in reality Iago is the least trustworthy of all, and Iago uses this against Othello. Although Iago is a very smart man, without everyone else's unknowing help, he would not be able to convince Othello of such a lie. .
In the very beginning of the scene, Desdemona and Cassio are talking. But as soon as Othello and Iago walk on stage Cassio hurries up and gets off stage. Iago uses this to rise suspicion in Othello by saying "Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like, seeing you coming." Right away Iago makes it seem as if Cassio is guilty for something that is really just an innocent conversation. Then, as Iago and Othello's conversation goes on, Iago uses the fact that Desdemona deceived her father to marry Othello to prove to him that Desdemona is capable of being conniving. Another way that Iago gets Othello to believe that Desdemona is sneaking around his back is when Iago gets Emilia to steal the handkerchief from Desdemona. Had Desdemona not carelessly dropped the handkerchief, Emilia would not be able to get it, therefore, Othello would not have his ocular proof. .
Although Iago needs everyone's help to prove that Desdemona and Cassio are intimate, he also relies on the fact that Othello trusts him so much. He makes up a couple of lies to get Othello to believe him. One instance is when Iago says to Othello " There are a kind of men so loose of soul that in their sleeps will mutter their affairs. One of this kind is Cassio. In sleep I heard him say, "sweet Desdemona, let us be wary, let us hide our loves!"" Here, Iago makes up a lie about Cassio talking in his sleep to make it seem as if the lies are true.
