"(aside) He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said, whisper! With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do, I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true, 'Tis so, indeed." Iago (II.i. 164-168)
How is the dramatic suspense created? Contrast the amount of information posessed by the audience as the play proceeds with the knowledge that various individual characters have: what is the effect of such a contrast?
The dramatic suspense is created by the audience's knowledge of Iago's plan in contrast to what other characters believe of him. The audience is aware that he is plotting to get revenge on Othello, but the other characters are unaware of this. Iago is often described as "honest Iago," but this is far from the truth. Othello believes that Iago is a loyal officer. Roderigo is under the impression that Iago is trying to help him win Desdemona because they are friends. Cassio receives council from Iago in which Iago tells Cassio to ask Desdemona to help him get his job back. Cassio thinks that Iago is being helpful, but he is really manipulating Cassio into putting Iago's plan for revenge into action. This contrast creates suspense as the audience waits for the other characters to discover Iago's plan. All if these characters trust Iago, but the audience knows his true intentions.
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