Othello - timing Flashcards
“How poor are they that have not patience!
What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
Thou know’st we work by wit and not by witchcraft,
And wit depends on dilatory time”
(Iago 2.3)
-In response to Rod. frustration with how slowly Iago’s plot unfolds, he stresses importance of patience.
-He knows for any plan to work one must be willing to wait for the right opportunities.
-Being able to spot the right opportunity depends on one’s wit - Iago emphasises wit “depends on dilatory time” - that is that time moves slowly.
-Like Rod. the audience is also subject to Iago’s dilatory time and we must be patient to watch his treacherous plot play out, slowness of unfolding only makes it more tense.
“In happy time, Iago” (Cassio 3.1)
-Utters upon Iago’s entrance. Has just asked clown to notify Emilia he would like to speak to her.
-Tells Iago he’s come in “happy time” - right moment.
-Although apparently unimportant, temporal expression Cassio uses in this line has ironic significance, particularly given Iago’s previous discussion of importance of waiting for right moment to act.
-Would seem that Iago’s timing is as always impeccable and proves crucial to his success.
“My lord, I would I might entreat your honor
To scan this thing no farther. Leave it to time” (Iago 3.3)
-With Oth, fretting over idea of Des. betrayal & deception, Iago tells him he should try take his mind off the subject.
-As always he speaks with concealed sense of irony - he knows telling Oth. to stop thinking of Des. will only make him think about the matter more anxiously.
-His suggestion for him to leave the matter “to time” has a deeply sinister ring to it - since Iago has a specific vision of how events will play out if they go according to plan, he knows precisely what crisis “time” will bring.
