How Does Iago Persuade Othello in Act 3 Scene 3

In Act 3 Scene 3, how does Iago persuade Othello of Desdemona’s supposed infidelity? Act 3 Scene 3 is, arguably, the most important scene in the entire play, for it is the point of no return. It is as if for the entire beginning of the play you were pushing a huge boulder up a steep mountain, and in this scene you reach the top, and push it down the other side, helpless to stop it. This is …

…persuasion, but they all are subsidiaries of the same thing; Othello’s own insecurities and doubt about his colour and his relationship with his wife. Iago’s brilliant cunning sees these insecurities and brings them out, using imagery, putting in ideas, and reverse psychology. None of these methods are inherently responsible for the persuasion of Othello, but they all have a part to play in the exposition and emphasis of Othello’s insecurities and doubts.