Another example of telescoped time can be found in 2.3 of Othello, which begins with Othello giving Cassio instructions for the evening's watch, and with Iago stating it is "not yet ten o' the clock." We then witness drinking and singing on the part of the soldiers - all of which is staged by Iago for the purpose of getting Cassio drunk and into a brawl with Roderigo, who is waiting offstage. When an awakened Othello intercedes, he listens to the accounts of the incident and admonishes and demotes Cassio on the spot. Iago then pretends to sympathize with Cassio, and suggests that he should present his case to Desdemona, who will, out of kindness, convince Othello to change his mind. Then follows a soliloquy by Iago during which he gives his real plan:

... whiles this honest fool

Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes

And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,

I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,

That she repeals him for her body's lust;

And by how much she strives to do him good,

She shall undo her credit with the Moor.

After this, Roderigo, who is both secretly in love with Desdemona and Iago's dupe, enters and is told to have patience and to go get some sleep, because "'tis morning''. The entire scene is usually performed in slightly less than twenty minutes.

Further to yesterday's post on act three, scene three from Othello, it is interesting to juxtapose the powerful and complex figurative language that Othello uses to convey his murderous psychological state with the very simple line that ends the scene. Because, for me anyway, it contains the most frightening statement in Shakespeare. We'll have to go back for a moment before we get to it. At the play's opening, Iago tells Roderigo (and the audience) that his hatred for Iago comes from his having been passed over for a promotion (and if you think this doesn't sound plausible, either you haven't been in the working world for very long, or you've been very fortunate). The position of lieutenant to Othello was given to Michael Cassio instead, and so, Iago begins to formulate a plan to destroy both of them. At the end of 3.3, Iago has convinced Othello that his wife, Desdemona, has been having an affair with Cassio. But as Othello's rage grows, Iago pretends to hedge, and Othello speaks the passage discussed yesterday. Then Iago kneels down and swears an oath to help his "friend" in any way he can. So Othello asks him to kill Cassio. Here is the rest of the scene, including the aforementioned final line:

IAGO

My friend is dead; 'tis done at your request:

But let her live.

OTHELLO

Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her!

Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw,

To furnish me with some swift means of death

For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.

IAGO

I am your own for ever.