Question

At one point Iago seems to acknowledge that his plan could be in jeopardy. Which of the following does NOT sum up his thinking on the various risks and outcomes of his plot?

1) If Cassio kills Roderigo, he still wins.
2) If Roderigo kills Cassio, he wins.
3) If he is somehow revealed to Othello, Othello will not believe it.
4) None of the above

Answer 1

The statement that does not reflect Iago's thinking in Shakespeare's Othello is that if Iago is revealed to Othello, Othello will not believe it. Iago does not consider the possibility of being exposed to Othello as part of his calculations and manipulated plans.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question refers to the character Iago from Shakespeare's Othello and the outcomes he considers for his plots. Iago's thinking suggests he believes he wins in any scenario involving Cassio and Roderigo, because either Cassio's death or Roderigo's death would further his malevolent scheme. However, the statement that does NOT sum up Iago's thoughts properly is the third one proposed: If he is somehow revealed to Othello, Othello will not believe it. This is not part of Iago's contemplation; rather, he is confident in his ability to deceive Othello without being discovered. Iago does not acknowledge the risk of being exposed directly; instead, he manipulates events to ensure Othello remains unaware of his true intentions.