Michael Cassio
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Michael Cassio is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's tragedy Othello.
In the the play, he is a Florentine, and one of Othello's chief lieutenants. The play's villain, the wicked Iago, uses him in his scheme to destroy his general; Iago insinuates throughout that Cassio is having an affair with Othello's wife, Desdemona. Iago eventually uses Cassio to stoke Othello's jealousy into homicidal rage.
By the end of the play, Cassio's life is nearly ruined by Iago's cunning and his own foolishness. He is stripped of his lieutenancy after a quarrel with his comrade-in-arms, Roderigo, which Iago brought on by getting him drunk. Desperate, Cassio then attacked the Cypriot govenor named Montano.
Iago then convinces Roderigo to kill him, but because of the thick coat he was wearing on the night of the attempted assassination, Cassio was not harmed. A short time later, Iago dashes out and is able to stab him from behind. Cassio survives with only a wounded leg, however. Once Othello realises Iago's deception, he asks Cassio for his forgiveness, which he immediately grants.
