Ugly v. Pretty

In Act II, scene i, realistic conventions were portrayed to the reader. Iago was describing to Des all about how ugly, pretty, stupid, and smart women get their way in the world they live in. According to Iago, all women just want to get in bed with a man - degrading. However, in all reality this is how a substantial number of women operate these days. This is a stylized convention in the story. It was incorporated in order to show Iago's view of women. This reveals to the reader that he as an ulterior motive with his later actions (i.e. getting Cassio drunk for the sole purpose of getting him fired by Othello). The entire play is not this way, for this bit is an motive of characterization for the audience to get to know Iago better. If this scene did not exist, it would make Iago more of a sympathetic character- something Shakespeare doesn't want him to have.