The Truth Behind Reputation Reputation and honor are a big part of who you are. Reputation is the opinions of others while honor shows the respect you have for yourself. Iago’s reputation is determined by others such as Othello who believes he is always honest. Iago’s reputation makes others not see his true colors and his reputation changes as the story progresses because of his manipulation towards Cassio, evil intentions towards Desdemona, and his intense questioning of Othello. Iago messed with Othello’s mind in terrible ways even to the point of accusing his wife of terrible actions. Iago twists words to doom Othello, making him believe that even the ones he loves and trusts the most would betray him. Iago talks to Roderigo about Othello’s love life and says; “That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it; That she loves him/Now, I do love her too/ …show more content…
Iago twists the truth several times throughout the story and will do anything to get what he wants. In the quote Iago starts trouble by accusing Desdemona of loving another man other than Othello, Iago acts innocent in front of Othello but behind his back he is really deceiving him. Iago will do whatever it takes to accomplish the task at hand and with his reputation being so good, no one will suspect a thing. Othello strongly respects Iago which leads him to do anything Iago says. Iago will say what is needed in order for Othello to get revenge, even if it means killing his own wife. Iago tells Othello, “Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated” (4.1.10). Othello plans to just poison her but Iago made it worse by telling Othello he must strangle her instead. Iago wants to make sure Othello does as he says and Othello does because his respect for Iago is so high. Even when Othello questions Iago, he just reminds him that he is “honest Iago” and that Othello should trust
"Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly/ that thou, Iago, who hast had my purse/ as if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this./" (I. i. 1-3) From the beginning of Othello, Iago is portrayed as an antagonist, a villain who acts out of only his own interest. The acts that Iago engages in throughout Shakespeare's Othello are erroneous acts. Iago is not insane and he can comprehend the difference between right and wrong. Shakespeare is known for his ability to focus on human flaws and teach us lessons from their misfortune. Iago's destiny with evil is due to his own flaws, jealousy, selfishness, and deceit. Because of these insecurities, Iago will stop at nothing to get even with Othello. By
In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago appears to be trustworthy but in truth, he is manipulative and dubious. Iago is a villainous character and he tries to achieve his desires of becoming a lieutenant by disguising himself as a honest person. Iago uses trust as a weapon to defeat his enemies and he only serves Othello to eventually, “serve [his] turn upon him” (1.1.42). Moreover, Iago’s capability to hide true feelings allows him to betray his commander, Othello for his own benefits. Soon, Iago decides to take the first step of his revenge by breaking Othello’s marriage with Desdemona. For this purpose, he manipulates Desdemona’s father named, Brabantio by suggesting that “an old black ram is tupping [his] white ewe” (1.1.90) . The disgusting sexual
this value instilled in us, most of us begin lying from a young age. Whether it be lying about who ate the last cookie, or who broke the vase, lying is inevitable. Once we are a bit older, we become more inclined to lie when we face certain situations. One might lie to protect themselves, another’s feelings or in extreme scenarios; to commit a crime. All of this points to the inescapable truth; lying is a part of human nature. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago spins a web of lies in order to carry out revenge against Othello, who promoted Cassio over him. He does this by planting a series of lies amongst characters in the play that lead Othello to kill his wife, Desdemona, and ultimately, himself. Iago’s motives derive from that of a thirst for revenge, jealousy and hatred.
The act of honesty is repeated throughout the story line of Othello, but in different ways. There is honesty in the commitment of a relationship, honesty between two people, honesty in the truth about the true character. When Iago is speaking with Roderigo in the speech, his shows honesty with the idea of Desdemona falling for another guy. In the rest of the story Iago shows to other people that he is an honest man who people can trust and depend on. Though anyone who is reading the book can easily see that none of what he says to expresses to other people is truly honest. Affected by the jealousy of Cassio getting the position, Iago is angered to make a plan to get the position instead of Cassio. First proving that Cassio is not fit, then pinning an affair between Cassio and Othello’s wife Desdemona. He pins little details like a handkerchief that Othello gave Desdemona, in Cassio’s, then brought Othello to see that. Once he has Othello believing his wife was cheating on him, Iago misses that his own wife isn’t necessarily on his side. Iago’s wife Emelia ends up telling everyone the truth, sadly after Othello does go unhinged and kills Desdemona. In the end the story shows that love and honesty go hand in hand. Dishonesty makes love grow weak, like it did between Desdemona and Othello. Iago’s actions were majorly punishable by death, not getting him what he had wanted. He manipulated so many people in efforts to get a single position, but ruins everyone’s life around him without having a single care about what he is doing. The idea of honesty is repeated to dramatize the idea of what happens when honesty is betrayed. If Iago were to have been an honest man, he wouldn’t have made the people around him
Iago uses othello's blind faith in other human beings to his advantage. When iago tells othello his wife is sleeping with other men, he only briefly suspects iago as othello says“If thou dost slander her and torture me, never pray more, abandon all remorse, on horror’s head horrors accumulate” (act 3 scene 3) but when iago pretends to be offended othello immediately starts to believe what iago has told him. Once Othello decides that he was betrayed by cassio and desdemona, he is filled with desire of revenge because they have taken away his faith in goodness and integrity of human
Othello Commentary This passage takes place after Iago and Othello have seen Cassio speaking to Desdemona. Although Cassio was just asking Desdemona to help him get his job as lieutenant back, Iago attempts to raise suspicion about Cassio and Desdemona having an affair by remarking that Cassio left awfully quickly when Othello approached as if he was guilty. In this passage, Iago fools Othello and demonstrates his trustworthiness and that his motives are honest. Next, Iago warns Othello about jealousy and angers him, causing him to deny that he is jealous. From what Iago has said, Othello becomes doubtful and makes jealous inferences, but decides that he is not jealous and needs proof.
. . until the tragic end" (Bell 43). His mindset is purely based jealousy that Desdemona may be cheating on him followed by the fear that he will lose her. Ironically, Othello will lose Desdemona anyways. Iago is able to use imagery to further manipulate Othello. Othello would never suspect Iago to lie to him. He mentions Desdemona being "naked with her friend in bed," causing Othello to picture the scene in his mind's eye (IV.1.2414). With the nickname of "Honest Iago," he is capable of lying without spreading suspicion. He is able to steer Othello into " an intolerable position between hope and despair" (Nordlund). Because this is a Shakespearian tragedy, the audience knows that this plot will not have a happy ending. Othello's sexual jealousy is the main flaw that results in his downfall. It is the driving force that motivates several of the characters actions. Iago is jealous of Cassio's position so he uses it to destroy Othello. Roderigo helps Iago because he is jealous of Othello being with Desdemona. Most importantly, Othello is jealous because of his false belief that his wife is cheating on him. It can be argued that Iago is envies Othello's and
Absurdly Iago is the most trusted person in the play, Othello often says, “honest Iago”. Othello is tricked into thinking that two of the people he trust the most betrayed him. Othello puts all his trust into Iago because he feels like he can no longer trust anybody else, besides Iago. Othello says: “O, brave Iago, honest and just”(5.2.) Othello and Roderigo both view Iago as a trustworthy man, when in reality Iago's manipulating, Iago knows he can manipulate them because their weaknesses are easy to abuse.
The desire for social status and good reputation is evident in Othello in numerous ways. This desire is seen in various characters such as Iago, the villain of the book through his hate for Cassio because of Cassio’s status. Another way this desire is seen is through Cassio himself when he is stripped of his reputation, and therefore ruined. Lastly it is seen in Othello, the main character when he is dying and begs for Lodivico to write that he was a good man in his waking days. All these characters have the desire for a social status and good reputation in common and because of this, it is a significant theme in the play Othello.
To achieve his revenge, Iago manipulates Othello and forces him to question the faithfulness of his wife. When Cassio and Desdemona are simply talking, Iago plants seeds of jealousy and doubt in Othello. With Othello's persistence, Iago gives in and declares his feelings concerning Cassio and Desdemona interacting with one another: “Ha! I like not that” (Shakespeare 3.3.33). Then, when Othello responds with saying “What dost thou say?” Iago proceeds acting hesitant to draw worry from Othello and responds “Nothing, my Lord” (Shakespeare 3.3.35). Iago hesitates as he speaks, causing Othello to
Othello also begins to trust Iago because of his skilful manipulative tactics and Iago wanting to see most of the Iago, Desdemona, and Cassio suffer for his own pleasure. In Act 3 Scene 3, Iago attempts to talk to Othello of how Desdemona is not faithful. Iago asks Othello, “Did Michael Cassio, when you woo’d my lady, know of your love?” (III, iii, 95-96) makes Othello impatient and curious because that's when he starts to have thought of his head about Desdemona's loyalty to him. Iago is referring to Cassio. Othello replies “He did from first to last. Why dost thou ask?” and Iago replies, “But for the satisfaction of my thought; No further harm.” Iago could’ve told Othello everything but he resisted so he can make Othello think and assume even more. Iago’s personality gains the upper advantage in power against Othello because of the drama and situation that Iago has place Othello in. Throughout this scene and other acts, Iago continually kisses Othello’s ass by repeatedly telling him of how he “loves him” and that it is his duty to always respect and love
William Shakespeare’s “Othello” shows cruelty by many characters selfish and corrupt actions. In the play, Iago hates Othello because he suspects his wife cheated on him with Othello, Othello is a black man, and Othello promoted someone other than him. Iago uses meticulous planning and influencing to trick Othello into thinking that his wife, Desdemona, is being unfaithful to him and eventually leads Othello to kill his wife and then himself. No matter his reasons, Iago takes his anger and cruelty to extreme measures to get what he wants. Iago is known as “honest Iago” and is trusted by everyone in the play.
In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is undeniably the most sinister character, possibly the most sinister in all of his works. He is established as a trustworthy character, and coined with the epithet “Honest Iago.” Iago has crafted a believable facade by working beside Othello for years and forming a friendship with Michael Cassio. Iago has a secret resentment towards Othello, partly because he gave the position of lieutenant to Cassio. Jealousy of Cassio consumes Iago as well. Intent on vengeance, Iago creates a devious plan to plant suspicions in Othello’s mind. Iago is sly, and he thrives on playing people’s weaknesses. He manipulates people to go against each other without them realizing it. The extent of his iniquity is revealed as
In the tragic play “Othello” written by Shakespeare, it is shown that a person’s reputation is important because it gives someone an idea of who somebody is without actually having to get to know them. In Iago’s attempt to deceive Othello, Iago presents two different ideas to Cassio and Othello to express his opinions of reputation. To Cassio Iago says that reputation is an “idle and most false imposition” as compared to his statement to Othello that says that reputation is most important. People might be required to know someone through their reputation in situations like politics or a career. On the other hand, people should always take the time to get to know someone instead of going off just their reputation alone.
For not choosing him as lieutenant, Iago decides to get revenge on Othello. From the very beginning Iago makes it blatantly obvious that he plans on manipulating Othello when he boldly states, “I follow him to serve my turn upon him” (I.i.4). Iago conducts his villainous ways as he plots iniquitous schemes to convince Othello that his wife Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio, his lieutenant. Iago, being the mendacious man that he is, lies to Othello about a dream he claims to have overheard cassio having about Desdemona, furthering Othello’s suspicions (III.iii.164). Iago’s true evil is shown throughout the play as he breaks down Othello leading to the deaths of multiple