The Dual Nature of Characters in Shakespeare's Othello

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Dual Nature of Characters in Othello

Many of the characters in Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello are duplicitous to the extent that how

they are perceived in public is not how they behave in private. The perception of the public plays

a very important role in the play Othello. The character of Iago uses his public perception as an

honest man to deceive Othello and other characters in the play. The perception of the public

of Othello and Cassio played an important role in the play.

Iago’s public perception played a very key role in the play. Everyone thought of Iago as

an honest man. “ O, that’s an honest fellow “ , “You advise me well ........ goodnight

honest Iago “ - “........that’s an honest fellow “ “ I know thou’rt full of love and honesty ”.

Iago has everyone fooled into believing that he is a noble honest man. Without this

public perception of being honest he could never get Othello to believe that Desdemona was

cheating on him. Othello would have probably killed him if he didn’t have the public perception

of being an honest man. Iago knew that an important man like Othello couldn’t ignore

the possibility that his wife was cheating on him. Nobody suspects that Iago is a deceitful

man and would plot and plan to destroy Othello, Cassio and Desdemona in such a

cunning way. Iago used his public perception, and the insecurities of Othello being a Moor, to

allow him to manipulate Othello.

Othello had a public perception of being a military man, and a courageous leader. “Valiant

Othello, We must straight employ you...” “Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.”

Othello has been a soldier since he was seven years of age, and has experience on the

battle field. Othello was chosen when they went to fight the Turkish fleet. Because of

his public perception, it wasn’t hard for other people to accept the relationship between him and

Desdemona. As Iago started putting ideas in Othello’s head about Cassio and

Desdemona being together, another side of Othello’s personality started to surface.

Because Iago had the public perception of being an honest man, Othello couldn’t ignore his

insinuations about Desdemona. Othello wondered if Desdemona really loved him, or if

she was just using him to rebel against her father. With Iago constantly putting these

ideas in his head, Othello was convinced to kill his wife.

Cassio was known to be a good soldier, and is proud of that public perception.

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