Honor, along with envy, is probably the biggest theme in Othello. It is either present
or non-existent within each character in the play. Moreover, honor versus reputation is a
prominent theme as well. Honor is having personal values and morals. Also, it's doing
what's right no matter what the circumstances. Reputation is simply what others think
of you. What others think of you is not necessarily always truthful.
Iago is a perfect example that the difference between reputation and honor is like the
difference between appearance and reality. Iago has a wonderful reputation, but no true
honor. He is a monster who really could not care about his honor. In Act II, Othello says
"Iago is most honest" (2.3, p. 41, line 7). Also in that same scene Cassio calls Iago
"honest Iago" (2.3, p. 52, line 335). These two quotes show that Iago's reputation is quite
good. The other characters in the play think quite highly of him. Both Cassio and Othello
go to Iago for advice and help because they find him to be a very honest man. However,
they are being fooled because in their doing that, it is only helping Iago with his
treacherous plan. It's very ironic that they trust him so highly while all Iago is doing is
trying his best in order to deceive them. Iago is one of the characters that has absolutely
no honor. Unlike with Cassio and Othello, Iago's honor cannot be disputed. It simply
does not exist within him. He is indeed the villain.
For other characters in the play, especially Othello, it is tougher to distinguish between
honor and reputation. Cassio is another character in which it is hard to decide whether he
is really honorable or if it is just his reputation. He is personified as a loyal man and the
"honorable lieutenant" but as I said earlier, those things are not necessarily true. In my
opinion, I find Cassio to be an honorable man. Yes, he does mistreat Bianca and uses
her for his own purposes but that is the only thing I find to be dishonorable about him.
Now, I do not know if that one thing makes him dishonorable overall but I feel that
it shouldn't. He never wronged Othello, Desdemona, or Iago. It is true that Cassio
does set much store upon reputation as is said in Act II, scene iii. Cassio says
The next character is Cassius. Cassius has an interesting relationship with honor, based on all outward appearances, Cassius is as far away from honor as one can venture, he manipulates others, such as when he tricks Brutus into joining the conspirators by using verbal manipulation and false letters. By doing this he fools Brutus and based on lies and half-truths trick Brutus into becoming a murderer. He also plots a murder out of fear for himself and he betrays the trust of his friend and goes as far as killing him. However, in the eyes of the world, he does all of this for Rome and its
He uses his trusted advice to manipulate the minds of Othello and other main characters. He even calls himself "honest," saying, "As honest as I am." He does not care who it affects. Desdemona, Cassio, Roderigo, and even Emilia are all pawns in his board game, all to get revenge on Othello.
Cassio was known to be a good soldier, and is proud of that public perception.
The lust for power which rushes through Iago, and the fact of him believing he is superior to others, is the main drive for Iago’s ambition to dismay others; however, these reason are not realistic
Throughout Othello the Moor of Venice we experience a rather uplifting story that seems to somehow come crashing down on not only the characters in the story but the reader also. Author William Shakespeare does a tremendous job at connecting us with the characters in the play. Othello, the protagonist in the play, falls slowly into the pit of destruction where jealousy takes control. He along with many other characters in the play are manipulated by Iago and slowly taken down from a peaceful, love filled, and triumphant place in their lives to one that is dark and revengeful. Many are led to their deaths because of the terrible deeds done by Iago, some of which include Othello himself who commits suicide only after murdering his new wife over nothing but the mindset of jealousy and hate. Shakespeare explores a vast amount of literary content here some of which delve into Jealousy. Jealousy alongside intense deceitful manipulation can introduce a person to another sinister side of themselves they never knew to existed. Iago 's ultimate goal in the play is not yet clearly laid out; there is much to
Iago is a twenty- eight years old Caucasian married man and he is soldier in the Venetian army. Iago is viewed as modest, honest, and a good friend to people in public. People refer to him as “honest Iago” which lead them to trust him. Iago plans to destroy Othello by manipulating him to believe that his wife is being unfaithful to him with his promoted lieutenant Cassio, a position Iago wanted to have. Although the scandal that Iago came up with is a complete lie, Othello ends up believing him. Iago uses his ability to talk to people in order to accomplish his plan of destroying Othello because he wasn’t granted the position of the Venice army. (Sorto 1)
Characters in the play fail to comprehend Iago’s true nature until it is too late. Those interacting with Iago fall into the belief that Iago is loyal to his superiors, when Iago is actually focused on bringing them (Cassio and Othello) down. Iago constructs a false impression of his loyalty to Othello through ...
In Act three, Scene three, Desdemona agrees to speak to Othello in Cassio’s behalf) As Desdemona and Cassio discuss Cassio’s loss of rank and trust in Othello’s eyes. Iago brings to Othello’s attention the discussion taking place between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago knowing full well why the discussion is happening. Iago hints the pair seems to be spending a lot of time together. Iago plants the seed of doubt in Othello’s mind Othello begins to ponder the idea of whether Iago suspicions are true.
He foolishly entrusts his new bride to Iago. Iago has already been depicted as an untrustworthy, scheming character and it is quite possible that he will take advantage of the new situation. Iago is straight away introduced as a dubious character. Having his fingers in Roderigo's purse show his interest in money. The language that he uses is vulgar and rude and he has no shame in his deceitful actions.
Reputation plays a big role in the play Othello written by Shakespeare. Iago uses his reputation as an honest man to deceive Othello and everyone else. Othello's reputation also plays a big role throughout the play. Cassio's changing reputation has a big part in the outcome of the play as well.
One of the first impressions gained of Othello is that he is a great war hero. Before much else is said of him, tales of his skill and valor in battle are illustrated and he is shown to be a great and famed warrior. He naturally possesses many attributes typically associated with soldiers. From the beginning Othello is noble, quick to act, judicious, trusting, and gives much weight to the importance of duty. These are all traits that serve to make him great at the beginning of the play, and later, ironically become key elements in his downfall. These aspects can be considered the internal causes of Othello’s tragic flaw. “Othello's nature is all of one piece. His trust, where he trusts, is absolute…. Love, if he loves, must be to him the heaven where either he must leave or bear no life. If such a passion as jealousy seizes him, it will swell into a well-night incontrollable flood.” Othello is pure an...
On closer examination, throughout the play we see Iago manipulating all the characters in turn; this shows that he is an expert master manipulator for everyone to be deceived by him. When reading this play we don’t expect Othello to be as easily manipulated by Iago as he was.
Proof of Iago 's evil is easy to come by, but he is no more evil that when he uses his wife as a pawn in his twisted revenge plot. He calls
Iago knows very well that trust and deceit must go hand in hand in order for him to achieve his vengeance on Othello and Cassio. Hence, as he plans the downfalls of them, he is continually trying to obtain their undoubting trust. He slowly poisons people’s thoughts, creating ideas in their heads without implicating himself. Iago even says himself that the advice he gives is free and honest and thus, people rarely stop to consider the possibility that Iago is fooling them.
Othello lets his jealousy consume him in many situations, to the point that he is unable to think. In the situation where Cassio got drunk and fough...