Othello, one of the most well-known tragedies written by William Shakespeare, is a symbolic piece of Shakespearean tragedies throughout 15th and 16th century, which is also known as the period of English Renaissance – the ‘rebirth’. Iago is often called ‘honest’ in the play as one of the speech by Othello adopted from the play goes “…A man he is of honesty and trust…” (1.3.283). To what extent can the so-called ‘Honest Iago’ is just ‘literally honest’ will be explained regarding my findings and opinions in following paragraphs.
First of all, I think that Iago’s ‘honest’ words only apply to those ‘honest’ people whom he shares special relationships with throughout the play of Othello, indeed. A few relationships can be defined with the conjugal
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Methinks Iago is somehow honest in words within certain types of special relationships, i.e. the sort of sexual thoughts underlying in Iago’s so-called ‘erotic fixation’ (Dobson, 284) of Desdemona. As the quotation from Dobson’s book goes as follow:
Iago with a genuine erotic fixation on Desdemona … though peradventure I stand accountant for as great a sin was illustrated by fascinated … (Dobson, 284).
A dialogue between Iago and Cassio can also be another description of sexuality by Iago himself:
Cassio Welcome, Iago. We must to the watch.
Iago Not this hour, lieutenant, ’tis not yet ten o' the clock. Our general cast us thus early for the love of his Desdemona—who let us not therefore blame. He hath not yet made wanton the night with her, and she is sport for Jove.
Cassio She’s a most exquisite lady.
Iago And, I’ll warrant her, full of game.
Cassio Indeed she’s a most fresh and delicate
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Also, people there want to unyoke with the religion, especially the Catholic. Iago often speaks honest words, but, whether his ‘honesty’ is hundred-percent sure as ‘faithfulness’ can be replied as simple as “NO”. The note written by Harcourt shows the best definition of his so-called honesty:
… Iago says (I.i, 63) “I am not what I am,” … interpreted as “I am not what I seem.” … it is also reminiscent of a quotation from the Bible … In Exodus, … Moses asks God his name. God replies: “I am that I am” (Exodus,iii,14). If “I am that I am” stands for God, then Iago’s self-description, is the direct opposite… (Harcourt, 24-30)
However, back to his age, he may probably think that he will be stucked in trouble in the society, i.e. bullying will be done by others whose positions are much higher than his, in other words, if he does not serve a higher or a same position as other ‘powers’ do, he will definitely be stucked in trouble. Thus, when Iago saw that Cassio got promoted – this makes him outraged with this promotion deserves to him. What he thinks probably are that the promotion does help a lot towards his social status, and he probably is the best one who deserves this promotion in terms of the contributions he had ever done. It does not mean that he is not an honest Iago, over honesty is the duplicity at that very moment. As the proverb goes,