Examples Of Dishonesty In Othello

Nate Hjelmgren

Mr. Ralston

English Honors

12 March2023

Othello’s Iago: an Example of Dishonest Honesty

The anamorphic painting was a style popularized and common during the Renaissance. This style of painting used multiple viewing points and perspectives to change how a painting looks. For example, The Ambassador, painted by Hans Holbein, seems like a normal painting with a gray streak across the floor, but when viewed from the side rather than head-on, it shows a skull sitting on the floor. The truth is similar to this style of painting, as it can be different depending on how you look at it. When taken at face value, Iago is completely dishonest because he lies to other characters during Othello. Contrary to what may be believed, the supposed

Rather than finding an excuse to find the moral high ground, he lies without guilt or regret. He isn’t someone who values honesty and thus would never need a way to rationalize his actions. He never conflicts with his core values because he has an unorthodox set of views. During one of Iago’s soliloquies, he devises a strategy on how to “Let me see now, to get his place and to plume up my will in double knavery. How? How? Let’s see” (Shakespeare 1.3. 435-37). Iago admits that he will use lies and trickery without a second thought in attempting to get a position as a lieutenant from Cassio. Typically, deceit like this would be wrong to a person, yet Iago sees nothing wrong with his actions. He believes that he is the person that should be wrong, therefore being true to who he is and needs to be. He details his unethical plans in his second soliloquy where he describes that he will “Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb (For I fear Cassio with my nightcap too), make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me for making him egregiously an ass and practicing upon his peace and quiet even to madness” (Shakespeare 2.1. 328-33). He stays woefully true to being a liar and a cheat, to the point where he would tear apart other people’s lives just for revenge. Iago’s commitment to being immoral allows his subterfuge to be honest in a personal

Contrary to Iago’s immoral values, Othello’s righteousness and connectedness are contradicted by his doubt and uneasy feelings later in the play. Promptly after talking with Iago, Othello begins to doubt Desdemona’s loyalty, questioning “Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds” (Shakespeare 3.3. 283-284). After just a few conversations with Iago, Othello’s confidence in his relationship begins to crumble, going against his steadiness, as a general should be. Iago is always confident in his wit and ability in the play, never going against his values. A general should be righteous, calm, and true to his morals, unlike Othello near the end of the play. He becomes an enraged and unhinged madman at the hands of Iago’s manipulation. At the end of Desdemona’s life, Othello was furious, killing her and calling her a liar, admitting to others that “She’s like a liar gone to burning hell. 'Twas I that killed her…turned to folly, and she was a whore” (Shakespeare 5.2 159-62). Othello went against his morals and duties as a general, killing his wife. Although it was out of manipulation, it was immensely immoral and unacceptable for him to do. He was being dishonest to who he was and was inconsistent with who he was before. This shows that Iago is more honest than even the main