As Johan Wilhelm von Goethe, a German writer, once noted, deception is not always done to one by others but rather something that one accomplishes themself, "We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves." In the play, Othello's self-deception is a significant theme in Othello. The antagonist Iago is able to manipulate and deceive Othello into believing that his wife, Desdemona is unfaithful. Othello, already prone to jealousy and insecurity, falls victim to Iago's lies and becomes convinced of Desdemona's infidelity. Ultimately leads to Othello's tragic decision to kill his wife and himself. The play serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of believing in and acting on deceptive beliefs and the importance of trusting in one's judgment and the truth. One of the main perpetrators of deception in Othello is the character of Iago, and it truly demonstrates why one should trust one's inner beliefs. To start, Iago is jealous of Cassio's …show more content…
Cassio loves Desdemona and believes he can win her over with charm and articulateness. He says, "The fair devil! My lord, for aught I know" (Act 2, Scene 1). Cassio's belief in his charm and Desdemona's supposed affection for him leads him to underestimate Iago's scheming and ultimately contributes to the events of the play that do not favour him. The character of Roderigo is also deceived by Iago, believing that he will be able to win Desdemona's love with Iago's help. Roderigo says, "I will sell all my land" (Act 1, Scene 3) in order to buy gifts for Desdemona and win her affection. However, Iago has no intention of helping Roderigo and instead uses him for his gain. Even Emilia, Iago's wife, is deceived by her husband and unknowingly helps bring about Desdemona's death by providing the handkerchief that shows her supposed infidelity. Hence this demonstrates the destructive power of self-deception and the importance of being aware of one's biases and