The Importance Of Reputation In William Shakespeare's Othello

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Opening Out On Othello In the play Othello, exists a deceitful instigator named Iago. Iago, the antagonist within the play, drives the plot with his evil intentions. Since the beginning of the play, Iago had already set his plans rolling; persuading Roderigo to create tension between Brabantio and Othello. The large plot point within this work, had to be the conflict between the married couple Othello, and Desdemona. Iago, a vengeful persona admitted within the play that he felt, that his wife was unloyal, and that perhaps Othello, and other characters such as Cassio were culprits. As the driving force of the plot, Iago cunningly and crafti manipulates characters to act upon his words, and follow through with his plans unknowingly. Iago’s …show more content…

Iago was well aware of others “The Moor is of a free and open nature that thinks men honest that but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by th' nose as asses are”(Act 1 Scene 3 390). Understanding the personalities of other characters allow Iago to manipulate vulnerable parts in their characteristics. Knowing that Othello believes and respects his fake persona, he uses this reputation to question Cassio and Desdemona. Cassio who knew about his own drinking problem was persuaded to drink, and become belligerent. Othello who was strong willed, and had complete faith in his wife, was quickly poisoned by Iago’s words. Iago once said “His soul is so enfettered to her love”(Act 2 Scene 3 Line 336). Despite this, Othello’s blind rage and imagination caused himself to refute his own faith in his wife, and all attempts from his wife to prove herself innocent, resulted in even more doubt from Othello. When Iago was using Roderigo, it was clear that Roderigo was blinded by love, and was willing to do anything that Iago told him, despite the requests getting more insane than the previous. After Roderigo’s failure to kill off Cassio, Iago is forced to act himself, and wittingly kills Roderigo to continue his persona of a honorable