Theme Of Betrayal In Othello

“Run away Simba… run… run away and never return.” As many know this is one of the most iconic lines spoken by Scar in Disney's Lion King; and it sums up Scar's betrayal of his own family perfectly. Betrayal is a very common action many characters develope–in all forms of entertainment. Creators do this not just to push the plot forward but to develop a character–more often than not a villain–who they want the audience or reader to garner distrusting disgust towards. Shakespeare, being one of the greatest playwrights of all time, it makes perfect sense he would include themes of betrayal in his work; Lago is betrayal reincarnated. Throughout Othello Lago uses the friendship and trust he has built up with characters such as Cassio and Othello

Cassio is the young rising man in the Venice ranks as we see in act one scene one when Lago says, "A great arithmetician, one Michael Cassio, a Florentine, a fellow almost damned in a fair wife," this Lago quote, very early on, shows Cassio’s promise on the strategic side of things but also reveals a flaw–his overly flirtatious nature with woman–that Lago will exploit later on. Lago's master plan revolved around him driving a stake of distrust between Othello and Cassio while he himself remains in the inner circle of both of them. He does this first by tricking Cassio into drinking while on duty and staging the fight with Rodrigo. After Cassio is fired he looks to Lago for advice; Lago says, “Confess yourself freely to her importune her help to put you in your place again.”(II ii) Lago puts Cassio in a place where his already frail trust with Othello could be further

Lago successfully tricked Cassio into abusing his position and drinking on duty–but it doesn’t end there. After Lago sends the dishonored lieutenant after Desdomona he approaches Othello about his wife potentially cheating on him. Lago had always been a trusted friend of Othello so his words had more weight on them than many others would have. For a while, Othello wrestles with Lago’s proclamation but has no proof yet in act three scene 1 Lago says to Othello, “I know not that: but such a handkerchief,-- I am sure it was your wife’s,--did I see today. See Cassio wipe his beard. Again Othello’s most trusted advisor comes to him with accusations– this time including proof– that his wife is having an affair with Cassio. Lago already had knives twisted into the backs of Cassio and Lago, yet this is just another blow to Othello further driving him to insanity; little does he know that his largest enemy is stationed on his apparent