Iago

Iago in the play, Othello, gains a reputation for being honest and reliable, when in reality is manipulative, wanting revenge and a liar. Iago gained his reputation of honesty by manipulating people and situations, and through-out the play is constantly referred to as “Honest Iago,” or “Iago is most honest,” (Act 2: Scene 3: 7, by Othello and Cassio. The significance of Iago’s ‘honesty’ is that the audience can view the ‘real’ Iago, which couldn’t be any more different than the so called, “Honest Iago.” In reality, Iago is controlling, dishonest and has this obsession of destroying Othello. He constantly reaffirms his plan to destroy Othello and it always involves the manipulation of other characters in the play, “Two things are to be done My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress- I’ll set her on- Myself a while to draw the Moor apart and bring him jump when he may Cassio find Soliciting his wife,” (Act 2: Scene 3: 293-298). Shakespeare positions the audience to view the ‘many Iago’s’ in the play, as he changes his character when talking to different people in the play. This allows the audience to see exactly how controlling Iago is. There is a contrast in Iago’s character when he is in the presence of Othello, “My Lord, you know I love you,” (Act 3: Scene 3: 132) in which Othello replies, “I think thou dost; And for I know thou’rt full of love and honesty,” (Act 3: Scene 3: 133-134). Shakespeare positions the audience to feel the trust Othello has in Iago and can link that this trust led by Iago helped him manipulate Othello. Also, it provides the audience and insight on how trust and honesty are values embedded in the play in which characters admire. Iago is clever, in the sense that he knows how to act and be in the presence of certain people and constantly tries to gain the trust from all characters in the play, even thought he is revenging against them.