Honest Iago of Shakespeares Othello Essay -- Othello essays

well(p) Iago of Othello To most of the world William Shakespe are is recognize as the greatest dramatist in history. His plays have been performed for centuries through conglomerate interpretations. Shakespeares vast knowledge, and writing style made his works interesting for some(prenominal) the intellectual, and the illiterate. One of these styles is the use of motifs, which is seen extensively in Othello. An important example that runs throughout Othello, is Iagos honesty. This motif gave existence to Shakespeares perfect baddie. The most interesting character in the play Othello is the villain, Iago, commonly referred to as Honest Iago. Iago is smart, and well tuned to human behavior, and uses this knowledge to his advantage. He manipulates new(prenominal)s to do things to help him reach his final goal retaliate on Othello and Cassio. His greatest tool in doing so is his reputation as an honest and trustworthy person. Othello believes Iago is a person of exc eeding honesty, and knows all qualities, with the intimate spirit of human dealings. Act III, Scene iii. The other characters believe this as well, and Iago becomes a confidant for most of them. The reputation Iago has, is encouraged by the other characters as well as himself. After Cassio and Roderigo fight, Othello arrives and Iago is the first that he asks an explanation from Honest Iago, that looks dead with grieving, speak. Who began this? Act II, scene iii. Even after Iago would not answer, Montano tells Othello to ask Iago once more Your officer, Iago, can inform you Act II, scene iii, knowing that Iago would speak the truth. Both Othello and Montano are intensifying Iagos integrity here. Othello... ...aintain it, and encourage its existence. In most stories, especially during Shakespeares time, the villain is openly deceitful, and evil. Moreover, they are usually unattractive, and automatically disliked by the other characters. Shakespeare, in his brill iance, made Iago to be a charming, witty person, who is a confederate to all. This was something unknown to the audience of his time. Shakespeare used this as a way of expressing an radical that anyone could have ulterior motives with their actions, and not to trust people with ease. He address the difference between reputation and a persons true character, and how they are rarely the same. In doing so, he created the most perfect villain of all of his works. contrive Cited Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Kenneth Muir. The New Penguin Shakespeare. London Penguin Books, 1996.