Literature Review on "Reputation and Good Name in Othello How Iago Shapes Is Own and Others Images"

Literature Review 5 pages (1519 words) Sources: 1

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Iago in William Shakespeare's play, Othello, is undoubtedly one of the most conniving characters ever created. Even today, there are few man that can compare with the man who convinced Othello his innocent wife was cheating on him. To accomplish such a feat takes a sinister nature certainly, but it also takes someone that is intelligent with people and human nature. Iago uses what people know against them For example, he uses what Othello knows about love and jealousy against him. He mars Desdemona's reputation by duping Cassio into asking for reinstatement. Desdemona vying for her lover is something Othello cannot stand. However, there was never such a game going on but Iago made Othello think there was. Before he destroyed Othello completely, he ripped his self-esteem from him, adding to any feelings of inferiority. Carefully shaping images and reputations is what Iago is all about in this play and he demonstrates how easily this can be down. Othello is a tragic play but the most fascinating aspect of it is Iago's masterful manipulation.

Another successful aspect of Iago's strategy includes gaining a certain amount of Othello's trust. Once Othello was convinced he could trust Iago, the battle to take Othello down becomes much easier. He establishes this trust when he appeals to Othello's emotional side. This is quite easy for him to do: he simply feigns concern for Othello's well being. In addition, he is repeats promises of loyalty to him as if he is a devoted friend for life. It is almost too much to consider as we image the fiend telling Othello, "I am your own forever" (Shakespeare III.iii.477) to establish a sense of trust and faith. He is clever, as he knows exactly when to say these things. Once he knows Othello listens to him and trusts his judgment, the story about the handkerchief will be much easier for Othello to believe. Getting into Othello's trust is essential for Iago because at the center of this brave man is a powerhouse of emotion that can destroy him.

Iago shapes Desdemona's image horrendously and seems to delight in it. He takes a newly married couple and within a few hours, turns the husband against his wife with very little evidence. He ruins Desdemona's reputation and he can only do so after he has demonstrated to Othello that he can trust him. It is amazing that the smallest item produces the greatest damage to Desdemona. It is the handkerchief that Iago has Emilia steal. While he holds the handkerchief that will destroy Othello's marriage, he says Desdemona is a "fair woman, a sweet woman!" (IV.i.177-8) after he has already warned Othello of the "green-eyed monster" (III.iii.167). Othello chooses to believe in her bad qualities because Iago has sullied her reputation by insinuation. It is appalling how Othello allows himself to be played in this way and the sad thing is he never becomes aware of it until it is too late. He wishes this soiled woman would "perish, and be damned" (IV.i.180) rather than live. Desdemona is the picture of innocence in this play. She does nothing to deserve her punishment and she Iago to thank for it.

Iago ruins Othello's reputation. Certainly, by the end of the play, we see a different man than we did at the beginning of the pay. However, there is another aspect at work regarding Othello's reputation and that is his reputation of himself. As we have mentioned, Iago is a great study of human character and he shows us just how well he knows people by manipulating Othello. Othello allows Iago to see his heart and his insecurities and this turns out to be one of the biggest mistakes of his life. Once Iago detects a moment of insecurity on Othello's part, he commences to tear him down, bit by bit. When Othello begins to doubt himself, Iago simply plants tiny seeds of uncertainty I Othello's mind until he utters:

Haply for I am black

And have not those soft parts of conversation

That chambers have . . . I am abused, my relief

Must be to loathe her. (III.iii.260-5)

Othello transforms in this scene to a wimp. He is no longer the strong and brave man we encountered at the beginning of the play and it is all due to Iago and his cunning.

Othello also becomes a jealous wreck by the end of the play and this is the intent of Iago. Iago wants to weaken Othello's opinion of himself and he does it through pure love, the greatest emotion in the world. Iago proves how love, the most powerful emotion can drive someone to be jealous over the slightest thing. Iago masterfully manipulates Othello until his last breaths. The handkerchief upon which Cassio was supposed to have wiped his beard becomes a piece of evidence that ends Othello's marriage and life. However, it is not the handkerchief that does the damage, it is the ideas associated with the handkerchief that do. With a single piece of fabric, Iago established infidelity. If this man can use a handkerchief to ruin people, we can know that he is talented. He can successfully us people and their good nature against them. This is especially true with Desdemona and Cassio. These two individuals were nothing like the monsters Othello must have thought they were while he considered them behind his back. This image was established by Iago and Othello simply ran with it. For one that was so trusted, he lacked the concern necessary to maintain relationships. He admits, "To be direct and honest is not safe. / I should be wise, for honesty is a fool/And looses that it works for" (III.iii.376-9). Iago knows other s and he knows himself and this knowledge is dangerous for one so wicked.

Iago likes to throw the term honesty around but we should realize he knows exactly what he is doing. He admits he is not what he says he is. He asks, "And what's he then that says I play the villain, / When this advice is free I give, and honest (II.iii.336-337)?" after offering Cassio advice for reinstatement. He uses the word faithful here only in the sense that it is legitimate advice. From most points-of-view, this advice does seem legitimate. Cassio appealing through Desdemona is more apt to get him somewhere since she influences many of his decisions. However, we know something eels. We know Iago has ulterior motives and the more he can make it look like Cassio and Desdemona are lovers, the better things work out for him. A jealous Othello will not enjoy his wife pleading for her lover's reinstatement. Iago spots Cassio for being an "honest fool (III.iii.353)" and does everything in his power to capitalize on this trait. Cassio is duped because he is only concerned about his reinstatement. He is an honest fool, "duteous and knee-crooking" (I.i.45), who, in the end, will discover himself to be "cashier'd" (1.1.45-50). Again, this is an example of how Iago can use his knowledge of human behavior against people. He could not care any less for Cassio's future but he sees in his despair an opportunity to plant seed of distrust and can only urge his "medicine" (IV.i.46) to "work on" (IV.i.45) as he sees it wrecking havoc on everyone's lives.

Iago moves through Othello like a ghost. He is present doing danger even when no one sees him. He is a clever man and intends to do harm at whatever the cost. The cost is the shaping of others' images and reputations. He begins with Othello, who one would think is a formidable opponent but who actually turns out to be an easy target because he is in love. Iago has Othello's trust, which is huge… READ MORE

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