Honesty and Trust Throughout Othello Play

Honesty can be defined as free of deceit and untruthfulness; sincere. In Shakespeare’s play, “Othello”, honesty has a very ironic pat. The theme of this play is basically all about honesty and trust. Throughout “Othello” you will be able to notice the irony of how honesty is used. It all begins when Othello put Michael Cassio, who is not as experienced of a soldier as lieutenant over Iago. Iago is very jealous of Cassio and has hatred toward Iago that he starts coming up with plans to ruin Othello and Michael Cassio. First off Iago wants to frame

Desdamonia making it seem as if she is having an affair with Cassio. Iago is very smart and knows since he is trusted by Othello that Othello will believe anything he says. Iago is even given the name “Honest Iago” despite how honest he really is. Knowing he is portrayed as very honest even by Othello himself, Iago uses it to his advantage . You can see this happen when

Iago frames Michael Cassio and then later tells him that he will help him get his job back through Desdomonia. By doing this he is planning frame Cassio and Desdomonia as having an affair to make Othello jealous. Iago planned to fire Cassio and it worked in his favor, but now seems to be helping his “friend” to keep his reputation and use it to manipulate other characters of this play.

The handkerchief in the play that gets moved around from character to character because of Iago is very symbolic. It symbolized not only love but also trust between Othello and

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Desdamonia. When Othello believes that his wife is cheating on him he tells her he isn’t feeling too well so she gives him the handkerchief. He tells her it’s too small lets it fall and Emilia grabs it. Emilia takes the handkerchief b...

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...’t believe her innocence. The word honest showed up everywhere in the play especially toward Iago, who is the least honest one. Cassio also was very honest he did not have an affair with Desdomonia and was a victim because of Iagos jealousy. Emilia on the other hand was more dishonest she stole the handkerchief which was a rising point for Othello. When Iago is creating his plan against Othello, he comments that “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 the nose/ as asses are”

Poor Othello was fooled because he was so honest and yet portrayed everyone else to be

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