The Importance Of Reputation In Othello

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Reputation is defined as the way people perceive others based on facts, previous experiences, and opinions. Reputation was very important during Shakespearean times because it determined a person’s job, social status, and role in society. In the play, Othello, reputation is a critical theme that greatly impacts the story. The main use of reputation is by Iago who uses the fact that people know him as “honest Iago” to manipulate the characters. Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello believe Iago’s lies because he has such a positive reputation. Iago threatened Othello’s reputation by saying that Desdemona and Cassio had an affair. Othello wanted to do everything in his power to maintain his strong reputation even if that meant killing his wife. The story relies on reputation because it is the driving force that makes Iago want revenge and it is the reason why Cassio and Othello believe Iago. Although Iago’s reputation is detrimental to his plan and the downfall of Othello, the importance that Othello and Cassio place on their reputations is what caused the tragedy of Othello. …show more content…

He knew that people thought of him this way and decided to use this to his advantage. When Iago is informing the reader of his plan against Othello, he reveals that he is going to use his reputation in order to manipulate Othello. “He holds me well. The better shall my purpose work on him” (1.3.433-434). Iago knows that Othello trusts him and that he will listen to him no matter how in love Othello and Desdemona are. Without Iago’s reputation, Othello would quickly dismiss Iago’s story and the play would not have been a tragedy. Iago’s reputation is needed for Othello to believe him but Othello needed to care about his reputation for him to be so passionate about preserving

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