Reputations In Othello Essays - Othello, Iago, Michael Cassio

Reputations In Othello Reputations of the main characters and its role in Othello In the play Othello written by William Shakespeare, the theme of reputation was a very important part of what made the play tragic. Reputation was so important in the play that it could have gave insight to characters or allowed characters to have manipulated others and it allowed for the tragedy of Othello to have been unfolded. Reputation of characters was an important factor for all the characters in Othello but reputation was most important for Iago, Othello and Cassio. When Shakespeare wrote Othello he intended for the reader to have scrutinized the theme of reputation so the reader could have understood where characters and the plot of the story had developed from. Reputation played an important role in how the reader was meant to have perceived the characters of the play. Iago had a flawless reputation, he was considered so loyal and compassionate he was known throughout most of the novel as ?honest?(II.iii.329) Iago. Iago is regarded as a close companion of Othello as well as Cassio, and Iago had a deep hate for both of these men and knew his reputation could help him get his revenge on them. Iago understood that reputation played such a big part in how people saw a person, that based on his reputation he could have became a two faced adversary without a problem. Iago proved the point of a reputation's importance when wanted to leave Roderigo in act one, because if Iago stayed it would look this Iago was a traitor to Othello and this would flaw his reputation. Iago explained why he must leave by his statement, ?Though I do hate him as I do hell pains, Yet for necessity of present life I must show out a flag and sign of love?(I. i.159-161). Wh en Iago stated this he proved reputation was extremly important because it showed how his departure from the scene and keeping his reputation he could work the inside track for himself and Roderigo. Iago's repuatation allowed him to be twofaced and this gave him certain advantages otherwise not available to him. If reputation was not so important Iago would not have been so highly revered by many people, and if Iago was not a revered person his motives may have been discovered earlier in the play. The reputation of the antagonist of the play was not the only reputation important to the play but the tragic hero's and the catalyst's reputation also played an important role to the play. Othello the tragic hero of this play had a reputation that helped him raise himself up in society. Othello's reputation served several purposes throughout the play, first it proved he was a good and noble person, secondly it won Desdemona over for him and lastly it helped him stay out of trouble because of his esteemed position in society. Othello's reputation saves him from the confrontation with Barbantio as well as won him a wife. Othello proved this when he was confronted with stealing Desdemona away from Barbantio and the Duke and the senators listened to Othello when he stated, ?She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I loved her that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I have used?(I.iii.166-169). Othello told the senators this to show Desdemona was won over based solely on Othello's reputation and his history. The Duke and senators appear to judge Othello less harshly when they give their opinions on the situation because Othello's reputation makes him out t o be a hero and loyal solider that is well respected This example is clearly shown when Barbantio first said, ?For nature so preposterously to err,?(I.iii.64) by this he means nature's error in mixing light and dark skinned people. We can see how the senators and the Duke quickly changed their mind when they first stated, ?And you of her, the bloody book of the law,?(I.iii.63) they the Duke said, ?What, in your own part, can you say to this(I.iii.76). Othello gets the ability to have a say in front of the council because of his reputation if Othello was another dark skinned person who knows what would