Honesty And Honesty In Othello

believes that because he’s honest and honorable, that everyone else is the same way. Even Iago knows this about Othello, and uses it against him: “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 th’nose” (1.3.389-391). This trust and faith in his peers is broken by the end of the play, not only because of the accusations against Desdemona, but also Iago’s constant questioning of Othello’s trust in her. Iago breaks Othello’s spirit down piece by piece until there’s nothing left. Honesty is a valuable trait but believing that everyone else is going to be honest does not work. Iago also realizes that Othello may recognized as a ‘great man,’ but he’s just that, a man. “But men are men; the best sometimes forget./Though …show more content…
His relationship with Desdemona showcases his irresponsibility and naivety. He’s devoted to Othello as a lieutenant, so why does he feel like he can cozy up to Othello’s wife? Is it because he’s a lady’s man through and through, or does he truly see nothing wrong with their relationship, is he really that oblivious? Cassio is also a major pushover, he was easily swayed/convinced to get in a fight, after not realizing that Iago was trying to get him drunk in the first place, and it doesn’t take much prodding to get out of him what he thinks of Desdemona. He was unintentionally the keystone to Iago’s master plan. If he wasn’t so close to both Othello and Desdemona than perhaps Iago’s story wouldn’t have seemed so believable. So yes, Iago is the main antagonist, but there are always the ones that follow them, the ones that won’t stand up to them, and those that are oblivious to what they’re doing, almost to the point of culpability. He took the qualities that the others were praised for and maliciously twisted them. He takes Desdemona’s kindness towards Cassio and turns it into an affair. He