Honor And Certainty In Othello

Honor and certainty often play a role when determining someones reputation. In the play Othello written by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare demonstrates the struggles of maintaining and restoring honor and certainty in his main characters. Othello, Desdemona, and Michael Cassio each struggle with maintaining these traits,with most of the issues presented being a misunderstanding. Each character must put in an effort to overcome their individual obstacles or the task of restoring their honor and certainty is bound to fail.
Michael Cassio is a well mannered gentleman who at the beginning of the play is Othellos chief Lieutenant. Cassio develops a rivalry with a villain named Iago, Iago has a hatred for Cassio because Cassio was chosen for the promotion and he was not. During the play Shakespeare demonstrates Cassios dislike towards alcohol, because he is a lightweight. While working with Iago, Cassio is tricked into becoming intoxicated and gets into a fight planned by the mastermind Iago. Once Othello finds out about the fight Cassio is fired from his role as a chief lieutenancy. “O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains …show more content…
He leaves clues to make Othello believe that his wife Desdemona is being unfaithful with Cassio. Throughout the play it is shown how much Desdemona loves Othello, by wanting to go to Cyprus with Othello, and by seeing Othello for more than his looks and for the person he is on the inside. Desdemona's honor to Othello is put into question by the accusations Iago makes, thus leaving Othello to believe Desdemona is pleading for Cassio to get his job back because she is having an affair with him. Desdemona continues to plead her innocence throughout the rest of the play, as she knows she has been honorable in her marriage and has done nothing wrong, but her reputation is abolished and Othello ends up marrying his loving