Honesty Deceit In Shakespeare's Othello

As much as humans want to believe and trust others, hesitation occurs due (to) a certain act called deception. All humans have the ability to be deceptive, although some more than others, there are too many who become a victim as a consequence of metaphorical blindness. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, blindness to the truth results from the antagonist’s acts of deception derived from desire and jealousy which ultimately leads to the death of several innocents. Iago uses his desire for the lieutenant designation to create his acts of revenge which consequences in a very severe manner in Venice and Cyprus. As a machiavellian villain, he

lying to his friend, and getting back at his enemy! Iago’s character has learned to use a high intensity of deception. Iago pretends to be this sweet innocent man, while in reality the audience knows his

Honesty is a good principle, however it does not have to be absolute. Although we should always strive to stay honorable and genuine, deception, under certain conditions and during certain times are justifiable. This point is acknowledged and bolstered in the novel Grapes of Wrath, repeatedly throughout history and proven through scientific research.

He fears the exposure of his actual character and wants to execute his plan by keeping other individuals believing that he is an honest and a trustworthy man. Firstly, Iago undermines Emilia not to say another word in regards to the handkerchief that he utilizes as a major aspect of the arrangement to devastate Othello. He advises Emilia to “Be wise and get you home.” (Act 5.2.221). Emilia disagrees with what Iago says and soon after, Iago draws his sword. This shows Iago really thinks about his personality and notoriety, his trepidation of presentation is fierce to the point that it drives him to execute his own particular wife. Also, there is not a single line written in the play, which uncovers Iago presenting his reality to someone else. In spite of the fact that everybody makes sense of Iago's two-sided personality towards the end of the play, despite everything he doesn't have the quality to uncover his actual two- sided character or translate why he has done such offensive deeds. When Othello demands Iago for a reasoning behind his actions, he responds back saying, “Demand me nothing; what you know, you know. / From this time forth I never will speak word” (Act 5.2.300-301). Iago's instability of character is powerful to the point that is prohibits him to talk up and give a sensible reaction to Othello regarding why he has done such malevolence activities. Identity, as well as reputation, is what a man is acknowledged for, a wide range of wrong decisions will destroy this part of Iago

Othello trusts Iago and now Iago is trying to take his wife from him for someone else. Furthermore, “He takes her by the palm...sir in.” (pg. 71). Iago watches Cassio and Emilia because he thinks they had an affair he watches them carefully so he can figure out how to convince Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair. Another example involves the plan to help Othello kill Desdemona. “Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated” (pg. 185). Othello believes that Iago is most honest, thus he believed killing his wife Desdemona was the right thing to do. Iago brainwashed Othello into believing the wrong thing was the right thing. The characterization of Iago is created by the use of dramatic irony. The audience knew how devious Iago is, but the characters fell for his mischievous acts.

Iago is the antagonist of the play, and one of the most evil Shakespearean villains. Iago is extremely clever in the way he uses unsuspecting power- especially psychological power. He gets into people’s heads in many dishonest ways- by spreading false rumours, telling lies and psychologically tricking people and secretly controlling certain situations. His power to manipulate is a key point in the play, as it results in major consequences and the deaths of some main characters. Iago’s schemes are multi-levelled- he conspires with roderigo, and makes him believe that Desdemona will take him back. On another level, he leads Othello to believe his wife is having an affair with Cassio. He uses his wife Emilia (unknown to her), to bring back the handkerchief he uses to deceive Othello. Iago is an extremely resourceful and talented man, but he uses these resources and talents in detrimental ways. Iago is constantly referred to by numerous characters as ‘honest’. He himself also refers to honesty. Numerous characters believe that they know and trust Iago and that he would not lie, nor deceive them. Iago’s soliloquies also provide invaluable insight into his wicked mind and evil schemes and plans.

     One may readily perceive the theme of Shakespeare’s “Othello” as deception. Deception appears many times in Othello, but in almost every incident the degree of deception is different. Deception is to “deceive another, illusion, or fraud” (Webster’s New World Pocket Dictionary 69), which is seen as a wrongful act. However, deception may be used to protect someone from getting hurt therefore being used with good intentions.

The ideas of truth and perception are hard to differentiate in everyday life, making the real truth harder to seek. The main functions in Othello are perception and truth which is a person’s viewpoint or their interpretation of reality, and truth being what actually happens, and these facts can be easily manipulated. Othello, written by William Shakespeare, is a general who is constantly tormented between the false and real truth by Iago who skillfully manipulates him throughout the story. In Plato’s The Republic, he also talks about these themes, saying that the truth can be shaped by your view of reality and by stereotypes. In Othello, Shakespeare is saying that perception can easily alter the truth of others, making the truth harder to accept.

In William Shakespeare’s riveting play Othello, the once entrapped Emilia achieves independence by gaining the strength and courage to rise above the unhappiness of her marriage and her fears in order to reveal the truth of her husband’s wicked deceptions. Before Emilia’s defining moment of courage, she obediently suffers through her oppressive marriage against her will because of her tangible fear of her domineering husband, Iago. With the help of raging emotions and the deep desire for freedom, Emilia finally earns her independence when she fearlessly stands up for what she believes is right.

The relationship of the characters in Othello are shaped by the theme of truth and lies. Othello has trouble believing in his relationship with Desdemona because he considers too many outside opinions. Iago is the center of creating manipulations to alter the truth of the actual information. Therefore, Othello questions his fidelity with Desdemona because Iago plants different information to manipulate Othello’s mind and ultimately disrupt his relationship. According to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Othello wishes to excuse himself—to excuse himself by accusing” (151). Othello has others easily influence his decisions, in which he is incapable of trusting himself. Needless to say, Othello finds it easier to accuse Desdemona of her wrongdoings and for being unfaithful; he does not question Iago’s creditability. In addition, the theme of truth and lies arise from Othello’s inability to understand himself, so Othello initially has Iago dictate. For that reason, Iago is able to tell Othello anything, knowing that Othello does not question him. However, Othello does not see that Iago manipulates him, and Iago’s lies are perceived as the truth, as it contradicts what Desdemona says.

Themes of Deception in William Shakespeare's Othello Deception is one of the main themes running through Othello, along with love, pride and society. Indeed, it is deception that provides the fuel for the plot and deception that is leads to the classic downfall of the 'hero' as is common in Shakespeare tragedies. We see Macbeth and Hamlet both succumb to downfall. perhaps the most obvious deception is Iago's deception. The principal method that Iago uses to convince Othello of Desdemona´s infidelity is by using one of Othello´s most treasured possessions and telling Othello that his wife, Desdemona, has given it away to her lover, Cassio.

Many people believe lying is just a bad habit, but that is not true. Lying is a part of human nature, no matter if it is a big or small lie, everyone has lied before (“Lying: Bad Habit Or Human Nature?”). Everyone has different reasons for deceiving others, but that does not change the fact that everyone has lied at some point. Human nature keeps the world from achieving complete perfection, and Shakespeare allows this idea to be the foundation that his plays build off of. The human nature of deception is found as a common theme in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing. Shakespeare uses these plays to communicate to his audiences that sometimes in order to find the truth you have to use trickery and manipulation; thus creating the idea that deception can be evil or harmless depending on the circumstances and the intentions of those who are trying to decieve. Hamlet elucidates the dangers that deception can provoke in relationships and shows the consequences of lying. Shakespeare shows his tangled opinions about deception throughout Much Ado About Nothing by using manipulation to help benefit others and destroy relationships; this allows Shakespeare to further show his idea that deception can be used for good and evil.

Have you ever been able to trick someone into thinking you’re on their side? What would you do if you had the ability to deceive anyone? People refer to me as the “King of Deceit”. My intentions were not motivated by jealousy rather they were motivated by a sense of betrayal.

He gloats about the easy in which he can manipulate Roderigo (the fool) into giving him money. Directly after this, you hear of Iago’s feelings towards Othello (the Moor). You learn of Iago’s suspicion about his wife having an affair with Othello. This gains pity from the audience, because you feel that Iago is a man deeply distraught over the idea of his wife cheating on him. Iago then begins to contemplate how he would seek vengeance on Othello and gain his title. Iago plans to use Othello’s trust and opinion of him to his advantage. He speaks about how he will use Cassio as his pawn to lure Othello into believing his wife, Desdemona is being unloyal to him. Iago discloses that Othello’s character is naive and will be easy to manipulate. As his closing statement he states that, with a little help from the devil, his monstrous plan will be a success.

Othello is the character with whom most of Iago's methods have success. His weakness as a jealous lover is apparent early on, but only after Iago’s has planted the seeds of doubt within his mind. Such is Othello’s trust for Iago that he uses the misnomer of describing Iago as ‘honest Iago’ and irony considering the action held within the play.  The trust is obvious and implicit and thoroughly entrenched within the language. Othello surmises on the aforementioned doubts during the last act of the play when he says;