Corrupting Honesty

Khaqhovia Lee
Mrs. Bolle
IB English Senior
November 14, 2013
Corrupting Honesty
Deception creeps on the ignorance of honesty and corrupts it until death. The tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeares sets the time period during the wars of Cyprus. Othello, a moor, marries Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian senator. Iago who is rejected of a position of lieutenancy seeks out revenge on Othello through deception and poisoning Othello’s honest nature. He falls into a trap of deception while losing his own honesty and trust in his beloved. Shakespeare exposes the weakness of honesty through Iago’s acts of deception.
Othello’s confidence wavers as Iago poisons his mind with the acts of Desdemona. Iago sets his scheme into motion by inciting uncertainty of Desdemona’s loyalty. Iago brings forth Desdemona's capabilities of deceptions because “she did deceive her father, marrying you / And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks, / She loved them most,” (III.iii.238-240). Iago calmly describes Desdemona as not being an innocent lady that obeys, but rather someone who can deceive others. Desdemona fearing his looks foreshadows her death, when she fears of Othello killing her. Shakespeare juxtaposes fear and love as a contrast between emotion and conveys an appearance versus reality motif, and he reveals the possibilities of honest people becoming deceitful in nature. Iago furthers Othello’s doubt of Desdemona by telling him to “be wise. Yet we see nothing done. / She may be honest yet,” (III.iii.491-492). Positioning Iago into a neutral state, however he is also striking doubt into Othello’s mind. The diction of yet foreshadows the change in Othello’s perception of Desdemona as a pure woman. He doubts her pleads after listening to Iago’s opinions, contradicting Iago when says to be wise. Othello allows jealousy to overwhelm his judgement, losing control of his actions. Iago manipulates people according to his scheme, and he poisons Othello’s mind once more when he says, “to be naked with her friend in bed / An hour or more, not meaning any harm?” (IV.i.5-6). Sarcasm conveys the possibility that Desdemona could have done something with Cassio, which allows Othello’s imagination torture himself. Shakespeare decides to use friend instead of Cassio to portray that it could also be another person instead of Cassio that Othello does not know, extending to the reality of the time period - where people lie and cheat to obtain their selfish goals. Deception and manipulation destroys Othello’s kind and honest nature, and results in death.

Iago constantly focuses on Othello’s mind through the manipulation of Desdemona and Cassio. Cassio shows signs of affection towards Desdemona, which Iago focuses on as he ensnares Cassio within his web. Iago implements doubt of Cassio into Othello’s ears - telling him of the night he spent with Cassio - stating, “I heard him say “ Sweet Desdemona, / Let us be wary, let us hide our loves...” / then kissed me hard, / As if he plucked up kisses by the roots,” (III.iii.475-479). Depicting a vivid scene of Cassio’s intentions invokes Othello’s desires of vengeance upon Desdemona and Cassio. Iago succeeds in poisoning Othello’s mind with images of Desdemona, who he thought of as a pure and innocent lady, turning into a woman driven by desire. Imagery of plucking kisses by the roots symbolizes the acts of pulling flowers from the ground, which can also be an allusion to deflowering Desdemona. Othello contains his composure and checks for signs of Cassio contaminating Desdemona. However, he finds no signs of Cassio on Desdemona’s lips, but Iago has his next scheme laid out. He tells Othello of Desdemona’s handkerchief, which was “sure it was your wife’s - did I today / See Cassio whip his beard with,” (III.iii.497-498). The handkerchief is referred to as a heirloom which has been in Othello’s family to pass down onto the woman that they hold dearest. Othello falls into a state of jealousy upon verifying that Desdemona does not having his handkerchief. Losing the handkerchief that Othello gives to Desdemona strengthens his trust in Iago. Iago deepens the corruption in Othello’s mind by continuing to use Cassio as a target. He sets Othello in a room where he could witness the acts between the Desdemona and Cassio, stating “He hath and again to cope with your wife. / I say but mark his gesture,” (IV.i.101-102). Cassio is a very composed gentleman with refined manners. Iago notices his manners and uses it to his advantage in deceiving Othello. Iago manipulates the scene into contaminating Othello’s mind with impurity and driving him into a trance of jealousy. Cassio and Desdemona fall into the hands of Iago as he manipulates them into corrupting Othello.

Roderigo, trusting Iago, falls in the scheme of deception and dies as a tool of deception. Iago reveals his true intentions of revenge to Roderigo while earning his trust to enact his revenge on Othello, promising Desdemona’s hand. In preparation of taking Desdemona, Iago tells Roderigo to “put money in thy purse,” (I.iii.395). Iago persuades Roderigo to sell his land and make money to court Desdemona. Ironically, the money does not reach Desdemona, but into the pockets of Iago. It also foreshadows to Roderigo calling out to Iago when he saw no change in affection in Desdemona. Iago persuades Roderigo into believing Desdemona is in love with Cassio by asking, “didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand?” (II.i.275-276). Paddling with the palm becomes an act of intimacy between people, and noticing Cassio acts allows him to manipulate others into witnessing his perception. Marking the acts of Cassio, Roderigo puts greater trust into following Iago’s scheme. Successfully, persuading Roderigo into believing Desdemona is in love with Cassio, Iago implements his next step of eliminating Cassio. Roderigo notices no change in Desdemona, but Iago reassures him that she will turn around, however they will leave town and he will have no power to enact his plans on Othello. He explains to Roderigo, Othello “takes away / with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be / lingered here by some accident - wherein none / can be so determinate as the removing of Cassio,” (IV.ii.257-260). The irony of trying to take Cassio’s life results in the death of Roderigo, however it is Iago who deals the final blow on Roderigo. Appearance versus reality becomes apparent while talking about fair Desdemona as it provides a contrast between the opinions of Iago while talking to Othello and while talking to Roderigo. Roderigo dies by the hands of Iago, while losing all his land and Desdemona during the night when they started.
Iago’s soliloquy reveals his plans of revenge while feigning his appearance. Iago being bitter about being rejected of his position of lieutenant, he plots to bring Cassio and Othello down. He plans according to Othello’s personality who “thinks men honest that but seem to be so, / And will as tenderly be led by th’ nose / As asses are… / Hell and night / Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light,” (I.iii.443-447). Iago exposes Othello’s honest nature into deceiving him into believing the stories which Iago tells him. Iago symbolises Othello as an ass, which follow unknowingly wherever they are led. The contrast of light and dark refers to the evil of the night which Iago has planted, and bringing it into existence in the world’s light to reveal the truth that will be brought upon them. Iago decides to bring “him jump when he may Cassio find / Soliciting his wife,” (II.iii.408-409). The diction of jump foreshadows to the scene of Desdemona saying her love of Cassio does not allow her to see him lose his position, however Othello misinterprets her and strikes her. Cassio socializing with Desdemona also foreshadows the events when Iago sets Othello in a room to witness the interactions between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago plans out every move, and manipulates people to reach his goals. His “medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are / caught, / And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,” (IV.i.54-56). The medicine symbolises poisoning Othello’s mind with images of Cassio and Desdemona, while increasing Othello’s trust in Iago. Fools who are caught alludes to the people who Iago manipulates into realizing his goals, however he becomes a fool in the end by losing to his wife - that brings the truth to light. Iago’s dishonesty and contamination of trust, brings a tragedy to Othello.

Othello, with his honest nature, believes the words of Iago over his emotions causing a tragedy of death of Othello, Desdemona, Emilia and Roderigo. Othello becomes a monster of jealousy, and Desdemona denies the false accusations, Othello kills Desdemona, blinded by his rage. Roderigo is wounded by Cassio when he tries to kill Cassio, however as people gather, Iago kills Roderigo to remove any crucial information that could affect his plan. He also reassures the people that he is innocent by killing Roderigo, but is condemned by his wife while entering the death bed of Desdemona. Emilia dies by the hands of Iago, who had absolute trust in him. She reveals the truth to Desdemona’s innocence and convicts Iago of lies. He stabs her in an attempt to run, however the deception which was laid out to completion is shattered. Deception reveals the weak bonds of trust and honesty, allowing evil to manipulate people into doing deeds that would have never been done.