Choose a key character from the play you studied and write an essay which discusses the manner in which he / she has been characterized by Shakespeare and how he / she represents the principal themes of the play.

        From the beginning of Othello, William Shakespeare continuously emphasizes the fact that Iago is an honest and trusted individual, characterizing Iago as a sincere character. There are various parts where Iago is referred to as “Honest Iago” and described as a truthful man. For example, when Othello has to leave for Cyprus because of the Turks invasion, Desdemona strongly suggests that she wants to accompany Othello. Othello agrees to her request and he “assigns” (pg. 39) his wife to a man “of honesty and trust” (pg. 39), which is Iago. This clearly demonstrates Othello’s trust for Iago and characterizes Iago as a trustworthy man. In addition, Shakespeare stresses that Iago is a trusted by other characters throughout the play by providing the scene where Roderigo gets mad at Iago because Roderigo feels like he has been cheated by Iago. Roderigo gave Iago money to pair him and Desdemona together but there were no results. In this situation, Iago is able to convince Roderigo that he will make sure Roderigo ends up with Desdemona, which shows Iago’s persuasiveness but also the idea that Roderigo trusts Iago’s claims. This also confirms the fact that Shakespeare tries to embed the idea that Iago is trusted by all of his “friends” to the audience. The other example that supports this idea can be seen through Othello’s disgraceful actions. Othello was lead to believe that he was being cuckolded by Desdemona. Othello blindly trusts Iago’s lead and ends up killing his innocent wife. These are few of the examples that show Shakespeare’s clear and purposeful intention of trying to make the audience know that Iago is trusted by every character in the play. This characterization Shakespeare creates through out the play makes the ending of this play a lot more emotional and bitter.