honesty in othello

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A2 English Literature

Unit 4A Othello

Practise Question 32 Timed Conditions closed Text.

“Explore the role of honesty in the play”.

Plan 5 minutes

Intro: Honesty is a complex role throughout the play …

          What is honesty? Is any character really honest?

          Would it be natural/realistic to be fully honest?

Section 1: Iago - Discuss character in depth.

                           Illustrate examples from – Act 1, Act 2, Act 3, Act 4, and Act 5

                           Refer to Mckellen/Brannagh versions.

Section 2: How honest are: Othello?

                                            Desdemona?

                                            Roderigo?

                                            Cassio?

                                            Emilia?

                                            Bianca?

Conclusion: Therefore…

Answer 55 minutes

Honesty is a complex role throughout the play, mainly centring around the character of Iago. One could question what exactly honesty is and whether any of the characters in the play are truly honest. Perhaps it would be unnatural for any of the characters in the play to be totally honest since this would imply perfection and perfection is unrealistic.

Iago is referred to as “Honest Iago” by the onstage characters throughout the play. This is a case of dramatic irony given that Iago in Act 1 Scene 1 admits to both Roderigo and the audience that he is a self serving fraud. Iago’s “I am not what I am” has a double meaning. It could be taken to mean I am not as I seem. Alternately it could be a diabolical rewording of God’s own self description in the bible, indicating that Iago is the opposite of God, in other words the Devil. Ironically, Roderigo does not realise that a man who admits he is a self serving fraud and using all the characters around him for his “peculiar end” might also be gulling him. Equally, Brabantio is totally unaware of the aptness of his line “Thou art a villain”. Perhaps Shakespeare intends to show in Iago, a character that acts against his public reputation for honesty. Possibly Iago was always a villain and confidence trickster who set up a false reputation for honesty. Alternatively Iago may e a man who used to have been honest in the past and has now decided to abandon this virtue, although this interpretation is less likely to be correct.

One could argue that from the start it is clear that all the other characters believe Iago to be honest, creating an undercurrent of dramatic irony throughout the play. Othello’s decision to leave his wife in Iago’s care in Act 1 Scene 3, is alarming, however it shows how high a regard the General has for his ensign “If you please your grace/my ancient/a man he is of honesty and

trust”.  One would believe that a person you have known for a long time is honest and trustworthy. However in Iago’s case, this is not true. Our suspicions about Iago are confirmed in Act 1 Scene 2, as Iago recounts how Roderigo abuse the Moor to Brabantio. His remarks of concern for Othello’s welfare are totally hypocritical. However his remarks are entirely plausible as they concern matters that will affect Othello as the play progresses.  In the Mckellen version it is particularly poignant when Othello delivers the line “For know Iago/but that I love the gentle Desdemona” and the audience are unable to relax given that we know Iago’s true nature. As Iago rightly pointed out in his second soliloquy “Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used”.  

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During Act 2 Scene 1, Iago has a scene of bawdy jesting with Desdemona, shown particularly effectively in the Mckellen version. In this version the interest is maintained for the audience through the directing and the characters wipe their faces with towels due to the heat and so forth as they deliver the lines. Here Iago assumes the role of the bluff, coarse, genial soldier and takes the opportunity to slander women “Sir would she give you so much of her lips/as of her tongue/she oft bestows on me/you would have enough”. Cassio and Desdemona, believing that he is ...

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