“O, that’s an honest fellow” sums up the trust bestowed upon Iago. By using the word ‘honest’, Shakespeare stresses that Iago and Othello’s companionship is very strong, especially in Act3. Another reason why the word honest is very significant, is that when Othello refers to Iago as honest we know that Othello is not as wise as he thinks, and has not realised Iago’s scheme, which also shows how cunning and clever Iago is.
If he had not been seen as ‘honest’, the story would not have a chance to develop, as the plot is based around the fact that the other characters have such trust in him that he has the ability to poison their minds. An important example of this is the relationship between Othello and Iago. By Act 3 Scene 3, we know Iago’s plot is successfully developing, because he as managed to strengthen his relationship with Othello by building suspicion about Cassio’s and Desdemona’s relationship. By this time Iago has made the characters very vulnerable and in need of him. We see Othello’s vulnerability when he is easily convinced by Iago’s false story of Cassio, “But this denoted…though it be but a dream” [3.3.426], after he clearly asks for “ocular proof” [3.3.357]. This shows us he has much trust in Iago-maybe more than in Desdemona.
However, Iago is not the only fraudulent character in the play. Othello and Desdemona secretly married without consent, from which Brabantio underwent a great sense of betrayal. In spite of this neither Othello nor Desdemona had ever been portrayed in a dishonest way. This shows us that Shakespeare had different levels of understanding each time he used ‘honest’. It was for this reason that he received much criticism from William Epson (1951), who thought it was a bad idea to have many different meanings of ‘honesty’ as it becomes difficult to understand unless “you are keyed up for the shifts of the word”. As an example he has shown the conversation between Othello and Iago [3.3.101] where the word honest is repeated. Epson writes that for each ‘honest’ in the conversation, a different meaning is taken out. I do not agree with this. The way in which the word ‘honest’ has been used also has made a lot of impact on Iago’s plan, and thus the storyline. Here, in Act 3 Scene 3 there is a lot of repetition of the word ‘honest’. By irritatingly repeating “honest” [3.3.103], Iago uses a type of reverse psychology to torment Othello as this makes him eager to know the truth, but also makes Othello worry about the reliability of Cassio’s intentions towards Desdemona. I think that this is an excellent technique that has been used. By taking different connotations of the same word the audience can take their own ideas on each concept.
The quote “I am an honest man” [2.3.262], said by Iago, resembles another quote said by himself earlier in Othello, “I am not what I am” [1.1.62]. As well as being ironic, if we rearrange this it forms, I am not an honest man. The fact that honest was used makes this quote very meaningful, as it seems as if Iago is mocking the deeper meaning of honest. Also when associated with Iago the word honest looses meaning, which exaggerates Iago’s dishonest and 2-faced character.
By repeating this word throughout the play, Shakespeare creates a lot of dramatic irony right through the performance, adding to the very deceptive atmosphere created by the narrative and the characters in relation to the word ‘honest’. The irony that builds up through the progression of the story has an affect on the audience and will encourage audience reaction, by building up emotions towards the characters (e.g. anger towards Iago and Othello). The irony also builds a very tense atmosphere and creates a suitable mood along with many dramatic affects, of which this play is full of.