Othello: #4

            In Act II Iago states, “Reputation is an idle and/ most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost/ without deserving” (II. iii. 287-89). In Act III Iago perfectly contradicts himself: “Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,/ Is the immediate jewel of their souls” (III. iii. 182-83). First he says that reputation does not matter, and then he tells Othello that a man is not a man without his reputation. This blatant display of dishonestly is only shown to the audience, so unfortunately Othello does not know the real Iago. Iago also admits to poisoning Othello with lies, but once again only the audience is told this: “[The Moor already changes with my poison;]/ Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons,/ Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,/ But with a little act upon the blood/ Burn like the mines of sulfur” (III. iii. 373-77). Originally, Othello is a trusting and honest man. He is very calm and collected, even in times of war. Iago is so conniving that simply telling lies changes Othello completely. Iago does not physically do anything in his plot, but he uses his creative and mischievous talents to tell elaborate lies that make even the most trusting person jealous. Othello’s personality does a complete 180. Desdemona even notices this shift in character when she says, “I ne’er saw this before” (III. iv. 117). It is interesting how one person can completely change another person just by what they tell them.