Iago and Honesty in Othello

Iago and Honesty in Othello Aleeza Gerstein April 21, 1999 Iago uses the word “honest” in act three of Othello in three primary ways. The first way he uses it is to mean honourable, about Cassio. He uses this meaning of the word to force Othello to doubt Cassio’s honesty, and question his hounorablility. The second way is to mean faithful, both about Desdemona and Cassio. Iago uses it in the context that the two may …

…although we know that he has not. Shakespeare has Iago use the word honest in three different forms to greatly contribute to the subtext between Othello and Iago, and to further the action line for Othello. Iago uses the word almost laughingly behind Othello’s back, telling him that he has been driven to honesty, when he know that Iago is only telling Othello half truths. Shakespeare uses the word effectively to create dramatic irony.