In the play Othello written by William Shakespeare, the theme of reputation was a very important part of what made the play tragic. Reputation was so important in the play that it could have gave insight to characters or allowed characters to have manipulated others and it allowed for the tragedy of Othello to have been unfolded. Reputation of characters was an important factor for all the characters in Othello but reputation was most important for Iago, Othello and Cassio. When Shakespeare wrote Othello he intended for the reader to have scrutinized the theme of reputation so the reader could have understood where characters and the plot of the story had developed from.

Reputation played an important role in how the reader was meant to have perceived the characters of the play. Iago had a flawless reputation, he was considered so loyal and compassionate he was known throughout most of the novel as "honest"(II.iii.329) Iago. Iago is regarded as a close companion of Othello as well as Cassio, and Iago had a deep hate for both of these men and knew his reputation could help him get his revenge on them. Iago understood that reputation played such a big part i

Cassio the reason for all the superficial problems in the novel has his reputation originally helping him and then it damages him as well as several other characters in the end. Cassio had a good reputation at the beginning of the play and this is shown because he is given the job of lieutenant from Othello over Iago, this proves although Iago is honest and loyal Cassio is still more revered then he is. On the other hand, as the play preceded Cassio was viewed very differently by the populous due mostly to Iago. Iago did several things to damage Cassio reputation during the play this is shown when he stated, " 'Tis to his virtue a just equinox,"(II.iii.118) and we he said to Othello, "Or to be naked with her friend in bed"(IIII.i.6). Iago's first goal is to destroy Cassio's image among his men and he does so when he stated to Montano he felt Cassio had bad virtues and a drinking problem, and when he set Cassio up to get in a fight. Once Iago had successfully destroyed Cassio's reputation among many of the men he next had to get his revenge by having Othello doubt Cassio and himself. Iago accomplishes his second act flawlessly by his ability to have Othello believe he was sleeping with Desdemona. Now Cassio's once helpful reputation has destroyed him publicly and he made Cassio look like an adulterer in Othello's eyes and that makes Othello perceive Cassio as a backstabbing friend. Cassio's reputation was unlike either of the two main character's reputations his reputation originally follows the path of Othello's an honest one but is changed by rumor and therefore causes the end to Iago, Othello and Desdemona.

n how people saw a person, that based on his reputation he could have became a two faced adversary without a problem. Iago proved the point of a reputation's importance when wanted to leave Roderigo

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Approximate Word count = 1233
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)