Reputation plays a very important role in the play Othello. The character of Iago uses his reputation as an honest man to deceive Othello and other characters in the play. To Cassio reputation meant everything. Othello"s reputation played an important role in the play. Iago"s reputation played a very key role in the play. Everyone thought of Iago as an honest man. " O, that"s an honest fellow " , "You advise me well . goodnight honest Iago " - ".that"s an honest fellow " " I know thou"rt full of love and honesty ". Iago has everyone fooled into believing that he is a noble honest man. Without this reputation of being honest he could never get Othello to believe that Desdemona was cheating on him. Othello would have probably killed him if he didn"t have the reputation of being an honest man. Iago knew that an important man like Othello couldn"t ignore the possibility that his wife was cheating on him. Nobody suspects that Iago is a deceitful man and would plot and plan to destroy Othello, Cassio and Desdemona in such a cunning way. Iago used his reputation, and the insecurities of Othello being a Moor, to allow him to manipulate Othello. Othello had a reputation of being a military man, and a courageous leader. "Valiant Othello, We must straight employ you." "Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor." Othello has been a soldier since he was seven years of age, and has experience on the battle field. Othello was chosen when they went to fight the Turkish fleet. Because of his reputation, it wasn"t hard for other people to accept the relationship between him and Desdemona. As Iago started putting ideas in Othello"s head about Cassio and Desdemona being together, another side of Othello"s personality started to surface. Because Iago had the reputation of being an honest man, Othello couldn"t ignore his insinuations about Desdemona. Othello wondered if Desdemona really loved him, or if she was just using him to rebel against her father.