Othello's Trust

Othello's Trust

William Shakespeare's Othello is a play centered around the concept of trust. Whether it be lack of trust or too much trust, the characters in this play use it to their advantage sooner or later. One character that certainly seems to use trust for his own selfish benefit and personal gain is Iago. Throughout the play, Iago uses the trust he cunningly and wrongfully acquires from everyone else to gain his revenge on the protagonist Othello. Everyone thinks Iago is one of the most honest and trustworthy people left; however, this will lead to his chaotical revenge.

It all starts out with Iago trying to help his "friend" Roderigo with his lady problems. He convinces Roderigo into alerting Brabatio about his daughter Desdemona's absence with the moor Othello. It is here in the first scene that Iago starts to reveal his true emotions for Othello. He despises him for not offering him a position that was highly recommended for him, and instead giving it to an inexperienced "bookkeeper". "Despise me if I do not...And I, bless the mark, his Moorship's ancient." (1, 1, 5-30)

Iago, however, does not pursue his revenge alone. He uses people as his pawns to get exactly what he wants, feeling no remorse nor feeling for whom he hurts. He has lost all feelings, even toward his wife in fear that she has cheated on him with Othello. "I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets He's done my office. I know not if 't be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety. He holds me well. The better shall my purpose work on him." (1,3,377-382)

It is this fear and insecurity growing within him that leads him to hate and use everyone. He cannot and will not stop using his charm and intellect to get the better of everyone he meets, finding ways to use them somehow in his plot to gain his vengeance on Othello for making a fool of him, even though Othello had no intention on doing so.

Roderigo is one of the biggest of Iago's victims. He places his trust in Iago's ability to get him together with Desdemona so much so that he does everything Iago asks of him. Iago uses Roderigo's near-obsession on Desdemona to get him to help him with his 'Othello issue'. Because of it, Roderigo ends up selling all his belongings and land to join Iago and the others, including his beloved Desdemona.

Throughout their journey, Iago gets Roderigo to do stupid things that benefit only him. He even convinces Roderigo to let Cassio, the man who received Iago's 'rightful' position as lieutenant, beat him up and start a riot to befoul Cassio's good name and reputation. Iago gets Cassio drunk and makes Roderigo start a fight him where Cassio is seen as an animal and a drunk to all, especially Othello. "Cassio, I love thee But never more be officer