William Shakespeare's tragic play, "Othello," is one of the strongest, most focused on themes, tragedies, mainly due to the fact that it is about the tragedy and the downfall of a great leader. Playwrights, especially in "Othello," tend to use specific clues in order to develop and express the theme(s) of the play. Each of these clues, repetition, symbolism, and contrast, are constantly used throughout the entire play as a way to constantly remind the audience of the powerful effect of the theme(s). "Honest" Iago is able to make himself seem noble and honest by means of skillful manipulation of language. Shakespeare included these three clues within his tragic play as a means of revealing the theme to the audience; the theme of appearance and reality.
             Repetition, whether it be syntax or diction, is used numerous times throughout the entire play, in order to draw the audience's attention to a specific point or idea. Shakespeare uses the word "honest" several times throughout the entire play to describe Iago, who is anything but honest. "Honest Iago/ My Desdemona must I leave to thee/" (Shakespeare 72). The reason for this continuous usage is to express to the audience that to the characters in the play, Iago, at face value, appears honest, but behind that evil mask of his, he is one of the most dishonest men; so with this, Shakespeare is warning the audience to not take people at face value because sometimes people are not who they seem. Another word that or saying that is constantly used throughout this tragic play, is "poison," by which Iago secretly poisons Othello with his baited repetition, hooking him into believing his deceiving words. "The Moor already changes with my poison/ Dangerous conceits are in their nature's poisons/" (Shakespeare 116), clearly conveys to the audience that although Iago/s words are poisonous to a
             ...