Reputations of the main characters and its role in Othello
             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 in 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 in act one, because if Iago stayed it would look this Iago was a traitor to Othello and this would flaw his reputation. Iago explained why he must leave by his statement, "Though I do hate him as I do hell pains, Yet for necessity of present life I must show out a flag and sign of love"(I. i.159-161). When Iago stated this he proved reputation was extremly important because it showed how his departure from the scene and keeping his reputation he could work the inside track for himself and R...