In Shakespeare’s play Othello, what are some illusions Othello has about some characters?

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In Shakespeare’s play Othello, what are some illusions Othello has about some characters?

Othello is deceived by Iago’s claim to be his friend. Othello fails to see through the villain’s treachery and receives proof of Iago’s guile only after it is too late.

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The most harmful and destructive illusion that Othello has about another character is his mistaking of Iago as a friend. The play’s action—misunderstandings, lies, and murders—results from Othello’s illusion about Iago as a trustworthy ally.

When we first meet Iago, we receive intimations of his duplicitous nature. In act 1, scene 1, he confesses, “I am not what I am.” (60) When Othello passes Iago over as his lieutenant—choosing the less experienced Casio instead—Iago is irate but hides his anger from Othello. Instead, he plots his revenge.

Ironically, Othello defends Iago to Cassio, saying “Iago is most honest” (II.iii.6). We know, however, that this is exactly the opposite of Iago’s true nature! Othello believes that Iago is loyal. In act 3, scene 3, Iago continues to pledge respect, calling him his “noble lord” (94). When Iago tells Othello, “My lord, you know I love you,” (116) Othello illustrates that he has been completely fooled with his reply: “I think thou dost; / And for I know thou’rt full of love and honesty” (117-8).

Therefore, Othello believes that Iago is protecting him when Iago coyly—and manipulatively—confesses his suspicion that Desdemona married Othello because she found him (as a black man) exotic and wanted to rebel against her father. Othello is grateful for this revelation, declaring to Iago, “I am bound to thee for ever” (214). Iago makes Othello suspect Desdemona of not truly loving him; he then exploits Othello’s insecurity to continue his plot against both Othello and Cassio—the lie that Desdemona is cheating on Othello with Cassio.

Eventually, Othello distrusts women and their words. He distrusts not only Desdemona, but also Emilia, the wife of Iago. Under the illusion that Emilia is dishonest (i.e., in cahoots with Desdemona) and dim, Othello won’t even listen to her. In act 4, scene 2, when Emilia tries to convince Othello that Desdemona has been faithful, Othello dismisses her and remarks, “She says enough; yet she’s a simple bawd / That cannot say as much” (20-21). In act 5, scene 2, even after Emilia reveals Iago’s machinations, Othello refuses to believe her accusations and claims that Iago is honest.

By the time Othello’s illusion about Iago is destroyed, it is too late; he has already killed Desdemona and destroyed his own career and reputation.

Further Reading

• http://shakespeare.mit.edu/othello/full.html

Perhaps the most significant of Othello’s illusions, and the source of his downfall, is his self-delusion: his lack of self-awareness, and his illusions about himself. Othello fails to acknowledge his most basic, ultimately fatal flaw of jealousy and his inability to control himself.

Othello cannot believe that he’s even capable of jealousy.

OTHELLO: Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes and chose me.
No, Iago, I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this,
Away at once with love or jealousy! (3.3.210–215)

His lack of self-awareness is due to his insecurities about his place in society and about his relationship with Desdemona. He needs to rationalize to himself that he’s an honorable man, and his pride won’t allow him to think otherwise.

Iago knows otherwise, and he uses Othello’s ego and lack of self-awareness against him.

IAGO: I hate the Moor . . .
He holds me well;
The better shall my purpose work on him. . . .
The Moor is of a free and open nature,
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so;
And will as tenderly be led by the nose
As asses are . . . (3.1.396–412)

Even after he kills Desdemona and finds out from Emelia that Desdemona was never unfaithful to him, Othello still tries to rationalize his actions.

LODOVICO: O thou Othello, that wert once so good,
What shall be said to thee?

OTHELLO: Why, anything;
An honorable murderer, if you will,
For nought did I in hate, but all in honor. (5.2.335–339)

Othello’s final rationalization is as follows:

OTHELLO: When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate,
Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak
Of one that loved not wisely but too well;
Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought,
Perplex’d in the extreme; of one whose hand,
. . . threw a pearl away
Richer than all his tribe. (5.2.390–396)

Othello can’t live with the realization that he is the kind of man who would do the things he’s done, and he kills himself.

The most obvious illusion is that Iago is ‘honest’ and is trusted totally by Othello.

The audience is clearly convinced of Iago’s duplicity as this is laid out clearly from Act I scene i:

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,
Which is indeed but sign. (Act I scene i)

 However it is Othello’s inability to see Iago’s true self, which is Othello’s fatal flaw.

In Act I scene ii, Iago swears ‘by Janus’ – the two-faced Roman god. Honesty is mentioned over 40 times in the play, and most often connected with Iago. It is not just Othello who is deceived by Iago: every other character in the play is duped by him too.

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