In this context 'Honest' is translated to: dirty lying manipulator of evil.
Iago is the sole reason for the tragic but yet not so tragic outcome of the play Othello, by Shakespeare. But in all honesty, he just brought out all of the other character's flaws which include but are not limited to: stupidity, jealousy, desperation and communication issues. Though ultimately, he is the big bad wolf here, and made life hell for everyone in the play.
He starts his plot by telling Roderigo to wake up Brabantio by yelling up to his balcony at night to "poison his delight," his delight being Desdemona (I.I.75). This is the very first step of the plan, Put Brabantio against Othello, and thus, on Iago's side.
Iago is the sole reason for the tragic but yet not so tragic outcome of the play Othello, by Shakespeare. But in all honesty, he just brought out all of the other character's flaws which include but are not limited to: stupidity, jealousy, desperation and communication issues. Though ultimately, he is the big bad wolf here, and made life hell for everyone in the play.
He starts his plot by telling Roderigo to wake up Brabantio by yelling up to his balcony at night to "poison his delight," his delight being Desdemona (I.I.75). This is the very first step of the plan, Put Brabantio against Othello, and thus, on Iago's side.
Then, comes the domino affect.
Our buddy Iago starts the BIG plan in Act 2, when everyone lands on Cyprus. To make this easier here are some of the dominoes that he lines up and knocks over:
If you still aren't convinced that Iago is an 'honest' guy--translated definition above-- lets go on.
What's something all villains do? MONOLOGUE. Bad guys love to talk.
Our buddy Iago starts the BIG plan in Act 2, when everyone lands on Cyprus. To make this easier here are some of the dominoes that he lines up and knocks over:
- Frames Cassio and Desdemona of cheating
- Has his wife steal a very important piece of cloth
- Gets Cassio kicked out of his lieutenancy
- Kills Roderido (What the heck, Iago???)
- Stabs Cassio in the leg
- Kills Emilia
- There's more, but those are the important ones
If you still aren't convinced that Iago is an 'honest' guy--translated definition above-- lets go on.
What's something all villains do? MONOLOGUE. Bad guys love to talk.
Act 2 Scene 3, Lines 356-382 is a prime example of a diabolical monologue. Don't be scared, I'm not making you read the whole thing, unless you want to I guess. Lets just take a quick look, pay attention to the highlights.
And what’s he, then, that says I play the villain, When this advice is free I give and honest, Probal to thinking, and indeed the course To win the Moor again? For ’tis most easy Th’ inclining Desdemona to subdue In any honest suit. She’s framed as fruitful As the free elements. And then for her To win the Moor— were ’t to renounce his baptism, All seals and symbols of redeemèd sin— His soul is so enfettered to her love That she may make, unmake, do what she list, Even as her appetite shall play the god With his weak function. How am I then a villain To counsel Cassio to this parallel course Directly to his good? Divinity of hell! When devils will the blackest sins put on, They do suggest at first with heavenly shows, As I do now. For whiles this honest fool Plies Desdemona to repair his fortune, And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor, I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear: That she repeals him for her body’s lust; And by how much she strives to do him good, She shall undo her credit with the Moor. So will I turn her virtue into pitch, And out of her own goodness make the net That shall enmesh them all.
The first highlight, is crucial and basically explains his thinking. You know that feeling of guilt when you steal the last chunk of salsa of a plate everyone is sharing? But then you convince yourself its okay, because someone had to eat it?
This is basically how Iago is reasoning, he is convincing himself that he's doing nothing wrong, which I think is what really lets him go through with everything.
The second highlight, he's basically saying the same thing, but mentions his main tool and victim. Cassio, poor, Cassio.
The third highlight, he plans to use Desdemona as another tool to annoy the hell out of Othello and make him very suspicious.
Long story short, Iago is a giant finger pushing over a line of dominoes, even if he had no direct influence over the situation, he was the source.
This is basically how Iago is reasoning, he is convincing himself that he's doing nothing wrong, which I think is what really lets him go through with everything.
The second highlight, he's basically saying the same thing, but mentions his main tool and victim. Cassio, poor, Cassio.
The third highlight, he plans to use Desdemona as another tool to annoy the hell out of Othello and make him very suspicious.
Long story short, Iago is a giant finger pushing over a line of dominoes, even if he had no direct influence over the situation, he was the source.
Images:
Dominoes: http://www.mobileministryforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/dominos-300x238.jpg
Syndrome: http://images-cdn.moviepilot.com/image/upload/c_limit,h_206,w_500/t_mp_quality_gif/syndrome-monologue-the-incredibles-10-incredible-facts-in-honor-of-its-tenth-anniversary-gif-168579.jpg
Dominoes: http://www.mobileministryforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/dominos-300x238.jpg
Syndrome: http://images-cdn.moviepilot.com/image/upload/c_limit,h_206,w_500/t_mp_quality_gif/syndrome-monologue-the-incredibles-10-incredible-facts-in-honor-of-its-tenth-anniversary-gif-168579.jpg