Trust8

Othello - A Story of Trust

Trust is clearly a prevalent theme in the play thus far. Both Othello's marriage and Iago's plan hinge on the trust of those closest to them. It will be interesting to see whose trust is stronger when the two are pitted against each other.

Quotes

Examples of //Trust// in the play:

- Act I, Scene III, Line 131 //Othello is so trusting of his wife that he is willing to let the law take his life should she disagree with his story.//
 * Othello**: "If you do find me foul in her report, the trust, the office, I do hold you not only take away, but let your sentence even fall upon my life."

- Act I, Scene III, Line 143 //Brabantio trusted Othello enough to invite him into his home often; he was deceived by the man he trusted.//
 * Othello**: "Her father loved me, oft invited me [into his home];"

- Act I, Scene I, Line 196 //Roderigo is trying to gain Brabantio's trust and thus support through a classic ploy: the common enemy.//
 * Roderigo**: "I think I can discover him, if you please to get good guard and go along with me."

- Act 1, Scene, III, Line 311 //How can Roderigo trust Iago when he sees what Iago is trying to do to the Moor?//
 * Iago**: "Thou art sure of me."

Web Sites
 * This website discusses the many themes of Shakespeare's plays, particularly Othello. Though one of many, [|trust] is perhaps the most pervasive trend in the play.
 * It is often surprising to many and not so surprising to some that great works of literature are often connected in their messages and values. In this essay, Othello is compared to [|The Scarlet Letter].
 * Building trust in relationships is a tough process. This [|website] discusses how to build trusting relationships with others and then how to keep this trust sacred.
 * Trust is a dangerous tool if it falls into the hands of the wrong person. This [|website] has devoted itself entirely to the topic of trust. Who should you trust? What defines trust? What are some signs of untrustworthy behavior?
 * A web page that describes to [|Iago's role] in the play. Discusses the aspect of trust between Iago and Othello and others in the play.
 * Are you too trusting? Take this [|quiz] and find out!
 * Othello obviously has trust issues with his wife. This [|website] goes step by step on how to trust your wife.
 * Many characters in Othello trust Iago. Some of this trust is attributed to Iago's position as a government official (a soldier). Do you trust your government? This website is a brief discussion of someone's distrust in the British [|government's censorship] of the internet.
 * Nowadays, you often have to question the truth in what you hear on television. Every media outlet has their own hidden agendas. Can we actually trust the media? This [|site] offers an example of the media impressing opinions on the people during the Dole-Clinton election.

**Criticism Passages **

Bradley argues that Othello's only trait of character is his strong and absolute trust. He argues that Othello's trust can be seen through his words to Iago when he says “My ancient, a man he is of honesty and trust to his conveyance, I assign my wife." aaaaa The fact that the critic assigns only one character trait to Othello makes that solitary trait significant on its own. However, because the one trait is trust, it fits perfectly with our theme. The original dilemma, which the first act develops, is that of the marriage between Othello and Desdemona. Othello alienates himself temporarily out of pure love and adoration for his wife. His wife, in return, defends her new husband against her own blood: her father. Othello is willing to entrust his prized possession (yes, he does consider her to be property) with the mastermind behind the plot to destroy Othello, Iago. In short, the critic, Bradley, is identifying the main theme of our page, trust, as the most important and solitary character trait of Othello. aaaa //C////EN. "To what extent does Othello meet the criteria of a tragic hero?" Online posting. 26 Feb. 2008. aaaaa Othello as a Tragic Hero. 10 Nov. 2008 .//

“Othello and Iago’s relationship is professional and personal; it involves contradictory qualities of trust and distrust, deception and honesty, disbelief and confidence, hatred and admiration. How they share center stage becomes one of the most fascinating and disturbing aspects of characterization in the entire play.” aaaaa Othello’s trust in Iago, and Iago’s ability to manipulate Othello through this trust, spurs much drama and conflict within the play. Indeed, Iago’s fake devoutness towards Othello, and Othello’s acceptance and trust in this fake love, is simply horrific. Even though Othello is thrice the man Iago will ever be, Iago manages to make Othello his pawn in his scheme to ruin Othello’s own life. aaa i Nostbakken, Faith. Understanding Othello: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources,<span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"> and Historical Documents. Greenwood Press, 2000. Questia Online Library. <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)">aaaa Questia Media America. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.questia.com/>.

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">“Iago's reputation for truthfulness hinges on his blunt speaking as a soldier. This is the kind of barracks-room frankness -- tough realism often tipping over into cynicism-that Cassio observes at the harbor, when he discerns in Iago's satire more of the "soldier" than the "scholar" (2. 1. 164)… Iago exploits this honest soldier persona, with its license both to speak bluntly and to unmask underhanded dealings -- to "blow the gaff" 45 on others, as William Empson puts it -- before he perfects it in the temptation of Othello” (Hall 73). <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)">aaaaa Hall proves that Iago’s trustworthiness stems from origins as a soldier. A soldier was seen as a valiant, honorable person in Shakespeare’s time and was seen as having the ability to speak truthfully and bluntly to anyone. Because of this, no one would have any reason to doubt Iago's words or actions. Iago is an expert on human interaction and knows how to exploit his skill under the veil of a soldier's honesty. <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)">aaaaa Hall, Joan Lord. Othello A Guide to the Play. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999. <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"> aaaaa Questia. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=15311196>.

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive">Othello has a naive trust in the honesty of words that Coriolanus would scorn. Terence Hawkes makes a useful distinction between the plain spoken "language of men" which characterizes Othello early in the play and the duplicitous language of "manliness" which he is taught by Iago (Shakespeare's Talking Animals, pp. 132-42). <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)">aaaaa This criticism depicts how Othello’s trust in Iago transforms Othello into another person. He goes from a speaking a “language of men” to a language of “manliness.” This change in demeanor is brought upon by Iago’s manipulation. Because he trusts Iago, he loses his trust in those thought of as his closes allies: Cassio and Desdemona. <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)">aaaa Calderwood, James L. The Properties of Othello. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 1989. <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)">aaaaa Questia. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=99311936>. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive"> In his great self-summation at the play's end, Othello says he was "wrought" from his true nature, and so he was. His own nature, noble and trusting, gave him an instinctive perception of Desdemona's, a perception which breaks forth at the sight of her even while lago is poisoning his mind: "If she be false, 0, then heaven mocks itself! / I'll not believe it" (3.3.282-83) <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)">aaaaa Othello’s trustful nature ended up being a major character flaw, and eventually led to his downfall. His willingness to trust others can also be linked to his stubbornness. Othello did not stick to his morals and his beliefs were swayed and formed by the “poison” Iago fed him. The Moor was an easy swindle because of his generous nature. <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)">aaaaa Bloom, Harold, ed. William Shakespeare''s Othello. New York: Chelsea House, 1987. <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)">aaaaa Questia. 11 Nov. 2008 <http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=98130914>.

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 160%; COLOR: rgb(64,0,255); FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif">Media

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The following YouTube video describes many common trust issues: media type="youtube" key="OxIrDxj_B6w" height="344" width="425"

A 90's children's television show 'The Puzzle Place' exemplifies why trustworthiness is so important in all walks of life. The video is filled with soliloquies and stereotypical characters. media type="youtube" key="GYXBt1DN3ok" height="344" width="425"

The following clip from the movie "Old School" exemplifies the importance of trust and how it can sometime backfire. (Starts 4 minutes and 15 seconds in.)

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<span style="FONT-SIZE: 150%; COLOR: rgb(246,180,40); FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif">Articles

Everyone in this play should have read this [|article]. This article highlights the keys to being a trustworthy person.

This interesting article relates the matter of trust to perhaps the most wide-spread theme in today's news: the presidential election. [|Click] to see how the issue of trust affects the campaigns of McCain vs. Obama.

Have you ever wondered how to build trust? This [|article] discusses how to build trust and some factors that may lead to its erosion.

This short article (and subsequent comments) is a woman's [|reflection] on where complete, unhesitating trust led her in her last relationship.