Trust1

=**Trust in Othello** =  ** Links: **- This website explores the different themes of the novel. One of the most prevalent themes is [|trust], which is explained in depth. This analysis gives a great background on characters, plot, and other themes as well as trust.  - Trust is a very powerful emotion- this [|essay] discusses how Iago uses trust to devise his master plan. - This blog examines [|trust and jealousy] within Othello and explains how these key themes shape the role each character plays in the novel. - This essay [|analyzes] different trust situations and other themes in Othello. - This website shows multiple people's [|opinions] about the themes (including trust) in the play. - This essay helps the reader understand what Iago does to [|gain Othello's trust].

=Trust in Society =

- This website deals with trust and how to cope with the emotion. It defines trust and explores the reasons why people have [|trust issues]. - This article is about a research study to define trust by using technology to explore [|how the mind works]. This article is about an experiment to note peoples ability to trust. - Election day is very soon, however our country is having problems trusting the media. The public is concerned that the [|media] is tainting the information they have and changing polls. In this article the Washington Times investigates this problem. - This website has an interesting take on a [|"zero trust society,"] and how it is affecting our personal lives. - The previous link (titled media) showed how the American public lacked faith in the media to display accurate polls. Now that the new president has been elected, American citizens have gained new [|trust and hope] in the government to provide positive change.
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 * //"On treason of the blood! Fathers from hence trust not your daughter's minds." Act 1, Scene 1, Line 172//**

In "Othello" the trust between father's and their daughters (Brabantio and Desdemona) is carefully put into consideration. In any society, it is natural for a father to feel uneasy when their daughter falls in love or even dates a man that could eventually because the prominent male figure in the girl's life. In "Othello" Brabantio does not like that his daughter Desdemona has fallen in love with a man that he does not approve of. In his mind, he believed that Desdemona should have come to him for permission and approval before falling in love with Othello. However, Desdemona does what she pleases and follows her heart instead of her father. In the quote above, Brabantio is expressing that father's should not trust their daughters because in the end, girls will put their lovers about their fathers.


 * //"That thinks men honest that but seem to be so." Act 1, Scene 3, Line 58//**

In "Othello" and in society, men can be deceiving. In "Othello," Iago is the character that realizes this and ironically the man that can be trusted least. Iago is expressing that it is common for men to have ulterior motives about everything. A man can seem like he is trying to be helpful to another, when he is really only helping himself. In Act II, this becomes apparent when Iago gets Cassio drunk. Cassio thinks he is just trying to be a friend and have a good time, but in reality Iago wants him to do something to get his title taken away. No matter what, especially in "Othello," it is hard to tell who can be trusted and who cannot be.

=Criticism Quote Analysis = //"Othello, we have seen, was trustful, and thorough in his trust. He put entire confidence in the honesty of Iago, who had not only been his companion in arms, but, as he believed, had just proved his faithfulness in the matter of the marriage. This confidence was misplaced, and we happen to know it; but it was no sign of stupidity in Othello. For his opinion of Iago was the opinion of practically everyone who knew him: and that opinion was that Iago was before all things "honest", his very faults being those of excess in honesty. This being so, even if Othello had not been trustful and simple, it would have been quite unnatural in him to be unmoved by the warnings of so honest a friend, warnings offered with extreme reluctance and manifestly from a friend's sense of duty. [Endnote 3] Any husband would have been troubled by them."// This quote clears up an essential question in Othello, which is; Why does Othello trust Iago instead of his wife? When initially reading the novel, it makes sense for the reader to question this. However, if one were to put his/herself in Othello’s shoes, it is human nature for one to act the same way. If a person’s best friend were to go up to them and express concern about a relationship the person was in, there is no reason for distrust or disbelief. In Othello’s case, Iago has been his trusted friend and esteemed companion for years. Since Othello is unknowing of Iago’s jealousy of Cassio, it is only natural for Othello to think that Iago’s worry is out of genuine concern for Othello’s well being as opposed to Iago’s real motive which is to make Ohtello think Cassio is not deserving of his position in society.

Bradley, A.C. "Shakespeare- Othello." Bradley on Othello. 10 Nov. 2008 <[|http://web.singnet.com.sg/~yisheng/notes/shakespeare/othello_b.htm]>.

//"Lastly, Othello's nature is all of one piece. His trust, where he trusts, is absolute. Hesitation is almost impossible to him. He is extremely self-reliant, and decides and acts instantaneously. If stirred to indignation, as "in Aleppo once", he answers with one lightning stroke. Love, if he loves, must be to him the heaven where either he must leave or bear no life. If such a passion as jealousy seizes him, it will swell into a well-night incontrollable flood. He will press for immediate conviction or immediate relief. Convinced, he will act with the authority of a judge and the swiftness of a man in mortal pain. Undeceived, he will do like execution on himself."//

In this quote, more reasons for Othello’s trust in Iago are revealed. One of them, is that Othello is entirely too impulsive. Instead of ever taking a moment to think about what people are saying, he immediately jumps to conclusions and believes it. Most people, when put in a situation like Othello’s would think about how much their wife loves them. Othello should have immediately thought about Desdemona. He would have realized that she risks losing her family and her comfortable life by marrying Othello. Therefore, it would have made no sense for her to throw away her entire marriage in an affair. If Othello had taken a moment to think this through, he would have realized that Desdemona would never cheat on him and he wouldn’t have jumped to incorrect conclusions.

Bradley, A.C. "Shakespeare- Othello." Bradley on Othello. 10 Nov. 2008 <[|http://web.singnet.com.sg/~yisheng/notes/shakespeare/othello_b.htm]>.

//"Iago's ego, wounded by the denial of promotion, demands satisfaction, and his schemes and manipulations allow him to reestablish his sense of power and dominance over others."//

Throughout the play, we have questioned the other characters reasons for trusting Iago. We don’t understand why they can’t look through his sincere facade and see the horrible, destructive, person that he is. The quote above explains that the schemes Iago develops allow him to gain power over others. He is extremely persuasive and gaining the trust of the other characters is all part of his plans to tear them down. He is a very smooth talker which helps him develop relationships with the characters that are based on trust and friendship. The quote above shows us that through deception, Iago is able to gain the trust and respect of the other characters.

"Othello: Iago." Shakespeare for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1998. eNotes.com. January 2006. 12 November 2008. .


 * “Iago** **must seem utterly trustworthy and sincere; then the noblest Othello may -- as he must -- truly believe the murder of this all-betraying woman is a necessary execution.”**

This quote proves how necessary trust is in this play in order to keep the plot going and continue providing conflict to entertain the audience. Iago must seem like the most loyal and nobel soldier for Othello to fall into his trap. Trust is a very powerful tool, and once Iago has gained the trust of Othello his plan will work. Trust is what persuades Othello to turn against his own wife, the love of his life. If Othello did not believe in Iago, then he would not trust him and therefore he would not believe his wife is cheating on him. Othello is quick to lose trust for his wife as soon as someone he confides in tells him to do so. There is only one powerful action that fuels every step of this play: trust.

Rosenberg, Marvin. The Masks of Othello The Search for the Identity of Othello, Iago, and Desdemona by Three Centuries of Actors and Critics. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1961. Questia. 13 Nov. 2008 .

//“A shrewder criticism declares that Iago as presented by Shakespeare is rather an incarnation of evil than a man because of the lack of that proportion between his motives and his acts which we expect to find in human nature….Now it is quite true that the motives rehearsed by Iago in his soliloquies are insufficient to account for his actions; but it is equally true that they were never meant to do so.”//

While Iago is naturally deceptive, this quote explains that he did not originally intend to become the menace he did. He initially wanted to prove his superiority by gaining the trust of others and making them his puppets. However, as the lies became more elaborate Iago’s games became much more serious - resulting in a plan for murder. The trust that he receives leads to his overconfidence, which leads to his thirst for control. He had not originally been an evil man, but with too much influence on others he became one. At this point it seems he cannot stop himself from lying because he is too caught up with power (which I suspect will lead to his downfall).

Parrott, Thomas M. Introduction. __Othello, the Moor of Venice__. Princeton University: The Macmillan company, 1912. xv-xix. 13 Nov. 2008 .


 * By: Melissa, Michele, Christine, and Carly**