//Yet I persuade myself to speak the truth- " (Shakespeare 2.3.236-8). These tactics are indeed clever, because he reveals the cause of the problem yet says that he is trying to protect Cassio. Should other characters in the play have better judgement, they would have seen Iago's manipulations, but that's when his reputation comes in to give him cover, and Iago can easily dodge any suspicion. To sum Iago up, he is the perfect example of a person with a good reputation falsely won.
Cassio, the very person who Iago pretends to befriend yet destroys, can be the most closely associated with reputation in the play. Though clearly a good person from the heart, because of Cassio's persuasion of reputation and honor, he is undone by his own flaws. After getting drunk, attacking Montano, and being fired from lieutenancy by Othello, Cassio's words and wailings openly expresses his regard for his own reputation. The following quote illustrates Cassio's view on reputation,.
CASSIO - "Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have.
lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of.
myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation,.
Iago, my reputation!".
(Shakespeare 2.3.281-4) Cassio believes that reputation is the only way for him to express all of the good qualities within himself. At this point, Cassio cannot think of anything except of his own reputation, and the degradation of his character is very obvious. Iago uses Cassio's flaw to his advantage and persuades Cassio even more by falsely offering his hand in help, giving him advice to talk to Desdemona. This is illustrated in the following quote,.
IAGO - " I"ll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general: I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces. Confess yourself freely to her. Importune her to help to put you in your place again.