It seems ironic to call the villain honest, but in reality, Iago is a mostly truthful guy, making his honesty a clever paradox. He tells the basic facts and uses those to lead the characters on. Iago is honest with many people during the book but makes it seem like he knows more than he is really telling. While at first the reader might write this off immediately as something that is not true, at a second glance there is some truth to this statement. Iago is continuously mentioned as honest. Good night, lieutenant I must to the watch./Good night, honest Iago' (Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 324-326). Shakespeare uses a motif that doubles as a paradox throughout the book to help the reader make their own conclusions about Iago.This advances the plot by showing us how Iago thinks and what he's going to do. He also talks about how he's so good at being fake friends with the Moor. (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 282-308) Iago is talking to himself about how he thinks Cassio and Desdemona really love each other and how he thinks that Cassio had a fling with his wife.This advances the plot by showing us just how much he hates Othello. (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 195-197) Iago is talking to himself about how he'll ruin Othellos life.This advances the plot because it gives us information on what Iagos plan is and how he thinks. She needs a handsome face to keep her from being bored.

The reason he thinks so is that the way she fell in love with Othello is him telling stories about himself, and they can only get him so far. (Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 217-245) Iago here is convincing Roderigo that Desdemona is falling completely in love with Cassio.(Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 165-175) The reason this aside fits in the play is because it gives us a view inside the plans Iago is making against Cassio, Desdemona, and Othello. This is an Oxymoron because ignorance can't be heavy, but together they mean how hard it is to get rid of ignorance. Ignorance means: Lack of knowledge or information. In Act II, Desdemona says 'O heavy ignorance!' Heavy means: A great weight difficult to lift or move.It adds this suspense to the audience which is the desired effect by Shakespeare. We know the truth with Iago's soliloquies at the end of almost every scene (speaking of a new plot in his web of lies).

We react in a negative manner to Othello's words because we feel that he is making the wrong decision in trusting Iago.

The most direct irony is in the beginning when Othello says that Iago is 'most honest'.(Act 2, Scene 3, Line 7) This is dramatic irony.

The reason Shakespeare uses these puns is for entertainment and to give us a real look at Iago's character. Finally, they only pretend to be housewives, but are really hussies. They are saints in their injuries because when they do someone an injury they pretend they're doing it for a saintly reason, but they never give anyone else the benefit of the doubt, so they are devils when they are offended. They are 'bells' because their tongues ring constantly.

Iago-'You are pictures out of doors.' 'Bells in your parlors' 'Saints in your injuries, devils being offended.' 'Players in your housewifery and housewives in your beds.' (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 108-111) According to Iago, women are 'pictures' because they paint make-up all over their faces.

Othello act 2