Importance/Significance of Reputation in the play, Othello

In the play, Othello by William Shakespeare, the role of reputation was greately a big part as either to deceive someone or to use that power and turn the life of others around. Desdemona, Cassio and Iago all has a high reputation in Venice and what they do will be judged by others.

Desdemona, as known as The Moor, Othello's wife has a very high reputation, it is her gateway to the world community and it does before her to tell others of her honesty, trustworthiness and ethos. It is the last thing she wants to see tarnished. Her reputation of being unfaithful leads to her dawnfall, after lying to her father abotu her marriage to Othello. The vast difference between her reputation and character adds not only irony, but also conflict to Othello. It gives the play a twist.

Cassio's reputation changed at scenes in the play and it was everything for Cassio to have the best reputation. Later he caused trouble after being forced to drink by Iago, as a drunk man, he fought with Roderigo and Montano (who got injured) and he could not face Othello like he did before as he lost his reputation, "Reputaion, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial" (Act II, iii, 242-3). His tarnished reputation only help Iago to succees with his plan which is the main reason to the tragedy ending.

Iago had a reputation where everyone around him, even those he hates thought he was an honest man. Othello has his full trust on him and because of his such a strong and trickly convinceness, "I know thou'rt full of love and honesty" (Act 3, iii, 199). Othello begins to trust and listens to Iago more than Desdemona who is telling the truth that she is not cheating. No body suspects that he is lying or is a deceitful man. He used his reputation to manipulate Othello and set his plan in action to complete the goal to be in Cassio's stand.  

Therefore, reputation in this play plays a big role. The ending would have clearly been different if Iago didnt have the reputation as Othello's ancient and would have been killed to even mention that Desdemona might be cheating on him. If Iago was honest and Cassio's reputation was not tarnished, it wouldnt have affected Desdemona's reputation and also Othello's.