Having a go and a gobbet
Brief sum up of context of ‘gobbet’
Importance of reputation in the play as a whole?
Consider:
 Reputation as a pivotal theme to the play and how it links characters.
 What is reputation? (trust, judgement, misjudge)
 What is its importance to the various characters?
 The character to Iago – get quotes "When devils will the blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with
heavenly shows."
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The character of Cassio – get quotes (his reputation changes)
The character of Othello – get quotes (note the change/ decline in his ‘reputation’ over the course
of the play)
The 3 characters of Iago, Cassio and Othello are attributed to this gobbet specifically. What is the
outcome due to the notion of ‘reputation’?
Therefore, what does the audience ultimately understanding about ‘reputation’?
"For nought I did in hate, but all in honour." – Othello - Othello believed that reputation was everything,
because of his status as a general and the fact that those under him and above him respected him.
"I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial." (consider the language and effect of
this line! What does it mean? What does the audience understand? ) – Cassio - Reputation was everything to Cassio,
but once demoted he began to act differently and couldn't face Othello. He loses faith in his once good friend
because his reputation is ‘tarished’.
Othello says to Cassio, "I'll make thee an example." He clearly shows his loss of trust in Cassio and Cassio knows
this. He tries to correct the situation with Othello through Desdemona, but it only makes things worse once Iago
steps in. Cassio's tarnished reputation only helps Iago succeed in his plan. Cassio reputation as a loyal, just and
honest soldier are trashed when he gets drunk. This ultimately helps Iago prevail.
“exchange me for a goat when I shall turn the business of my soul to such exsufflicate and blown
surmises matching thy inference...Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw the smallest fear or
doubt of her revolt, for she had eyes, and chose me,” (IIIiii). This meant that Othello would not quickly jump
to a conclusion about Desdemona’s action because her reputation precedes her. “...my noble Moor is true of
mind and made of no such baseness as jealous creatures are...”(IIIiiii). This meant she believed that Othello
was not a jealous person, because of his reputation. She only knows him as an honorable military leader. Later in the
play Iago coaxes Othello into being a very jealous person. Desdemona and Othello’s trust in one another’s reputation
makes it hard for them to believe that their spouse is able to change. Desdemona refuses to believe that Othello has
become jealous and Othello refuses to believe his wife is being unfaithful. In the end of the play Desdemona realizes
that it was possible and did occur while Othello just realized that he was tricked.
“to have a foolish wife”- Iago says this about Emilia. He misjudges her. “O thou dull Moor! That
handkerchief thou speak’st of I found by fortune and did give my husband; for often, with a solemn
earnestness. More than indeed belonged to such a trifle, he begged of me to steal’t,” (Vii). By saying this
Emilia showed immense strength and that she was no longer the foolish girl who would have allowed Iago to control
all of her actions. This showed a change in Emilia’s character that could not be expected from her reputation.