Othello: Irony

While reading Othello, The Moor of Venice, by William Shakespeare, and noticing the vulgar and immature name calling that many of the characters' use toward another, I found some irony in one specifically. Throughout the book so far, antagonist Iago, a devious villain plotting revenge on naive Othello, actually calls himself honest, as do many other characters call him so. As readers know, Iago is quite the opposite of honest, lying to Othello and Cassio, for example, to gain their trust so he can frame them. Othello regards him as: "..most honest..Honest Iago,"(Shakespeare,II.iii.7&156 pg. 1392&1396). Othello even thinks Iago as showing love for Cassio by not wanting to rat him out after the brawl in the streets, though he does, and in reality, Iago shows no love and only wants to take over Cassio's office. As I knew I would, with this dramatic irony, I am easily becoming frustrated with the characters' cluelesness to all I know as a reader from Iago's plotting and insights revealed to readers. Though I know I can't jump in the story and give them warning of Iago's evil scheming, I wish the character's would be a little more careful to watch their backs.