Act V- Epithet

"I say thy husband. Dost understand the word?
My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago." Vii 152-153

Throughout the play, Iago is characterized as honest. All of the other characters attribute honesty to Iago because he plays to the character. He tells them all what they want to hear so they will like him. The audience knows how dishonest Iago is, but the characters all think of him as honest. The repeated reference to Iago as honest Iago reminds the audience that the characters do not know about Iago's lies. I think the use of epithet is effective because it portrays the gullibility of the other characters. Also, the epithet proves that Iago's lies have been effective. He is able to get away with the lies without people knowing he is lying until the end. The ending is more dramatic because the other people still believe Iago is honest until they put it all together at the end. When people find out that he told so many lies, they should question everything else Iago told them.