148 Ideals in the Modern World
we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our
wills are gardeners; so that if we will plant nettle, set hyssop and
weed up [tine], supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it
with many, either to have it sterile with idleness or manur’d with
industry— why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our
wills” (I.iii.319–326). Then too we can presumably pull up the
garden when we like and start anew.
In order to undermine Othello, Iago becomes him. He pretends to
value what Othello values—he tells Othello in the most eloquent
terms that there is nothing in life worth more than name and repu-
tation. “Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing”
(III.iii.157), he informs Othello, echoing the archetypal noble man’s
contempt for money. (In fact, Iago’s stealing from Roderigo suggests
that he has real aff ection for cash— a substance as protean in its pos-
sibilities as himself.) “But,” Iago goes on, “he that fi lches from me
my good name / Robs me of that which not enriches him, / And
makes me poor indeed” (III.iii.159–161). The noble man cares for
reputation— true reputation— more than almost anything, and
for the moment Iago is the noble man. Or at least the one who can
act the part, for he also tells Cassio (II.iii.266ff .) that reputation is
of no value what ever. (Prince Hal also plays the role of the man of
honor, though not to such horrible eff ect.) When Othello says that
Iago must unfold his suspicions about Desdemona to him, Iago—
like a hero— asserts that he will face torture rather than disclose his
thoughts against his will. “By heaven,” says Othello in an emblem-
atic moment, “thou echo’st me” (III.iii.106).
Othello cannot bear doubt. Up until the play begins he has been
a creature of assurances, committed to demonstrable truths, and
this has surely served him well. The military commander needs to
take in all he can, make up his mind about the situation at hand,
and then act— unequivocally and fi nally. But the mental virtues that
have ser ved Othello so well in his heroic role as soldier are of no use