The idea of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer is shown in Iago's actions within the play. Throughout the play Othello, Iago plots for the downfall of Othello’s successful life. To do this, he plans to take apart one by one each of Othello’s main attributes. Iago keep his enemies close (Othello) in order to build up his trust and use it against him. He knows that the only way he could convince Othello that his wife is cheating on him is if Othello and him are close in the first place. Knowing that Othello’s biggest flaw is jealousy, Iago keeps Othello close in order to slowing twist his mind and plant ideas of his wife being unfaithful to him. By keeping him close, Iago can watch closely over his reactions and decisions and act on these. In act III scene iii when Iago stated to doubt Iago and his truthfulness, Iago was able to twist Othello’s mind by saying “Nay, yet be wise, yet we see nothing done, She may be honest yet. Tell me but this, Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief Spotted with strawberries in your wife’s hand?”. Iago was able to make Othello think that he was on Othello’s side by telling him that it may not be true, there still may be hope. But then tells Othello that he saw Desdemona's scarf with Cassio. By keeping Othello close, Iago has made Othello believe that Iago wishes to be helpful to Othello but in reality is plotting his downfall.
Another example of Iago using a “friends” trust against someone is how he used Cassio. In the play, Iago makes Cassio believe that he means him no harm. In reality, Cassio was just another piece in Iago’s plan to destroy Othellos life. By keeping Cassio close Iago was able to push him to do whatever he pleased. Iago kept Cassio close as an enemy and twisted his actions to make him look like an enemy to Othello. By embarrassing Othello by getting drunk, and appearing as a possible culprit to sleeping with Othello's wife, Cassio’s life was also destroyed by being an enemy to Iago. Throughout the play, Iago lived by the phrase “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”.
Another example of Iago using a “friends” trust against someone is how he used Cassio. In the play, Iago makes Cassio believe that he means him no harm. In reality, Cassio was just another piece in Iago’s plan to destroy Othellos life. By keeping Cassio close Iago was able to push him to do whatever he pleased. Iago kept Cassio close as an enemy and twisted his actions to make him look like an enemy to Othello. By embarrassing Othello by getting drunk, and appearing as a possible culprit to sleeping with Othello's wife, Cassio’s life was also destroyed by being an enemy to Iago. Throughout the play, Iago lived by the phrase “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”.
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