Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing;
‘Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.
– William Shakespeare
Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. In an extended metaphor, Iago warns Othello of the importance of reputation. He compares a person’s good name to a precious jewel, invaluable to its owner and more important than money. He is trying to manipulate Othello in a bid to convince him of the paramount importance of his reputation and honor. Iago’s words are ironic, since he is on a mission to destroy the reputation and honor of Othello, Desdemona and Cassio.