"Friends, countrymen, lend me your ears." Mark Antony says that this phrase caught the attention of his countrymen in one of Shakespeare's most popular plays, Julius Caesar. The iconic line is one of Shakespeare's best-known addresses. In his works, repetition functions as an indicator of something the audience should pay particular attention to. Specifically, in the play Othello, the repetition of the word “friend” is relevant and draws the audience's attention to relationships of a superficial or forced nature, such as the relationship between Othello and Iago, Cassio and Bianca, and as a rhetorical device. Through a careful reading of the work, one sees that "friend" functions as a versatile tool used for manipulation. In Act I, scene 2, “friend” functions the same way as intimidation. Iago says to Othello, “Those are the grown father and his friends” (Shakespeare 1.2.28). This first instance of the word "friend" occurs after Brabantio has been alerted to Desdemona's elopement with Othello. Brabantio brings his countrymen to argue his case against Othello, who he believes has bewitched his daughter. In this quote, “friends” also serves as “reinforcements,” in keeping with the militaristic terminology and attitudes present throughout Othello. These men may actually be Brabantio's companions, but given the textual evidence that before the lawyer Brabantio speaks for himself, it seems that his companions are simply there for moral support and to show numerical strength. This can be compared to the Disney film Beauty and the Beast where Gaston, the scorned suitor of Belle (the female protagonist) leads an angry mob to the home of the beast (Belle's love interest). Along the way, villagers in the crowd sing that they ... middle of paper ... establish that Desdemona sacrificed many relationships for the sake of her marriage to Othello, although there is textual evidence to suggest that Desdemona he may not have any friends. Like Cassio, Emilia uses “friend” as a manipulative rhetorical device, although her use is more effective. Bianca uses “friend” to show her disappointment and provide information about her relationship with Cassio, demonstrating the superficiality of their relationships. Notably, Othello believes that he and Iago are mutual friends, which also shows that their relationship is superficial. Throughout Othello, the term "friend" is repeated to show that there is something wrong with these characters' idea of ​​what it means to be a friend or simply advance one's position. In its truest sense, what we consider a friend is not called by name in Othello, which is precisely why its reiteration is disturbing..