Shakespeare’s plays are known to display countless themes, some of which manifest through the body of the works as a whole. There is a dichotomy between appearance and reality in Shakespearean works. The idea that people or things in the world are often not what they seem, falls at the heart of all his plays. The false appearances of the characters often lead to the climax. The reality is the truth of what exists, but the appearance is merely what someone makes something look like. There are instances where something may appear to be the reality of a situation, but it is only a form of deception. Shakespeare was able to understand the relationship between appearances and reality and was hence able to embody this concept into his works respectively.
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She speaks of love that is sexual yet romantic as well. She is determined to be with him, as she is a loyal wife. Brabantio warns and cautioned Othello with Desdemona. “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see./ She has deceived her father, and may thee.” (1.3.333-4) Iago repeats these words to Othello later on in the play, as he is trying to anger Othello. “She did deceive her father marrying you,/ And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks/ She loved them most” (3.3.238-40). What was left unsaid, was to be implied. He implied that Desdemona is a deceitful and unfaithful wife. He manipulates Othello with tactics he is sure will be believable. Meanwhile the reality of Desdemona is most strongly shown in the last act of the play. She sings the ‘song of willow’ that does not leave her mind after a terrible scene in which Othello believes Iago and hits her, treating her like a whore at a brothel. Even after he abused her she states, “Dost thou in conscience think—tell me, Emilia—/ That there be women do abuse their husbands/ In such gross kind?” (4.3.67-9) Referring to the song, Desdemona can't believe women would abuse their husbands in such a gross way. She herself would not do it “for all the world”. After Emilia tells her she would do it she remains adamant that she would not cheat on her husband and follow such bad example. What she is being accused of by Iago, she is denying. Shakespeare shows us there is no doubt of her moral integrity, no matter what Iago and Othello accuse her
She speaks of love that is sexual yet romantic as well. She is determined to be with him, as she is a loyal wife. Brabantio warns and cautioned Othello with Desdemona. “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see./ She has deceived her father, and may thee.” (1.3.333-4) Iago repeats these words to Othello later on in the play, as he is trying to anger Othello. “She did deceive her father marrying you,/ And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks/ She loved them most” (3.3.238-40). What was left unsaid, was to be implied. He implied that Desdemona is a deceitful and unfaithful wife. He manipulates Othello with tactics he is sure will be believable. Meanwhile the reality of Desdemona is most strongly shown in the last act of the play. She sings the ‘song of willow’ that does not leave her mind after a terrible scene in which Othello believes Iago and hits her, treating her like a whore at a brothel. Even after he abused her she states, “Dost thou in conscience think—tell me, Emilia—/ That there be women do abuse their husbands/ In such gross kind?” (4.3.67-9) Referring to the song, Desdemona can't believe women would abuse their husbands in such a gross way. She herself would not do it “for all the world”. After Emilia tells her she would do it she remains adamant that she would not cheat on her husband and follow such bad example. What she is being accused of by Iago, she is denying. Shakespeare shows us there is no doubt of her moral integrity, no matter what Iago and Othello accuse her