Appearance Vs Reality In Shakespeare's Othello

Improved Essays
A lot of times in life, people do not always see things for what they really are. "Othello," "A&P," "Everyday Use," and "Richard Cory" are just a few works of literature that shine light to this idea. Appearance vs reality can ruin lives, cause people to loose their jobs, misvalue family members, and even cause a complete misjudgment of someone 's life.

Although there were many themes in "Othello," I think the theme that really makes the story line play out as it does, is appearance vs reality. Throughout the play, Iago acts like a complete different person than he actually is around everyone. This forces everyone to be oblivious to what is actually going on right in front of their eyes. Othello thinking that Desdemona is being unfaithful is the major issue that is surrounding this theme. Iago makes it appear as if Desdemona is being unfaithful, when she is being everything but. One example of when Othello is completely blind of reality is when Iago is talking to Cassio about Emilia. Othello thinks that Cassio is describing his sexual interaction with Desdemona when he is actually talking about his sexual interaction with Emilia. To add onto his blindness to reality,
…show more content…
"Othello," "A&P," "Everyday Use," and "Richard Cory" are just a few of the many examples that explain this. In "Othello," appearance caused the death of many people. In "A&P," appearance caused a young boy to loose his job and make his life much more difficult. In "Everyday Use," a family member was over gratified and another was taken for granted because the mother did not see their true character. In "Richard Cory," a man that everyone thinks seems happy, ends up shooting himself. If someone in any of these works of literature stopped for a second to look at reality, the outcome would have differed

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Good morning fellow aspiring directors, I’m here today from the Australian Film School and will be discussing the well known play Othello by Shakespeare, the play to this day is still very relevant, Shakespeare has done this by incorporating the themes jealousy, appearance and reality and racism which still occurs in our society today and can often appear in our day to day life. By including these themes in the play it keeps the relationship with the now modern audience despite the original plays age. This is seen in Geoffrey Sax’s 2001 film Othello, where Geoffrey has appropriated the film following the original plot but has changed many aspects of Shakespeare’s Othello to suit todays audience, while keeping the themes showing the same universal…

    • 1179 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essentially, there is usually more to an individual than humans can physically see. Often people appear to portray certain character traits, but in reality use them as a way to conceal their true inner being. The theme of appearance versus reality plays a huge role in the play Othello. The protagonist, Othello, often renders characteristics that cause him to masquerade himself to be seen as a noble being. In Shakespearian literature, William Shakespeare tends to compose characters that eventually become involved in villainous behavior.…

    • 1327 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Machiavelli’s Prince seeks to recruit and educate a ruler in the art of ruling. His ideal rulers are founders, men who created a fatherland and were not afraid to sacrifice lives and their self-interests for the common good. Machiavelli stresses that a ruler needs to appear virtuous while using vices when necessary to achieve positive results. Machiavelli teaches the ruler to divide his self. “It is essential, therefore, for a Prince […] to have learned how to be other than good, and to use or not use his goodness as necessity requires” (Machiavelli, 40).…

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When Othello is introduced in the play, Iago informs him that Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, has found out about their marriage and is speaking ill of him. Instead of becoming angry, Othello shows his lack of concern by saying, “Let [Brabantio] do his spite” (Othello 1.2.18). By playing upon Othello and Desdemona’s differences in race and social standings, Iago makes Othello believe that his wife is sleeping with Cassio. Iago knows Desdemona has control over Othello’s heart and social standings, and an affair would cause him to lose his position and respect in society. The audience pities Othello as his mind deteriorates, but this turns to anger when he vows to kill Desdemona; hits her; and calls her a “devil” (Othello 4.1.171-232).…

    • 1678 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Desdemona’s own father presumes that she is petrified of Africans, which commences Othello’s uncertainty. Iago furthers his insecurities by claiming that Desdemona may be having an affair with Othello’s previous lieutenant, Cassio. Iago professes that he cares for Othello, and that he notifies him of the alleged infidelity because he fears that “Her will, recoiling to her better judgment, / May fall to match you with her country forms/ And happily repent” (Shakespeare 3.3. 276- 278).…

    • 1338 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The author of this article presents to the reader an overview of Shakespearian theme utilized in the story Othello. He categorizes all the emotions revealed in the story into two main themes; love and pity. The writer further argues specific scenarios in the play where these themes can be distinguished. Likewise, he brings awareness to the symbols that 'prove ' the themes of love and pity. For example, the handkerchief and the wedding bedsheets, hold a much deeper meaning in this play then simply a piece of cloth.…

    • 1094 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The tragedy of Othello was highly influenced by Iago’s manipulation of perception. This was illustrated, when Iago exploited Rodrigo’s unrealistic and self-serving love for Desdemona. Also, including when Iago willfully misled Cassio’s judgement by utilizing his fixation with class. And notably demonstrated, with Iago as he precisely disoriented Othello’s reassurance in his wife, Desdemona’s faithfulness. Othello was fused to the idea of an uncertain reality that was deliberately deceived by Iago.…

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Othello may be a hero but he gets fooled like a villain. In Othello, Othello is what you would call a "tragic hero. " What I mean by that is he may be seen as something that brings hope and goodness but his challenges and his own jealousy bring him at his fall. One of his many challenges is not something but someone. The one and only manipulative Iago.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    An additional contributing factor to Othello’s tragic downfall is highlighted in placing all his trust in Iago, because he does not have enough confidence in himself (Anand, 77). Othello is convinced of Desdemona’s acts of adultery before even confronting her—this only proves that he may not have been fully confident of Desdemona’s devotion or love, and deludes himself to believe Iago’s…

    • 1407 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Race Quotes In Othello

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Othello Othello’s race plays a major role throughout this play. Othello's race is a dividing element, which causes him to be seen as an outsider. Essentially, the leader and dukes are happy with Othello just working for them but because of his ethnicity, he is not entirely trusted when given control. His race, an element of difference, plays a distinctive role in his downfall. For Example, Iago seizes on the fact that Othello is so self conscious about his race, and convinces Othello that Desdemona may come back to reality liking her own “clime, complexion, and degree of men(3.3.230).…

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Iago And Othello Essay

    • 1596 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Iago’s persistence in convincing him that Desdemona is unfaithful is eventually successful, as “Othello's suspicion begins to gnaw him inwardly” (Toole 74). Originally, though, Desdemona herself thinks highly of him, even saying that she thinks “the sun where he was born / Drew all such humors for him” when Emilia asks if she thinks he is jealous (Shakespeare 3.4.27-28). Unfortunately, Desdemona’s idealistic view of Othello is forcibly changed not long after she utters those very words; Othello, fed by Iago’s lies and trickery, interrogates her and causes an argument to erupt. Following this, Emilia asks once more if he is jealous, and Desdemona’s response this time is notably changed.…

    • 1596 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Not everything is what it seems There are many different themes and conflicts that are portrayed in Shakespeare 's play Othello. Shakespeare depicts jealousy, manipulation, and hate within all the characters. The most reoccurring one would have to be appearance versus reality." The characters deceive one another into creating a complete deception of reality. In Othello, "Appearance vs. Reality takes a big role, this is because all of the characters were tricked/manipulated by other characters leading them towards assumptions that were not true.…

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Othello becomes a tragedy of incomprehension where hate, manipulation and revenge derive from the arrogant and blinded nature of the characters and their interactions with one another. Within the Aristotelian tragedy of ‘Othello’, the attribute of incomprehension creates the ultimate downfall of Othello through Rodrigo’s initial and prevalent manipulation by Iago to further his plans, Iago’s inability to comprehend Othello’s genuine trust for him which fuels his blinded revenge and Othello’s incomprehension of Desdemona’s loyalty towards him which leads to his jealous rage and in turn, his death. Alongside Othello’s gradual buildup of jealousy throughout the play by Iago’s masterful plans, the downfall of Othello ultimately demonstrates the…

    • 1242 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Iago knows that Othello’s biggest weakness is Desdemona so he uses it as Othello’s downfall but for his own advantage. “Iago’s strength of words, suggestions and persuasion convince and change Othello so thoroughly that in the course of a few meetings, Othello was lead from a sense of highest personal and professional self-assurance, control, and satisfaction to a pit of insecurity, hatred and recklessness.” (Omer and Verona). Iago begins slowing planting his wicked seeds in Othello’s mind. Iago wants to ease his way into abusing Othello’s ears so he starts off by making an unexpected remark catching Othello’s attention; Iago’s remark being short, loud and surprising which cannot be ignored (Omer and Verona).…

    • 2551 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Revenge in Othello William Shakespeare uses many themes throughout his play Othello . One theme he uses throughout the play is revenge. He uses this theme by showing how destructive and blinding revenge and jealousy can be when taken in the wrong context and how it can consume someone so much that their judgement can be blinded.…

    • 1309 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays