A Deep Dive into Appearance vs. Reality in Shakespeare's Othello

This essay delves into the complex interplay of appearance and reality within Shakespeare's Othello, examining how characters perceive and are deceived by outward appearances. The analysis focuses on the protagonist, Othello, and his susceptibility to manipulation, particularly by the antagonist, Iago. The essay highlights key scenes and quotes to illustrate how Othello's belief in what he sees leads to his tragic downfall. It explores the psychological aspects of the characters, referencing Freudian concepts and the impact of societal perceptions. Furthermore, the essay discusses the themes of honesty, trust, and the destructive nature of jealousy, ultimately revealing the play's exploration of human nature, manipulation, and the consequences of mistaking appearance for reality. The essay also provides references to support the arguments and provide further reading. The essay showcases the importance of critical thinking when analyzing literature.

Running head: ESSAY
“Appearance vs Reality in Othello”
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“Appearance and reality clarified in Othello”
Insight into Othello
Othello is one of the masterpieces, which Shakespeare penned down in 1603 for
making the audience aware of the relation between the generals and their subordinates. The
play consists of religious diversity, as the protagonist Othello is referred to as a Moor,
basically the Muslims descendants of Maghreb (Swazo).
Appearance and reality in Othello
Along with different themes, the difference between appearance and reality is an
important shade. Othello is projected as a character, who believes what he sees. He visualizes
the truth and proves that what he has seen is right. He goes into the deep for revealing the true
nature. Typical evidence of this is Act 3 Scene 3, where he tells Iago, “Villain, be sure thou
prove my love a whore, be sure of it, give me ocular prove.” “Be sure” reflects Othello’s
confidence in terms of what he sees and does (Rubin). “Being sure” alerts Iago of his claims
and accusations regarding the relationship between Desdemona and Cassio.
The immediate result is Othello’s loss of self-control, making him emotionally weak.
Negative thoughts entrap his mind, which bring psychological theories into the discussion.
Othello’s love for Desdemona was so intense, that he could not tolerate the intrusion of a
third man into their relationship. This approach of Othello affirms the statement, “Love is
blind”, which blurs the outside world for him. This characteristic aligns with the fact that
when individuals are engrossed into something, they ignore the world around (Summa).
Getting convinced by other’s tactics is natural and aligns with the psychology of the
individuals. However, Othello’s determination to delve deep into the truth makes him an

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exception within this commonality. He restores confidence in his love for Desdemona
through her purity, the symbol for which is white.
Psychology
According to Freud, people are mere creatures against the powerful blows of fate.
They are helpless and powerless to what their fate brings. Similar is the predicament of
Othello, as he is forced to succumb to the circumstances. The people in the surrounding are to
be considered for analysing the reliability and validity of their statements. Hurting at the
weak point of Othello stains the personality of Iago as a loathsome fellow. Blind in love of
Desdemona obliterates thought of judging the truth regarding her relationship with Cassio.
Based on these thoughts of Othello, Iago “seems the man, what they really are” (Maley)
Venturing into the negative thoughts raises the standards of Iago in the minds of
Othello. Herein lays the appropriateness of the quotation, “This fellow’s of exceeding
honesty”. Countering this, the pretentious nature of Iago adds a negative shade to the
attribute honesty. If a man is exceedingly honest, he reaches the stage of a Great Man.
Othello could be considered as a Great Man in terms of his determinant nature for excavating
the truth from the roots. However, his weakness in terms of believing what he sees, classifies
himself as a normal human being. Othello accepts his weakness, which negates the question
of Iago, cross-examining him (Life). This distorts the usual relationship between a slave and
his master.
Iago’s real nature
Iago, through the play, exposes his criminal mentality, hurting the weak points of the
protagonists. Like Othello, Iago, befriends Roderigo, only to kill him. His motive was to
defend himself from getting exposed (Marshall).

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Truth of human nature
Mirror projects the real nature of a human being. Mental preparation to accept the
truth helps the individuals to succeed in their life. Characters like Othello are puppets in the
hands of the fate, even if they possess the quality of excavating the truth from its roots. On
the other hand, characters like Iago are readily available in the society to limit the powers of
the others for safeguarding themselves. They are unaware of the fact that truth overpowers
evil. Just as the individuals are slaves of fate, the real slaves need to obey the instructions of
their master (Summa). Conspiracy against the masters compels the slaves to fall into their
own graves. According to human psychology, the most common expression, is believing
what they are told. This is without the considerations of consequences, which they have to
face afterwards. When they suffer from losses, they lament for the lost moments. They crave
to get back those moments, where they would deal the matters rationally and consciously. In
their conscious mind, they know that this is not possible. However, unconscious mind keeps
on making the modifications (Rubin).

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References
Life, A. Double. "Mirroring Othello in genre films." Shakespeare on Screen: Othello (2015):
177.
Maley, Willy. "Othello and the Irish Question." Celtic Shakespeare. Routledge, 2016. 163-
180.
Marshall, Nancy Rose. "The Many Shades of Shakespeare: Representations of Othello and
Desdemona in Victorian Visual Culture." Transculturation in British Art, 1770-1930 (2017):
73.
Rubin, Jeffrey, B. "The Unconscious in Shakespeare's Plays. By Martin S. Bergmann.
London: Karnac Books, 2013, 268 pp." Psychoanalytic Review 103.2 (2016): 265-273.
Summa, Michela. "Experiencing Reality and Fiction: Discontinuity and
Permeability." Imagination and Social Perspectives. Routledge, 2017. 55-74.
Swazo, Norman. "“Moral Enigma” in Shakespeare’s Othello? An Exercise in Philosophical
Hermeneutics." Janus Head 16.2 (2018): 128-155.