The Question:
Shakespeare’s presentation of appearance and reality in Othello
Line of Argument - Naivety of characters such as Othello, Roderigo and Cassio who are unable to distinguish
between Iago’s appearances and reality. The true villains therefore are able to go
undetected in the play.
- Iago as central to the tragedy and destruction in the play- the most duplicitous character
and master manipulator of appearance and reality. Hence by the end of the play, there is
a complete inversion of the truth and no going back for characters such as Othello, who
have been tricked by Iago’s duplicity
- Does the play have religious allusions through the theme of appearances and reality-
Iago as the devil- deceiving, cunning, dual?
Introduction The theme of appearance and reality is central to the play ‘Othello’, and most notably the
character Iago, in order to illuminate the complexities of human nature and interaction. In his
journey for power, Iago’s character is able to invert the truth and gain the trust of those around
him- perhaps through his play Shakespeare is therefore disregarding the ideas of physiognomy
and suggesting that the true villains can often go undetected when characters are unable to
distinguish appearances from reality. Also, through Iago’s influence over Desdemona’s
reputation, as he makes other characters believe she is a transgressive and sexual woman, when
in reality she is an honest and pure one, Shakespeare also tells a story of how women are often
voiceless, unable to stand for their truths and realities.
Point 1 From the beginning of the play, Iago is presented as the most duplicitous of characters: while
outwardly he appears the ‘honest’ Iago and loyal subject of Othello, this appearance could not
be further from the reality of his corruption and evil….
From the beginning we see the contrast in Iago’s attitudes towards Othello in public and
private. ‘Sir’ ‘My Lord you know I love you’…. ‘I hate the Moor’ ‘black ram’.
o A05- Kim Hall: ‘Iago thinks in a colour scheme that associates blackness with sin
and errant sexuality.’ In private Iago is an incredibly racist character who
therefore holds little respect for Othello, even though he outwardly claims
otherwise.
Iago has a reputation for honesty, for reliability and direct speaking. Othello and others
in the play constantly refer to him as "honest Iago."
o A03- Perhaps this refers to the idea of physiognomy- because Iago does not look
evil, people trust him and therefore he is able to hide his true nature.
‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’ ‘I am not what I am’- inversion of the worlds of
God in Exodus.
o Could we see Iago as an evil character? Coleridge’s view: ‘next to the devil.’
‘Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the worlds light.’
Iago swears on Janus, the God of duality- ‘By Janus I think so’- this only reiterates both
the dual nature of Iago but perhaps also his God-like power as a ‘master manipulator’
Act 4.1- Iago standing over Othello symbolises the power he secretly desires to have
over him. In private he revels in Othello’s misfortune- ‘work my medicine work.’
A03- Iago as a Machiavellian character.
A05- Honingmann 2001- ‘Liar, betrayer, mental torturer of Othello and Desdemona.’
Point 2 Further, the duality of Iago’s nature is shown through his interactions and manipulation of other
characters- eg Cassio and Roderigo…
Iago is a code switcher, and one key element of this is his use of dialogue- switches
Shakespeare’s presentation of appearance and reality in Othello
Line of Argument - Naivety of characters such as Othello, Roderigo and Cassio who are unable to distinguish
between Iago’s appearances and reality. The true villains therefore are able to go
undetected in the play.
- Iago as central to the tragedy and destruction in the play- the most duplicitous character
and master manipulator of appearance and reality. Hence by the end of the play, there is
a complete inversion of the truth and no going back for characters such as Othello, who
have been tricked by Iago’s duplicity
- Does the play have religious allusions through the theme of appearances and reality-
Iago as the devil- deceiving, cunning, dual?
Introduction The theme of appearance and reality is central to the play ‘Othello’, and most notably the
character Iago, in order to illuminate the complexities of human nature and interaction. In his
journey for power, Iago’s character is able to invert the truth and gain the trust of those around
him- perhaps through his play Shakespeare is therefore disregarding the ideas of physiognomy
and suggesting that the true villains can often go undetected when characters are unable to
distinguish appearances from reality. Also, through Iago’s influence over Desdemona’s
reputation, as he makes other characters believe she is a transgressive and sexual woman, when
in reality she is an honest and pure one, Shakespeare also tells a story of how women are often
voiceless, unable to stand for their truths and realities.
Point 1 From the beginning of the play, Iago is presented as the most duplicitous of characters: while
outwardly he appears the ‘honest’ Iago and loyal subject of Othello, this appearance could not
be further from the reality of his corruption and evil….
From the beginning we see the contrast in Iago’s attitudes towards Othello in public and
private. ‘Sir’ ‘My Lord you know I love you’…. ‘I hate the Moor’ ‘black ram’.
o A05- Kim Hall: ‘Iago thinks in a colour scheme that associates blackness with sin
and errant sexuality.’ In private Iago is an incredibly racist character who
therefore holds little respect for Othello, even though he outwardly claims
otherwise.
Iago has a reputation for honesty, for reliability and direct speaking. Othello and others
in the play constantly refer to him as "honest Iago."
o A03- Perhaps this refers to the idea of physiognomy- because Iago does not look
evil, people trust him and therefore he is able to hide his true nature.
‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’ ‘I am not what I am’- inversion of the worlds of
God in Exodus.
o Could we see Iago as an evil character? Coleridge’s view: ‘next to the devil.’
‘Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the worlds light.’
Iago swears on Janus, the God of duality- ‘By Janus I think so’- this only reiterates both
the dual nature of Iago but perhaps also his God-like power as a ‘master manipulator’
Act 4.1- Iago standing over Othello symbolises the power he secretly desires to have
over him. In private he revels in Othello’s misfortune- ‘work my medicine work.’
A03- Iago as a Machiavellian character.
A05- Honingmann 2001- ‘Liar, betrayer, mental torturer of Othello and Desdemona.’
Point 2 Further, the duality of Iago’s nature is shown through his interactions and manipulation of other
characters- eg Cassio and Roderigo…
Iago is a code switcher, and one key element of this is his use of dialogue- switches
