Explore Shakespeare’s presentation of the theme of appearance vs reality in Othello

Introduction

• In Othello, Shakespeare explores the tension between appearance and reality, illustrating how characters manipulate perception to conceal who they are

• Through Iago, Othello, and Cassio apparent, Shakespeare critiques the dangers of relying on appearances in a society

Paragraph Focus

• Para 1 = Iago’s Deceptive Nature

• Para 2 = Othello’s Internalised Public Persona

• Para 3 = Cassio’s Nepotism Fuels his Misperception

Iago’s Deceptive Nature

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• ‘I am not what I am’

• ‘honest Iago’ ‘Iago is most honest’

• ‘reputation is an idle and most false imposition’

• ‘men should be as they seem’

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• Honigmann ‘Iago plays the fool to mask his true character and to show off his cleverness’

Othello’s Internalised Public Persona

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• Gardner ‘Othello’s mind was already disordered by his fatal flaw of jealousy, and Iago simply releases the disorder’

Cassio’s Nepotism Fuels his Misperception

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• ‘preferment goes by letter and affection, not by old graduation’

• ‘a great arithmetician, one Michael Cassio, a florentine’

• ‘this counter-caster’

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• In the Elizabethan military hierarchy, promotion was often influenced by patronage and social favour rather than purely meritocratic advancement.

• Cassio’s position as a young, educated, courtly officer contrasts with Iago’s experienced soldier persona.