Ideas of Appearance and Illusion in Othello Play Essay

The Dichotomy of Appearance and Illusion in Shakespeare's Othello

The play 'Othello' is an epiphany of the ultimate battle between appearances versus illusion in regards to some characters that are completely different from what they appear to be. In our daily lives, we encounter different people, of whom some we befriend while others become extinct in our lives. Other people act in honesty way whereas some do not thus some of them gives an appearance of being honest but in reality, it is an illusion thus are deceitful and liars. The ideas of Appearance and illusion are very predominant themes in the play Othello by Shakespeare through the two characters; Lago and Desdemona who appear in a single way but are an illusion in reality thus completely different.

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The setting of the plot of Othello relies on villain and lago's capabilities to mislead the other characters especially Othello and Roderigo by supporting their misinterpretation of what they see. Othello becomes susceptible to the ploys of lago as a result of his straightforwardness and honesty. In the play Othello by Shakespeare, he plays around with appearance and illusion in several ways. The play's language which is referred to trances, visions, and dreams makes an outline of the illusion of what seems too real constantly. Additionally, Shakespeare makes an extension of the appearance and illusion themes making an inclusion of the playwriting and acting art. In the plot development against Othello, there is a scene within scene created by Lago. There is a setup of encounters between the dual characters thus adding the third spectator position. For example, he makes Othello watch Desdemona and Cassio speak, and makes Othello watch him speak about Bianca to Cassio (Gardner). Othello is manipulated by Lago in every case into having a view and believing in what is wanted of him, rather than the actual happening reality.

The Manipulative Power of Deception: Lago's Illusory Facade

Shakespeare makes Lago appear as though he is the play's director. This character is built through Shakespeare's villain mastermind hiding under the military veteran's appearance from Venice. He tries to make a manipulation and deception of the rest of the characters in the play which includes his relentless, obsessive, ingenious and bold personality. He argues that he is motivated by different reasons in certain points in the play (Gardner). Such reasons comprise of Othello's resentment passed to him over a promotion where Michael Cassio was favored, thus makes a conclusion that both Othello and Cassio slept with Emilia, his wife.

The betrayal and deceitfulness are demonstrated and evidenced by his words 'in following him, I follow but myself' where this implies that he was in service for self-benefit. His appearances of manipulation are brought out in two-face. He is pretentious to be loyal to Othello to achieve his revenge. It can be realized that Lago successfully switches personalities in Act 1 scene 2 without hesitation which surprisingly is the point of view of Lago in regards to Othello in the scene as it had negativity and full of hate. This demonstrates his trait and strong skill in holding such an act referring to a more superior person and keeps it in progress.

Falling Victim to Illusion: Roderigo's Tragic Misjudgment

Lago is aware of what he initiates and develops in the mind of Othello thus illustrates the confusing and twisted personality of creating an illusion in regards to reality, although he strongly hides its appearance. His actions illustrate the courage and mindset of villainess he has which shows and proves that he is antagonistic whereas Othello is a protagonist. Shakespeare makes an illustration on the easiness in fooling someone as Othello fall victim to the undefined and fake appearance of the acts of Lago, making use of the appearance mid trick versus illusion as it is a common phenomenon in the society that we live in.

Roderigo becomes ready to commit suicide by drowning himself since Desdemona, his love, moves on and gets married at the end of Act 1. Appearing to be a good friend to him, Lago advice him to follow them to Cyprus since Desdemona would later be tired of the Moor and thus search a younger person. Roderigo trusts everything told by Lago which leads to him making up to go to Cyprus. He is not aware of the illusion created by Lago who by his own personal reasons attempts to save him and later see him achieve his plan. Later, Lago uses him in successfully making Cassio lose his job in Act III. After the loss of his job, Cassio seeks advice from Lago, who advises him to request Desdemona to ask Othello to reinstate him (Gardner). This is part of Lago's plan which makes Cassio have an illusion that he is honest as he appears.

Conclusion

The play Othello by Shakespeare shows that the idea of appearance and illusion is witnessed throughout in our daily lives. This includes in religion, relationships school and studies. This theme stemming from the characters in the play illustrate the perception and judgment weakness in regards to other people or things that appear around us, creating an illusion that it may be of help or meet our desires whereas it is up to our destruction.

References

Gardner, Janet E. Literature: a Portable Anthology. Bedford/St. Martins, 2017.