This document was written when I was in high school. I have little or no authority on this topic. Make of this what you will.
The Matrix, one of the more philosophical movies of modern time, revolves around the central fact that not everything which appears can be taken at face value. Like The Matrix, Shakespeare creates a backbone composed of smoke and mirrors which amplifies the tragedy of Othello. Through characterization, symbolism, irony and setting Shakespeare conveys the message that things that seem one way are not necessarily that way and that people are surrounded by these lies.
One of the characters the reader leasts suspects to depict this theme is Cassio. Throughout the play the reader observes Cassio as being kind and courteous. For instance, Cassio welcomes Emelia with a kiss to Cyprus and explains that Iago need not “gall [his] patience … [t]hat [Cassio] extended [his] manners. It is [Cassio’s] breeding” (II, i, 109). Eventually, Cassio defames Bianca by calling her a “bauble” and exaggerates how she acts around him in a demeaning manner (IV, i, 153). This betrayal of the reader’s view of Cassio through characterization proves that not having all the details on someone could mean what a person thinks about the other person might be wrong. Another character that strongly points to the theme is Iago. He acts as a friend to Roderigo, helping him win the heart of Desdemona. For example, he encourages Roderigo that “it cannot be Desdemona long continue her love to the Moor” (I, iii, 384). However, he uses him to “make money” and to “cuckold [the Moor]” (I, iii, 407). A more obvious faking, and still in his characterization false appearances run wild, all of which are possible because of his dynamic treating of characters and the information he feeds to them.
Symbolism is a strong promoter of this theme. For example, Iago swears by the god Janus (I, ii, 38). Janus is a Roman god with two faces. Two faces denotes a visible side and a side that is cleverly concealed. This rightly fits Iago as he is nothing but a parasite sucking off other people, causing them misfortune. Another occurrence is where Iago points out that Othello and Desdemona have gone to the Sagittary Inn (I, i, 176). This inn had the sign of a centaur, a creature half man half beast. The reader can interpret the sign as confirming Iago’s words of Othello filching Desdemona, and having only lust for her. However, the reality of Othello and Desdemona’s relationship, is that it is one based in the mind and in the soul. These symbols get the fact things are not necessarily what they appear to be to the reader’s mind.
Yet another literary device Shakespeare employs to manifest this theme is irony. One representation is when Emelia speaks of who spread the slander of Desdemona being impure wants “hell [to] gnaw his bones” and calls the spreader a “villainous knave” (IV, ii, 159). Little does she know that her own husband is the person who she wishes so many horrid things on. It is even more ironic because Iago is in her presence at this time saying “it is impossible” for there to be a man of the such (IV, ii, 157). Another example is after Othello slaps Desdemona, her tears were said to “prove a crocodile” by Othello himself. This is ironic because Othello has been a very calm and just character until this point, and the reader would not suspect him of doubting the viability of Desdemona’s painfully real tears. Finally, Othello says that his wife “is fair, feeds well, loves company, is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well” (III, iii, 215) and in tandem to that he declares “nor from mine own weak merits will I draw the smallest fear or doubt of her revolt, for she had eyes and she chose me” (III, iii, 218). This is ironic because he does change further into the tragedy, becoming jealous and volatile in his actions, such as hitting Desdemona. The plethora of ironic entries into Othello Shakespeare made support the theme that things aren’t always as they are.
Lastly, setting, often taken for granted by the reader, is one of the more efficient tools that gets the theme across. In the beginning of Othello the Turks have their forces that first was allegedly headed for Cyprus, the forces then switched onto a course towards Rhodes and eventually switched back to Cyprus. This militaristic move intended to throw the Veniceans off as to where to where would be the best place to defend, is a prime example of how something can seem one way but be the other. Another instance of setting supporting this theme is when Othello makes the ~2100 mile trip to Cyprus from Venice in one day. In reality this should take at best two weeks. The reader would have to pay close attention to what is happening in order to catch this grand discrepancy. The fact that the reader can be so easily duped into thinking Othello made this trip in one day shows that there are many things that people are around have a false appearance.
In conclusion, through characterization, symbolism, irony and setting, Shakespeare reveals that things are not necessarily as they seem and people are always surrounded by this falseness. Sadly, this is true. People everywhere are surrounded by a shroud of possible shadows; in their relationships with other people, in what the media reports and in countless other places. All these shadows and false appearances are influenced by how much information a person has on what they are perceiving and on the truth of that information. One example of this is how the Iraqi state television reports grand victories, heavy enemy casualties and ceaseless rebellion against the band of armies currently invading their country. If this is all the news certain people receive in Iraq, then it is true for them.