DISCREPANCY BETWEEN APPEARANCE AND REALITY IN SHAKESPEARE’S OTHELLO

As one of the greatest tragedies of Shakespeare, Othello (1622) sheds light on the darkest corners of the human psyche in that it shows the way in which powerful emotions such as love, hatred and jealousy blur the distinctions between a loving husband and a cold-blooded murderer. Having based his play on the discrepancy between appearance and reality, Shakespeare warns the reader/audience against the dire consequences of taking everything at a face value. Therefore, rather than interpreting the characters from a restricted point of view, it is attempted to see through the stereotypical images ascribed to them. Accordingly, instead of seeing Desdemona as an obedient, silent and passive figure, it is argued that she is a courageous woman that can defy her father Brabantio, for she manages to marry the man of her own choice. On the other hand, just like Iago, Desdemona is aware of her physical and emotional influence over her husband since she promises to use her charms on Othello so that Cassio will regain his position. In this regard, it can be said that Desdemona is a woman that knows how to move through the strict regulations of the patriarchy that is represented by her father and her husband, respectively. However, she cannot escape her tragic death because Othello is too blind to see Desdemona’s true self. Hence, for the aim of this paper it is intended to illustrate the importance of seeing through the binaries, and of welcoming alternative interpretations that reveal the complexities pertinent to the characters in the play