Appearances vs. reality

Shakespeare, in Othello, explores the implications of reality being distorted by lies, mendacity, and deceiving performances. Elizabethan audiences were greatly fascinated by the role of performance and how public and private personas could differ so vastly. Othello, in more than one way, deconstructs this notion of appearance distorting reality, explores why this behaviour can be so damaging to the world, and reflects on the implications for those surrounded by deception and slander.