'Some rise through sin and some fall through virtue' – William Shakespeare. This quote is central to the themes of the play “Othello,” written by William Shakespeare in 1603. Iago is a character who emerges from “sin” through his masterful manipulation of those around him. It is therefore used by Shakespeare to convey the idea that truth often lies behind false appearances, as Iago is not all he seems. However, characters like Othello are the complete opposite of Iago: Othello is an open man who wears his heart on his sleeve. So the text shows us that the truth hides only to a certain extent under false appearances. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Iago is a character whose truth is hidden beneath layer upon layer of false appearances. He has many different sides and no character gets to see the whole truth of his character until the end of the play. All this in an attempt to bring about Othello's final downfall. Iago is a character who cares for no one but himself, and therefore has no qualms about being dishonest with those around him. The character he is most disingenuous towards is Othello. When Roderigo questions Iago about his apparent affection towards Othello, Iago simply states, "I follow him to serve him my turn." This succinctly sums up Iago's attitude towards Othello. He is loving towards Othello, swearing loyalty to him through statements such as "I will be yours forever". All this in an attempt to gain Othello's trust, so that he can actually turn Othello against himself and bring about his downfall such that he is never able to get up again. Iago's false appearance to the other characters in the play is highlighted through the language he uses. When he is alone or expressing his true feelings, he uses beastly and dark images. For example, during the monologue in which he formulates his plan to ruin Othello, Iago states: "Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the light of the world." The dark and menacing images created through the words used and Iago's reference to the Devil reveal his true evil nature. Until the end of the play, Iago's false appearances are so convincing to the other characters that he is constantly referred to as "honest Iago". This creates a sense of dramatic irony and highlights how false it is. When audiences consider how Iago appears to many of the other characters in the play, it is almost too good to be true: to characters like Othello and Desdemona he would seem loyal and kind and completely devoid of anger. Shakespeare highlights the danger associated with basing others on their appearances: this can often lead us to make similar mistakes, regarding those around us as honest, when in fact they are the opposite. It also shows the audience that those who seem too good to be true often are. Iago's truth is even hidden from the audience, to a certain extent. During the play Iago states that his anger towards Othello and Cassio is due to the fact that Cassio, who he describes as "creditor and debtor", has given him the role of lieutenant. He further states that "abroad it is thought that 'between my sheets Othello has done my office... I also fear Cassio with my nightcap." He is suggesting that his wife Emilia has been unfaithful to him with both Othello and Cassio. However, these are unlikely to be his only motivations, just because of the lengths he goes to. He tirelessly manipulates those around him and even plans the murder of Cassio and Desdemona. It is more likely that jealousy towards Othello, due to his high-ranking position and thelove relationship with Desdemona, exacerbated by the fact that he is black, is one of the main reasons for Iago's malice. Iago uses false appearances and hides the truth in order to gain a sense of vindication. He is so dissatisfied with his situation that he feels revenge is the only way he can feel truly happy. Through Iago, Shakespeare warns the audience against using revenge to gain a sense of fulfillment, as plans like Iago's often fail. No matter how intelligent a person may be, weaving a web of lies is a useless occupation that often causes irreversible damage for all involved, especially those who find themselves in Iago's position of guilty. In Iago's case, he is sentenced to a life of torture to repay his sinful actions. In many ways, the character of Othello is the opposite of Iago. Othello is a naive and open man who does not hesitate before expressing what he feels. The truth of his feelings and thoughts lies on the surface of his appearance and are almost never hidden. This is evident throughout the play. At the beginning Othello's love for Desdemona is clear as he calls her "sweet" and his "beautiful warrior". He doesn't try to hide his affection in the name of decency or modesty. His relationship with Desdemona gives him joy and he is not afraid to express it. Once Iago manipulates Othello into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful, Othello quickly goes from loving Desdemona to hating her, as he states "I have been ill-treated, and my relief must be to detest Desdemona." In every scene of the play, the audience is fully aware of how Othello feels. When confronted by Desdemona after Iago's manipulation, Othello does not even try to hide his anger from her. He is so frank and harsh with her, that Desdemona wonders, "Why do you speak so initial and rashly?" He doesn't try to hide his anger, although many in his position may have done so as they tried to figure out how to deal with the situation. Othello is not aware of such tendencies. This is probably due to the fact that he grew up on the battlefield and therefore was not brought up with the knowledge of how to act in common society. Instead, he was taught to fight for what was right, at all costs. He grew up with a strong sense of right and wrong, and this carries over into his daily life. His lack of knowledge about society also means that a certain naivety is instilled in him. This means that Othello goes from treating Desdemona only with love to referring to her as a "shameless slut" and "the crafty whore of Venice." There is no middle ground for Othello, and this means that he treats Desdemona as he feels she deserves, regardless of the cost to his public image. This is emphasized when Othello strikes Desdemona, with an exclamation of "Diavolo!" before the officials of Venice. Lodovico is shocked and states: "In Venice this would not be believed." Othello has just sacrificed his good reputation, as 'the man whom passion could not shake', because of his anger. However, there is no evidence in the play that Othello is worried about this. He is not aware of how important it is sometimes to guard one's emotions, so that they do not ruin the perception that others have of them. Othello is the complete opposite of Iago, who carefully constructs his image so that he can achieve his evil goals. He has an "open nature", which as Iago describes, means that he is "easily led by the nose as donkeys are". Because of his honest and naive nature, Othello assumes that everyone around him is as open-minded as he is. Therefore, he is easily manipulated by Iago, whom he trusts completely. Through Othello, Shakespeare conveys the dangers to the audience.