Student Essay on Masks in Othello

Meaning of mask is something that serves to conceal. In this world we, human, have to wear the mask, unless a person is a true hero. I, myself, also wear a mask to conceal my weakness. A true hero never wears a mask. They are not afraid of criticisms about their mistakes. A hero can learn from his or her mistake and move on to their lives. Their innocent mind can be revealed at all time as "Open -24 Hours." We don't regard wearing mask as a liar, as long as it's in small degree. Masks cover all range of things. Sometime, people pretend as they are smart as well as stupid. There are advantage and disadvantage of wearing a mask. When people don't reveal their problems, they cannot get criticisms, which would make their lives easier. But sometime bad incidents accidentally happened, and it's worth hiding. Sometime, masks stay on forever. People forget to take it off and their mind was shaped.

The masks used in this play, Othello, are used to cover up the main purpose of the actions. In the play, the main character that wears the mask is Iago. He also wears many kinds of masks depending on whom he is dealt. His plan could only be achieved by wearing the mask. His plan was to revenge Othello for not giving him the position he wanted. Iago's most important mask is about his hatred towards Othello; Iago said "O, sir, content you; I follow him to serve my turn upon... I am not what I am." Iago knows Othello has given his trust in the military; they fought along each other and depend their lives upon one another. Othello said, "A man he is of honesty and trust,--To his conveyance ...To be sent after me." But it is still necessary to wear the mask towards Othello because he needs to remain trusted to execute his plan. At first, he was second man in the line of trust for Othello; the first one was Cassio. Partly, he planned to remove Cassio to become the only person trusted by Othello. When Iago becomes the only trusted person, he suggested the affair of Desdemona and begins assault on his plan. The effective moment by Iago's mask was when he suggests about the handkerchief to Othello. Iago has much benefit for wearing this mask. Also the costs for Othello and Iago could not be any bigger. Iago has to give his life upon the mask; however, his plan of revenge against Othello was successful. He could have the chance to express his views to Othello, but he uses mask as a shortcut. He could get another higher position in a legitimate way. He loses his innocent relationship with Othello, which lasted many long years. The mask of Iago makes the outcome of the play a tragic one. If Othello would know Iago's mind, Othello could avoid all of the killings. He wouldn't have to fire Cassio and kill his lovely wife, Desdemona. Iago's mask could fool literally everyone; people believe Iago is a good servant of Othello. Before the death of Desdemona, she pled to help Iago by calling him a good friend; Desdemona said "Alas, Iago, What shall I do to win my lord again? Good friend, go to him; for by this light of heaven, I know not how I lost him."

His plan involves another character, who is Roderigo. Iago wears the mask of confidence when dealing with Roderigo. Every time Roderigo nags that the plan won't work, Iago reassures him of the success of getting Desdemona, even though Iago has no future plan for him. This also mask worked very well for Iago when Roderigo asked for his jewelry. He simply said tomorrow is the night. Iago also wears a mask of being a good friend; Iago said, "I have professed myself to be your friend, and I confess I knit with cables of lasting toughness to your merit. I could never be a better friend to you than now." Iago presents himself as a savior in front of Roderigo. Roderigo believes Iago because Roderigo was driven crazy by the love towards Desdemona. The mask is a whole benefit for Iago; on the other hand, it is the worse thing that could happen to Roderigo. He has lost all of his money and he was instrumental in the killing of his lovely lady. Iago uses this mask throughout the play, until the moment he killed Roderigo; "O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog!" Iago gained a tool for success of his plan. Iago also earned money for being a guide. He exploited Roderigo to start up a fight, which led to the downfall of Cassio. Its effects caused the result of the play, because if Roderigo knew what Iago was doing, he might not gang up with Iago. If he doesn't gang up with him, it would make it a lot harder for Iago to kill Cassio, which is a crucial part of the plan.

Another character affected by Iago's mask is Cassio. In Iago's plan, he has to remove Cassio from the position he holds. His mask is about being a friend of Cassio. Iago was the first person to provoke the fright, which Cassio was blamed for. When Othello asks who was responsible, Iago answered the question with pretending as if he didn't want to give out the name; Iago said, "I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth. Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio." He also uses his mask when he gives advice to Cassio about pleading Desdemona. Finally, the moment comes when Cassio was stabbed by Rodergio; he came to Cassio as a good friend and calling medic. It covers up how he is going to kill Cassio. It has great consequences for the play. If Iago wouldn't wear the mask and Cassio noticed that, Cassio would stay away from Iago. Therefore, Cassio wouldn't have to give up his position, and Othello wouldn't lose confidence in him. The benefit for Iago is that he replaced Cassio. Cassio has to pay the cost, which is to give up his position and reputation; Cassio said, "Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation!"

There is another person who is wearing masks is Emily. She wears a mask of being a good servant and a trusted wife. When she faces to Desdemona, she didn't reveal about the handkerchief. She covers her involvement in Iago's plan. The important moment comes when she was asked about Desdemona by Othello. She betrayed to her husband at the last scene. It doesn't give her much benefit at all; she was just hiding for her husband. It could change the course of the action of the play because the only prove that Othello has to accuse Desdemona was handkerchief. If she would've told to Desdemona and Othello the problems would be solved. The important about her is she never forgets to take it off. At the end she realizes to take off her mask and said truth about her husband.

In this play, a true hero is Desdemona, who doesn't wear a mask at all. She was an innocent lady. From the start, she did what she thought was right without any racism as her dad. She never conceals her choice. When her husband has to go for war, she plans to go along with him. In her hero journey, she was just starting to go out on her own of stage two. She had to fight with jealously and mask. For a hero, Iago can only defeat her innocent with wearing mask.

As everyone does around the world, I also wear a mask. I tried to pretend as a polite person when I meet with older people. It is very hard to live without wearing a mask, but of course, it comes along with consequences. The benefit I got form it is that people praise my actions. The disadvantage is that I never learned to live politely for a long time. At the end of the day when the time comes, what if I forgot to take it off? It would be a disaster for me to have habit of not being polite. I suggest we don't put one kind of mask for very longtime.