Appearance vs. Reality: Reflective Essay

An ad featured in Vogue.

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          When flipping through a magazine, expensive ads line the pages with beautiful men and women displaying various name-brand clothing and shoes.  These flawless models seem to live the perfect life possessing beauty, money, and fame; however, behind the surface, many models suffer from drug abuse, anorexia, and self-confidence issues.  Media and ads in our world today perfectly display the difference between appearances and reality.  Taking a closer look at the seemingly perfect lives of celebrities reveals a world filled with hardship and suffering.  Shakespeare’s “Othello,” The Hunger Games, and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil all contain one timeless theme:  appearances and reality are not always the same.
               In the play “Othello, the Moor of Venice,” appearance and reality constantly contradict one another.  Iago spreads lies and rumors about each of the characters creating malicious violence and drama.  One specific instance from the play is when Othello listens to a conversation between Iago and Cassio.  Iago purposely designs the conversation so that Othello believes that Cassio is speaking about Desdemona in a derogatory manner; however, Cassio only speaks of Bianca, his prostitute.  During the conversation, Cassio mocks Bianca, stating, “I marry her!  What a customer!  I prithee bear some charity to my wit.  Do not think it so unwholesome.  Ha, ha, ha” (IV.i.117-118).  After hearing this line, Othello believes that Cassio is only using his wife for pleasure and does not truly love her.  In reality, Cassio has done no wrong to Othello; however, Iago causes the conversation to appear in a different manner.  At the end of the scene, Bianca arrives with the handkerchief, which Othello gave to Desdemona.  

Othello being manipulated by Iago.

Othello assumes that Desdemona gave Cassio the handkerchief who in turn carelessly handed it off to his prostitute.  This false appearance of reality seals Desdemona’s fate – death by Othello.

 
              In the novel The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins uses the manipulation of appearance in order to hide the reality of a dark situation.  The story is set thousands of years into the future after the destruction of the modern world.  Civilization splits into twelve districts that are ruled by the Capitol.  In order to enforce order and prevent rebellion, the Capitol requires two tributes from each district to fight to the death in the hunger games.  This event is televised so that every district views the violence occurring.  Before the event, a parade featuring the twenty-four tributes takes place in the Capitol.   The tributes wear flashy costumes that appeal to the rich, self-centered people of the Capitol.  Katniss Everdeen, a tribute from District 12, states, “the people of the Capitol are going nuts, showering us with flowers, shouting out names, our first names, which they have bothered to find on the program” (Collins 70).  The hunger games mean that death is certain for twenty-three of the contestants; however, the people of the Capitol ignore this fact, glorifying the event with money and riches. The Capitol forces the games to appear positive for the nation, bringing peace and fame to the districts.  In reality, the games cause murder, hardship, and family tension.  The Capitol attempts to keep order through this convoluted view, but rebellion soon follows.

The surrounding slums of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

One of the most witnessed spectacles in the world is the Olympic Games.  Every country in the world dreams of making an appearance or even hosting the Olympics because this event brings not only fame but also wealth to the host.  In 2016, the Olympic Games will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a country gripped by crime and poverty.  Statistics show that around 20 people are assassinated per day in Rio.  In addition, Rio holds the largest gap of economic inequality in the world (Zibechi).  With all eyes on the city, the government must act to hide the reality of the situation in Rio and keep visitors safe.  The government of Brazil plans to build walls around the poorest areas of Rio to contain the poor; however, thousands of people are murdered or disappear each day causing many to believe a genocide to be taking place.  Vera Malaguti, a general secretary of Rio Institute of Criminology, describes the government’s plan as “a project of urban cleansing under the guise of restoring order to the city, for the benefit of the World Cup, the Olympics, and all capital investment that is flowing into Rio” (Zibechi).  Through murder and deceit, Brazil will gain this ideal image demanded by the world.  In reality, the view seen on the television will greatly differ from the events taking place on the other side of the wall.      

     
            In a world filled with technology, appearances and reality tend to differ more than ever.  In “Othello,” The Hunger Games, and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, these differences led to negative results.  Without knowledge of the truth, people are led in the wrong direction causing little progress.  For example, in the State of the Union Address given by the president, only positive, encouraging words are spoken to the citizens of the United States.  Without the full truth, America has little chance to grow and become more successful.  In order to succeed as a nation, America must fully understand the reality of all positive and negative situations.  When this occurs, appearance and reality will become one.       

Obama giving the State of the Union Address.

Works Cited

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print.

Perrine, Laurence.  “Othello.”  Perrine’s Literature: Structures, Sound, and Sense. Forth Worth.  Harcourt College. 2002. 1361-462. Print.

Zibechi, Raúl. "Rio De Janeiro: Control of the Poor Seen as Crucial for the Olympics." Upside Down World. 20 Jan. 2010. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. <http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/2325-rio-de-janeiro-control-of-the-poor-seen-as-crucial-for-the-olympics>.