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The Truth About Disguise Shakespeare cleverly uses the art of disguise, in both his tragedies and his comedies, in order to employ a literary device known as dramatic irony, where the audience members are aware of something (in this case the true identity of characters) that characters in the play are not. This, of course, creates tension in a play and excites the audience; actions take place on the stage, of which the audience knows …

…lesson in truth-seeking for the audience. In both of these plays, the failure of characters to realize the truth are lessons to the audience. In Othello, Othello's belief in Iago's story of the corruption of his honest wife and Roderigo's belief in this same self-serving officer are both lessons in trust. In Twelfth Night, Olivia's readiness to fall in love with appearances is a lesson about love. Sometimes it seems disguise tells more than candor.