A Comparison of Oedipus and Othello When comparing and contrasting the character's Oedipus and Othello by means of the different theatrical practices, one must take in account that there have been many interpretations, and productions of each of their respected plays. The differing presentations of each may lead someone to think differently about the play than another would. In comparing and contrasting the dramatic representation of the protagonists Oedipus and Othello, theatrical presentation, costume design, and character will lead the reader, and viewer, to have a greater insight into the theatrical practices of their times and their approaches to the issue of verisimilitude. The theatrical presentation of both plays are very similar. The two plays would both be presented on a thrust stage, which is a platform surrounded on three sides by the audience. Except for the backdrop which would have some element of scenery, the stage itself would be bare apart from a few scenic elements and props. Othello, like most of Shakespeare's plays, had what is called an abstract setting. That is a setting in which the locale may change rapidly, it may not be indicated by the script that it has changed, and was most likely suggested by a few props. Abstract settings place more emphasis on the language and the performer, which causes the spectator to use their imagination. It also places more emphasis on costuming. This type of setting helped set up the style of representational theater, which places high emphasis on the realistic. The style used in classical Greece was presentational which, because of the use of the mask, gave no illusion that this story is happening before their eyes. The audience is reminded that they are watching a play, and not merely observing life. Thus, the use of the thrust stage is the only similarity of the two types of presentation. Othello is a purely illusionistic play, whereas Oedipus Rex is one that when watched, the viewer knows that they are watching a performance. Costumes convey information about the character and aid in setting the tone or mood of the production. Because most acting involves impersonation, most costumes are essential to re-create historical or to the period in which the production takes place. Costumes like that of William Shakespeare's Othello maybe abstract, ever-changing, like it's setting. When using the costume design of the latest film version of Othello, he is usually seen in a toga-like uniform which may have stemmed from his moor background. Since costume elements were formalized in classical Greek theater, the costumes would be that of everyday dress with slight additions of colour, designs, all of which created a larger meaning in the context of the play. The additions on the toga also contributed to accentuating the setting , which in Oedipus' case was Thebes. His toga could have been coloured like the sand and have an ornament like a Sphinx tooth, signifying his bravery for killing the beast. In the case of Othello his toga- like uniform, may have had a general's insignia on the shoulders, and much like in the film, the scars and tattoos showing the suffering he has gone through. On the issue of verisimilitude, actors in Oedipus Rex would be required to wear a mask bearing an expression that would stay throughout the place, making the character's seem flat and general. Oedipus is a round character, but because of the mask, he has a one dimensional projection to the audience. The costumes worn in Othello would be that of clothing of that time. This is common in both plays, but the absence of the mask in Othello, meant that the actor provided their own expressions. Thus, the costumes worn in both plays would be life-like to the audience, but the use of the mask in classical Greece robbed the viewer of a three dimensional projection and withheld the expressions, by the actor. When an actor acts, they impersonate to believably re-create a historical or fictional character. The character's of Oedipus and Othello are developed into round characters. Round characters are those that are well developed three dimensionally with multiple meaning to their characters. Oedipus is a character who's fate cannot be avoided, and which ever path he seems to take leads him to more trouble than what he had to deal with before. Even though his character is well-rounded, he is not believable. It would be highly unlikely that Oedipus would marry a woman who looked as if she could be his mother without asking a few questions about her past marriages and about her children. It could have caused some insight in their characters, and questions could have arisen about the first child which was sent away and thought of as dead. Othello on the other hand is a well-rounded character, and he is believable. Othello is a man who is filled with jealousy and mistrust he learns that his wife may be sleeping with another man. Anyone who has been in love has had this feeling once and a while, and that feeling is being fed by the person of whom they most trust it can be devastating for that person. As Iago continually feeds Othello's suspicion, his hurt and mistrust grows for his wife, until he finally kills her. This is seen in the news everyday...a jealous lover kills the other half because they were seen with another man, or with their ex. Thus, the character of Oedipus is a round characters, but cannot be believed due to the absurd circumstances of his marriage with Jocasta. Othello's round character can be believed, because jealousy invades all of us at one time or another and for Othello, he chose to act upon it much like those who act in our society today. In conclusion, when comparing and contrasting the dramatic representation of the protagonists Oedipus and Othello, the differences in their theatrical presentations ,with regard to the styles of presentational and representational theater, the similarities in approach to costume design, and their approaches to the validity of realistic characters, gives great insight on these two different dramatic periods.
During Shakespeare’s time women and man dressed a certain way they didn't have the clothes we wear today. According to Linda Alchin “in the 1500’s women wore long gowns, hats corsets, underwear, collars, ruffs and shoes, In the 1500’s the men wore doublets, breeches, underwear, collars, ruffs, hats and shoes. Elizabethan clothes provided information about the status of the person wearing them. This was not just dictated by the wealth of the person, it also reflected their social standing.” During the 1500’s people didn’t have guns when they fought or all the advanced technology have today. They most weapon they used was swords and daggers to defend themselves and heavy armor. During this time men were only fencing. Other weapons were an axe,
In the beginning Othello is seen as a calm collected man when put into an awkward situation, such as being ridiculed by his wife’s father in thinking that Othello has used some sort of magic to gain Desdemona 's infection. Othello’s calm collected ways start to deteriorate after he is convinced by Iago, a deceiving evil man that Desdemona has slept with Cassio. Othello’s self control no longer exist once he is fully convinced that it is in fact true that Desdemona has been unfaithful. His sense of what is real and what is not real is thrown out the window. Othello starts to become extremely jealous of his used to be beloved Cassio, and after considering giving back his spot as liternuanat he denies him that. He starts to become cold and distant towards his wife, and starts to call her out of her name. As Othello continues to lose control the people around him start to doubt his abilities of being able to protect Cyprus, and even his wife starts to doubt him, and agree with her father. No one knows who this man is anymore, he has started to act in an insanely matter. He can longer be his true self and take on the responsibilities of being general as he starts to crack. With Othello being faced with evil, him being calm is no longer an option for him because he can’t face the fact that the person he loves so dearly is cheating on him. Going back the they handkerchief, the symbol of his love for her. Othello seeing Cassio with Desdemona’s handkerchief sets him over the edge becoming truly convinced that his wife has betrayed him. Even when Desdemona and her maid Emila, Iago’s wife, has told him countless times that she has not been unfaithful, he is so far gone from reality that he does not believe either one of them. With the state of mind he’s in he cannot bear the thought of another man touching his wife. Othello and Iago plan to kill Cassio and Desdemona. After he
Othello, a valiant soldier, has a much more complex character underneath the surface of his firm rough exterior. To represent these characteristics, in the form of a colored shape, I chose to compare Othello to a square with a red-orange exterior, contrasted with an ice-blue interior. This figure, while portraying some of the more literal traits of Othello, mainly focuses on his inner emotions, and his circumstances throughout the play.
A mask makes one unknown, unrecognized, and mysterious. When the first mask was put on, Jack "looked no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger" (Golding page #). At the formation of Jack's tribe, all who join wear a mask from that time on and become a part of the savages. As three savages return to steal fire, they are driven because they are "demoniac figures with faces of white and red" (Golding page #) not individual boys. The mask becomes such an anonymous symbol that, towards the end of the story, Ralph "gazed at the green and black mask before him trying to remember what Jack looked like" (Golding page #). Whether stealing, fighting, or hunting, the savages found their courage because they "looked like something else" "hidden behind the mask of paint" (Golding page #).
Though a mask may just be a paper cut out, a molded piece of plastic, or in the Lord of the Flies, a painted face, they all have the same ability to create a feeling of freedom from responsibility. They may make they wearer feel more important or powerful and too good for work, leading to a lack of fulfillment of their responsibility. This belief in freedom from responsibility is best exemplified by Jack, the first one on the island to begin wearing a mask. He used a mask because he felt it gave him power and skill, giving him reason to take up hunting as a prime responsibility, opposed to keeping the fire going. In their...
wife if his wife is cheating on him, not if he doubts or thinks that
However, we believe that Othello is a respected and noble gentleman by the language that is used to describe him. He is referred to as “Valiant moor”.
...may be a simple piece of clothing but through its importance, it almost seems to have its own life. It brings the excitement of the reader – or viewers – high. It makes them anxious to just see it. Wherever it appears in the play, a reader cannot help but to pay attention to it because it becomes almost a warning that something is about to happen. I would dare say that the role of the handkerchief is far greater than the role of Othello himself even if the play is written about him. The handkerchief controls the play; if taken out of it, many important significant moments would be removed.
We as people in life tend to hide the truth behind a fake smile and kind gestures, knowing our own truth and feelings towards situations. We have a propensity to do things like this because it is something we just to do in order to get through hardships, and on with things in our lives. Paul Laurence Dunbar captures your attention in his poem “We wear the Mask.” As we interpret Dunbar’s use of metaphor, characterization and imagery, we can learn the truth and his true meaning on what he meant when he refers to the mask and what secrets we hide behind it.
1. Jonathan Miller, television interview, BBC, 1981. Quoted by Sylvan Barnet, "Othello on Stage and Screen," in Alvin Kernan, ed., Othello, Signet Classic Edition (New York: Penguin, 1998): 230.
By observing the PEST-C variables, international businesses are able to make smarter choices in their global marketing decisions. These attributes that must be thoroughly understood and analysed in order to succeed in the international marketplace. All of the variables relate to global marketing. Global marketing can be defined as marketing on a worldwide scale. All variables must consider the understanding of the advantages of global operational differences, similarities, threats, and opportunities that can be used to meet international objectives.
The first step in international marketing is deciding whether to go abroad. At this step, companies must weigh the pros (better profit opportunities than domestic markets, larger customer base to achieve economies of scale, can reduce dependence on any one market) and cons (company might not understand foreign preferences, business culture, or regulations) of international business and also their company’s situation (size, financial resources, HR, expertise, experience). If they decide expanding internationally is a viable option, they must then decide which market(s) to enter. This is a very important question for a company to address and I will keep it short for the outline portion of this answer but will get into more detail later.
In the text Redefining Global Strategy, Pankaj Ghemawat discusses a method of indentifying the various differences that can exist between two countries, and that must be addressed when considering cross-border operations. This method is called the CAGE Framework. CAGE is an acronym used to describe the cultural, administrative, geographic, and economic distances that can exist between multiple countries. While methods of measuring physical and psychic distance have been already been incorporated over the last three decades, “… the CAGE framework takes a much broader view of distance, and has a much more solid empirical base.” (Ghemawat, 41) By exploring these four dimensions, a company can better plan their strategy when considering international expansion.
Saturation of domestic markets and the need by firms to diversify their markets have provided firms with the need to go international (MA sum, & Fernandez, 2008). Internationalization can be defined as the act by companies to explore international markets, although there has not been a clear definition of internationalization (Andersen 1997, p.28). Internationalization is a huge decision by firms and the wrong strategy can lead to ultimate fall of the organization. Internationalization allows firms and companies to own or control businesses and activities in several countries; a process that affects the whole organization making it more international (Dunning, 1993) and by going international, companies can gain competitive
"Othello." Drama for Students. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht. Vol. 20. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 136-165. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.