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The Character of Othello
Othello: A modern perspective
The character analysis of othello
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William Shakespeare’s Othello & Tim Blake Nelson’s “O” each demonstrate the issues of their respective contexts through the chosen mediums of both composers. Shakespeare’s Othello uses the medium of theatre to present ideas such as jealousy, appearance versus reality and racism through a variety of literary techniques while also encompassing the conventions of a classic Shakespearean tragedy. These ideas remain universally relevant in Blake Nelson’s modern day adaptation “O” which parallels the ideas conveyed in Othello through its cinematic techniques. Both texts, through these universal ideas conveyed, also demonstrate values relevant to both contexts such as honesty, truth and honour.
Shakespeare composed Othello during the Golden Age of the Elizabethan Era where society was strongly patriarchal and hierarchal and religion was strongly value. The foreign European setting as well as characteristics of tragedy through the medium of theatre is used by Shakespeare to convey the issues and values of the time without directly insulting English society, compelling the responder to compare them with modern day issues and values. Tim Blake Nelson “O” parallels similar values of Othello’s context through the modern adaptation in the film medium. The adaptation, “O”, through modern day contextual characteristics such violence, stereotypes, competition and equality, both race and gender wise, are used to give a more relevant paradigm of the values and issues brought up in Othello, which the modern day responder can easily relate to.
The issue of jealousy is one of utmost importance in Othello and is exhibited through the use of literary techniques such as characterisation and symbolism, in conjunction with universal values such as honest...
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... issue which envokes the value of equality across all contexts and a feeling of belonging in society no matter what race you are and is shown through both texts attitudes towards the issue.
Through the issues that both composers Shakespeare and Nelson through their texts Othello and “O” transcend their contexts and create universally relevant issues. Despite the change in political, social and economic views of the two contexts, these issues brought up by both texts remain applicable in modern day society and remind us of the importance of values such as truth & honesty, which are still valued to this day. These issues engage the audience through their different mediums of theatre and film and techniques such as cinematic and literary to effectively convey the same relevant messages to their respective audiences and show that good texts do not have use by dates.
The film “O” produced in 2001 is a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Othello. The movie was both filmed and is centered around Charleston, South Carolina. The movie follows the downfall of Odin James (Othello) a revered high school basketball player who is made to believe by his best friend Hugo Golding (Iago) that his girlfriend Desi (Desdemona) is cheating on him with fellow teammate Michael Cassio (Cassio). Like the original play it focuses on themes like sexuality, deception, betrayal, and murder. However, it includes themes of race and substance abuse in order to modernize it as well as bring in relevant issues.
The play, Othello is one of the most famous tragedies composed by William Shakespeare during the Renaissance period. It powerfully portrays a world where the acts of evil ultimately vanquishes fidelity, nobility and integrity. The central themes jealousy and manipulation embodies the foretold tragedies and the downfall tragedies of the characters due to one’s insecurities. Through the use of literary techniques and figurative language, Shakespeare has effectively explored the themes of jealousy and manipulation.
Gardner, Helen. “Othello: A Tragedy of Beauty and Fortune.” Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from “The Noble Moor.” British Academy Lectures, no. 9, 1955.
Kernan, Alvin. “Othello: and Introduction.” Shakespeare: The Tragedies. Ed. Alfred Harbage. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1964.
Othello has been described as one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays because the play focuses on its themes of good and evil, military, politics, love and marriage, religion, racial prejudice, gender conflict, and sexuality; but the controversy and debate surrounding Othello is “Why is Othello a qualification for a tragedy?”
11 Dec. 2011. The "Othello". Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht.
middle of paper ... ... adulterated voice on the soundtrack. Texts and their appropriations reflect the context and values of their times. Within Shakespeare’s Othello and Geoffrey Sax’s appropriation of Othello, the evolution of the attitudes held by Elizabethan audiences and those held by contemporary audiences has been shown through the context of the female coupled with the context of racism.
Essential to the success of Othello is the fact that the issues and themes explored in this tragedy, written by Shakespeare in about 1604, are still relevant to the modern audience. The interest of an audience is held by themes that are fundamental to the human condition, as these reflect our world and examine human nature. Othello explores the issues of racism, gender, domestic violence, the supernatural and the pathology of the entirely evil person, which are all remarkably relevant to our time. Thus the interest of the audience is held, as issues that affect the viewers and readers of the play spark individual opinions, reflection and thought.
Snyder, Susan. "Beyond the Comedy: Othello" Modern Critical Interpretations, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea House New Haven CT 1987. (page 23-37)
This character is so noble, Othello's feelings and actions follow so inevitably from it and from the forces brought to bear on it, and his sufferings are so heart-rending, that he stirs a passion of mingled love and pity which readers feel for no other hero in Shakespeare, and to which not even Mr Swinburne can do more than justice. Yet there are some critics and not a few readers who cherish a grudge against him. They do not merely think that in the later stages of his temptation he showed a certain obtuseness, and that, to speak pedantically, he acted with unjustifiable precipitance and violence; no one, I suppose, denies that. But, even when they admit that he was not of a jealous temper, they consider that he was "easily jealous"; they seem to think that it was inexcusable in him to feel any suspicion of his wife at all; and they blame him for never suspecting Iago or asking him for evidence. I refer to this attitude of mind chiefly in order to draw attention to certain points in the story. It comes partly from inattention (for Othello did suspect Iago and did ask him for evidence); partly from a misconstruction of the text which makes Othello appear jealous long before he really is so; [Endnote 2] and partly from failure to realise certain essential facts. I will begin with these.
"Othello." Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 649-87. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. .
Snyder, Susan. "Beyond the Comedy: Othello" Modern Critical Interpretations, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea House New Haven CT 1987.
The portrayal of gender roles in William Shakespeare’s play Othello, demonstrates the inferior treatment of women and the certain stereotypes of men placed on them by society. Both the male and female characters in the play have these certain gender expectations placed on them. In a society dominated by men, it is understood that the women are to be seen rather than heard. The women are referred to and treated much like property. If indeed they do speak up, they are quickly silenced. One woman’s attempt to be the perfect wife is what ultimately led to her demise. The expectations of men are equally stereotypical. Men are to be leaders and to be in control and dominant especially over the women. The male characters compete for position and use the female characters in the play as leverage to manipulate each other. Shakespeare provides insight in understanding the outcomes of the men and women who are faced with the pressures of trying to live up to society’s expectations, not only in the workplace, but also in the home. The pressure creates jealousy issues amongst the men and they become blind to the voice of reason and are overtaken by jealous rage, leads to the death of many of the characters.
The cinematic techniques used by Parker successfully compliment the wide range of emotions experienced by the characters within Shakespeare’s complex plot. A variety of themes within the script of Othello, including racism and appearance verses reality, are more effectively portrayed allowing the audience to have a heightened understanding and enjoyment of the movie.
- - -. Othello. 1968. Ed. Kenneth Muir. The New Penguin Shakespeare. London: Penguin Books, 1996.