Othello, (with Sergei Bondarchuk as Othello; 1955/108m) distributed by The Picture Palace, PO Box 281, Caldwell, NJ 07006. As a setting, Venice serves Shakespeares needs of a place where a non-European, and potentially non-Christian, man could both hold significant authority but still be distrusted. Before the Venetian Senate, Brabantio accuses Othello of bewitching Desdemona. Albanese, Denise "Black and White and Dread All Over: The Shakespeare Theatre's "Photonegative" Othello and the Body of Desdemona" in Callaghan, Dympna (ed.) Brabantio, provoked by Roderigo, is enraged and seeks to confront Othello, but he finds Othello accompanied by the Duke of Venice's guards, who prevent violence. [164] Welles uses shadows, extreme camera angles and discordant piano music to force the audience to feel Othello's disorientated view of Desdemona. A plot-line in Farrukh Dhondy's novel Black Swan involves the central character Lazarus, a freed slave, travelling to London in the time of Shakespeare and authoring many of the plays attributed to Shakespeare, including Othello, in a production of which Lazarus plays the title character, and kills himself. 633644, at p.642. For a discussion of this play within the context of Shakespeares life and works, see William Shakespeare: The tragedies. He hates the Moor: often with reference to Othello's race. Othello Characters: Othello is a black generalin the army of the Duke of Venice. [23], "I think this play is racist, and I think it is not. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); It is believed that Shakespeare wrote 38 plays in total between 1590 and 1612. Your email address will not be published. See more primary sources related to Othelloon Shakespeare Documented. Jenna received her BA in English from Iowa State University in 2015, and she has taught at the secondary level for three years. [91] These two theatres had very different features - the former a large outdoor theatre accommodating an audience of 3,000; the latter a private indoor theatre that sat around 700, paying higher prices - and the style of playing would have adapted to these different conditions. [167][168] The film was critically panned on its 1955 release (headlines included "Mr Welles Murders Shakespeare in the Dark" and "The Boor of Venice") but was acclaimed as a classic upon its re-release in a restored version in 1992. Othello arrives and questions the men as to what happened. Othello The Moor of Venice | What is a Moor in Othello? Learn more about Shakespeare, his theater, and his plays from the experts behind our editions. Othello proceeds to make Desdemona's life miserable and strikes her in front of visiting Venetian nobles. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Another black American actor, William Marshall (1924-2003), performed the title role in at least six productions. The UK's National Film and Television Archive holds over 25 20th-Century films containing performances, adaptations or extracts from Othello including Anson Dyer's 1920 animated Othello, 1921's Carnival and its 1932 remake, the 1922 German film The Moor, the 1936 Men Are Not Gods, 1941's East of Piccadilly, George Cukor's 1947 A Double Life, Orson Welles in Return to Glennascaul and Welles' own Othello, Sergei Yutkevich's Russian language Othello discussed below, two productions for BBC Television (including Jonathan Miller's for the BBC Television Shakespeare series, discussed below), Basil Dearden's All Night Long, Janet Suzman's 1988 South African TV Othello, a film of Trevor Nunn's RSC production with Willard White and Ian McKellen in the central roles, and True Identity - a crime caper in which Lenny Henry's character Miles lands the role of understudy to James Earl Jones (playing himself) in a production of Othello. and Shakespeare, William "Othello" The Oxford Shakespeare, Oxford University Press, 2006 pp.445-454 at p.445. "The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare and Popular Culture", Cambridge University Press, 2007, pp. Booth was gentle with Desdemona. The book was an enormous success in Europe, and was translated into many other languages,[13] remaining a definitive reference work for decades (and to some degree, centuries) afterwards. While Venice would have represented a bustling city full of trade and wealth, it also reminded Shakespeare's audience of immoral sexual practices. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. [186] The film was described as a "fair stab at turning the Bard into a decent night at the multiplex"[187] but failed to achieve success at the box office. "The temptation scene" is a term often used in the critical literature to mean. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Middle School Language Arts: Lessons & Help, English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, Othello: Character Analysis, Description & Sketch, The Tragedy of Othello: Summary, Analysis & Quotes, Lodovico in Othello: Character Analysis & Quotes, The Clown in Othello: Character Analysis & Quotes, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. He has also worked as a writing tutor and academic advisor. [16], The influential early twentieth-century Shakespeare critic A. C. Bradley defined Othello's tragic flaw as a sexual jealousy so intense that it "converts human nature into chaos, and liberates the beast in man the animal in man forcing itself into his consciousness in naked grossness, and he writhing before it but powerless to deny it entrance, grasping inarticulate images of pollution, and finding relief only in a bestial thirst for blood. Famous Greek Philosopher Aristotle recommended that good drama maintain a unity of time and place, meaning that a play should take place in one spot and over a realistic span of time. All rights reserved. The soldier fired his gun, breaking the arm of the actor playing Othello. The quotation is a parody of. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you "A Companion to Shakespeare and Performance", Blackwell Publishing Limited, 2008, pp. [212] The version of it thought to be most authentic, because it closely matches the lyric given by Shakespeare, is known as "The Poore Soule Sate Sighing"[213] and is one of the most performed pieces of early modern English music. Omissions? Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Nicholas Burt played the lead, with Charles Hart as Cassio; Walter Clun won fame for his Iago. How could Othello be viewed as a domestic tragedy? 160-161. But Roderigo has just learned that Desdemona has married Othello, a general whom Iago begrudgingly serves as ensign. Iago refuses to explain his motives, vowing to remain silent from that moment on. "[70][71], Othello has a double time scheme - meaning that the timeframe of the play does not contain enough time for its action. Orgel, Stephen "Introduction" in Sutherland, John and Watts, Cedric "Henry V, War Criminal and Other Shakespeare Puzzles", Oxford World's Classics series, Oxford University Press, 2000, p.xi. [132] (The filmed version of this production is discussed under "Screen" below. Gillies, 2008, pp. He lures Cassio into a drunken fight, for which Cassio loses his new rank; Cassio, at Iagos urging, then begs Desdemona to intervene. Neill, 2006, p.31. Earle Hyman interviewed by Michael A. Morrison 9 April 1999 cited in Morrison, 2002, p.252. What matters most when we teach Othello? "[27][28], In the nineteenth century, such well-known writers as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Charles Lamb questioned whether the play could even be called a "true tragedy" when it dramatized the inviolable taboo of a white woman in a relationship with a black man. [138], Cathy Downes' 2001 production at the Court Theatre in Christchurch, New Zealand made effective use of a trope (which had had racist overtones when used by earlier European directors) of Othello reverting to his native culture: setting the action in the Waikato Land Wars, Othello was a British-adopted general leading forces against his own people, until finally bursting into a "terrifying wero" (a warrior's challenge) before exacting his revenge.[139]. [137] The script remained unchanged as regards the character's race, so the white Othello was, throughout, referred to as black. Montano tries to calm down an angry and drunk Cassio. Director Greg Doran intended this to be strange, enigmatic, open to interpretation. ", Desmet, Chisty "Character Criticism" in Wells, Stanley and Orlin, Lena Cowen "Shakespeare: An Oxford Guide", Oxford University Press, 2003, pp.351-372 at p.357, citing. Honigmann, 1997, pp.68-72, citing M R Ridley's Arden Second Series edition of the play, at p.69. Othello, hearing Cassio cry out, thinks that Iago has killed him, and departs to murder Desdemona. Emilias cries of Murder bring Iago, Montano, and Gratiano. SparkNotes PLUS Barbara Hodgdon, quoted in Tatspaugh, 2000, p.151. [110] Leigh Hunt saw Kean's Othello in 1819, describing his performance in The Examiner as "the masterpiece of the living stage". Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. Lois Whitney, "Did Shakespeare Know Leo Africanus? When Emilia comes to tell Othello about the violence in the streets, he acknowledges the killing, telling her that Iago had informed him of Desdemonas infidelity. [101] Othello was not adapted in this way, although it has often been cut to conform to current ideas of decorum or refinement. Act 1 occurs in the highly governed and regulated city-state of Venice. For this activity, rewrite a scene of Othello by changing the setting. In Othello, William Shakespeare creates powerful drama from a marriage between the exotic Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona that begins with elopement and mutual devotion and ends with jealous rage and death.Shakespeare builds many differences into his hero and heroine, including race, age, and cultural background. ), Muir, Kenneth (ed.) It was staged on 2/ 30/1610 at the Globe Theatre, and at Oxford in 9/1610. [126] Margaret Webster's 1943 Broadway production was considered a theatrical landmark, with Robeson (in the words of Howard Barnes) "making the Moor the great and terrible figure of tragedy which he has so rarely been on the stage. "A Feminist Companion to Shakespeare" Blackwell Publishers Limited, 2001, pp.80-102 at pp.94 & 95. In Othello, William Shakespeare creates powerful drama from a marriage between the exotic Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona that begins with elopement and mutual devotion and ends with jealous rage and death. Wells, Stanley (ed.) Emilia calls for help. It was a moment of great pride. How does Shakespeare's tragedy Othello explore aspects of human nature. All of these factors make Othello an easy target for Iago's tricks and manipulations. Choral Reading American Moor and Othello, Dr. Kim Halls lecture Othello Was My Grandfather: Shakespeare in the African Diaspora. The first professional acting appearance by a woman on the English stage was that of Desdemona in Othello on 8th December 1660, although history does not record who took the role. The tragic events that follow are therefore even more shocking and unnatural. [3] Desdemona is the only named character in Cinthio's tale, with his few other characters identified only as the "Moor", the "Squadron Leader", the "Ensign", and the "Ensign's Wife" (corresponding to the play's Othello, Cassio, Iago, and Emilia). You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at [email protected]. When Elizabeth died in 1603, however, he continued under the patronage of James I. 171172. Find teaching resources and opportunities. Evidence we have of performances in Shakespeare's time, including the texts of the plays, sheds light on a number of anachronisms on Shakespeare's stage. Would it matter if it were different? Please offer comments and suggestions on any aspects the site to: Director Hugh Richmond at [email protected]. Actor Hugh Quarshie has questioned whether the central role in Othello should be played by a black actor saying: "If a black actor plays a role written for a white actor does he not risk making racial stereotypes seem legitimate and even true does he not encourage the white way, or rather the wrong way, of looking at black men, namely that [they] are over-emotional, excitable and unstable. Othello is respected in this society as a result of his military prowess elsewhere. Cyprus also has connections to the theme of desire in the play. [210], The Willow Song, sung by Desdemona in Act 4 Scene 3,[211] is not an original creation of Shakespeare's, but was already a well-known ballad. [225], Aphra Behn's 1688 novel Oroonoko, and its subsequent dramatisation by Thomas Southerne, reset Othello's enslavement in the context of the then-current Atlantic triangle. [33] For him, Desdemona denying her father's right to choose her husband, and choosing a black man for herself, can only be explained by black magic. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. She denies being unfaithful, but he smothers her. [227] In it, the characters of Tortzov, the director, and Kostya, the young actor - both partly autobiographical - rehearse the role of Othello in the opening act.[228]. Find teaching resources and opportunities. Othello describes his courtship of Desdemona, who, when she enters, tells her father and the senators that she has married Othello because she loves him. Both Venice and Cyprus carry symbolic weight for viewers in Shakespeare's time. As there are also three main characters, Venice is represented by Iago; Cyprus is represented by Desdemona; and the Turks are represented by Othello. Othello's first known performance was on November 1, 1604, at Whitehall Palace in London, when "the Kings Maiesties plaiers" performed "A Play in the Banketinge house at Whit Hall Called The Moor of Venis" attributed to "Shaxberd". The rest of the play takes place on the island of Cyprus, away from the law and order represented by the Duke and Senate. In Othello, how is Iago responsible for Othello's tragedy? Racism in Othello by William Shakespeare | Characters & Analysis, Literary Devices in Othello by Shakespeare | Analysis & Examples, Othello's Soliloquy by William Shakespeare | Summary & Analysis, Foreshadowing in Othello by William Shakespeare | Examples & Analysis, Roderigo in Othello by William Shakespeare | Quotes & Analysis, Othello by William Shakespeare | Themes & Analysis, Othello by Shakespeare | Othello Character Traits & Analysis, Lodovico in Othello by Shakespeare | Character, Quotes & Analysis, Jealousy in Othello by Shakespeare | Theme, Quotes & Analysis, Othello by Shakespeare | Summary, Plot, Analysis, Brabantio in Othello by William Shakespeare | Quotes & Analysis, College English Literature: Help and Review, Common Core ELA - Literature Grades 11-12: Standards, Praxis English Language Arts: Content Knowledge (5038) Prep, SAT Subject Test Literature: Practice and Study Guide, 10th Grade English: Homework Help Resource, 11th Grade English: Homework Help Resource, AP English Literature: Homework Help Resource, 10th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, Holt McDougal Literature Grade 9 Common Core Edition: Online Textbook Help, Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools (TACHS): Practice & Study Guide, Create an account to start this course today. $24.99 On Edwin Booth's tour of England in 1880, Henry Irving invited Booth to alternate the roles of Othello and Iago with him in London. [11][12], Another possible source was the Description of Africa by Leo Africanus. The King's Men performed Othello in winter 1612 for the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Frederick V, Elector Palatine. Kean's biographer F. W. Hawkins quoted in Honigmann and Thompson, 2016, p.32. [19][20], In plot terms, Othello's race serves to mark him as "other". Stanton, Kay ""Made to write 'whore' upon? This practice remained common in performances of the play even up until Sir Lawrence Olivier's famous rendition in 1965. Why does Othello care about Desdemona's handkerchief How does Iago manipulate Desdemona? Renews July 24, 2023 Find out whats on, read our latest stories, and learn how you can get involved. [83][84], Shakespeare's source story in Cinthio takes place entirely in the long time scheme: Shakespeare appears to have introduced the shorter time scheme to increase dramatic tension, while also introducing moments where Iago's plot could fall apart - for example if Emilia had given an honest answer to Desdemona's "Where should I lose that handkerchief? ": Male and Female Use of the Word "Whore" in Shakespeare's Canon" in Callaghan, Dympna (ed.) Required fields are marked *. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Chris Genebach, Karen Peakes, Janie Brookshire, Owiso Odera, Todd Scofield, Louis Butelli, and Ian Merrill Peakes inOthello,Folger Theatre, 2011. His marriage to the upper-class Venetian, Desdemona, only heightens this conflict. on a street in another location, Iago meets with Othello to inflame him against Brabantio. As he waits, Bianca, his lover, appears. (one code per order), SparkNotes PLUS [68], As Robert Watson summarises it: "The seemingly endless critical debate about Iago's motivation reflects a truth, rather than a confusion, about the play. They bring Desdemona before them. Whats the connection between race and the power and uncertainty of editing? ), was likely more plausible to contemporary audiences in a play set in Venice. His Othello was recorded in 1964 with Jay Robinson as Iago and on video in 1981 with Ron Moody as Iago. Iago persuades Othello that Desdemona and Cassio have "the act of shame a thousand times committed";[79] Emilia says Iago "hath a hundred times"[80] asked her to steal the handkerchief; Bianca complains Cassio has been away from her "a week";[81] and by Act 4 Roderigo (who sold his land at the end of Act 1)[82] has already squandered all his money. Othello denounces Desdemona to her face as a whore. "[88] And as Michael Neill points out, many of the problems disappear if one supposes that Cassio and Desdemona's affair had commenced prior to Othello and Desdemona's elopement. Jealous of Othellos success and envious of Cassio, Iago plots Othellos downfall by falsely implicating Othellos wife, Desdemona, and Cassio in a love affair. To best appreciate this historical turning point, it's important to first understand what Othello is about. Othello (full title: The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice) is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603.
Wyndham Resort Lakes Entrance,
Is St James Medical School Accredited In The Us,
Elk City Public Schools,
Articles W