Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1239 in Books
• Published on: 1994-07-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
If anything, Othello has increased its stature as one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies ever since it was first written, between 1603 and 1604, due to the victimisation suffered by its tragic hero, Othello, as a result of his skin colour. Othello is a "noble Moor", a North African Muslim who has converted to Christianity and is deemed one of the Venetian state's most reliable soldiers. However, his ensign Iago harbours an obscure hatred against his general, and when Othello secretly marries the beautiful daughter of the Venetian senator Brabanzio, Iago begins his subtle campaign of vilification, which will inevitably lead to the deaths of more than just Othello and Desdemona.

An extraordinary play, both for its dramatic economy and power as well as its remarkable language, from Othello's bombastic "traveller's history" to Desdemona's elegiac "willow song", the play raises uncomfortable questions about ongoing questions of not only racial identity but also sexuality, as Othello and Desdemona's sexual relationship becomes the voyeuristic site of Iago's attempt to destroy them. Particularly fascinated with the question of what it means to "see", Othello also contains one of the greatest tragic death scenes in all of Shakespeare, with Othello's final identification with "a malignant and a turbaned Turk". --Jerry Brotton

Synopsis
If anything, "Othello" has increased its stature as one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies ever since it was first written, between 1603 and 1604, due to the victimisation suffered by its tragic hero, Othello, as a result of his skin colour. Othello is a "noble Moor", a North African Muslim who has converted to Christianity and is deemed one of the Venetian state's most reliable soldiers. However, his ensign Iago harbours an obscure hatred against his general, and when Othello secretly marries the beautiful daughter of the Venetian senator Brabanzio, Iago begins his subtle campaign of vilification, which will inevitably lead to the deaths of more than just Othello and Desdemona.

Customer Reviews

The Green Eyed Monster
I decided to read "Othello" after enjoying "Hamlet",another one of Shakespeare's celebrated tragedies. I must admit that I did not enjoy "Othello" quite as much however. It's plot is quite complicated; labyrinthine at times, and much of it's language is obscure and hard to follow . The play concerns itself with the endeavours of the thoroughly malevolent and evil Iago to destroy the Moorish Venetian general Othello, his boss. He does so by poisoning Othello against his innocent wife Desdemona. He convinces him that his wife is having an affair with Othello's deputy (and Iago's rival) Cassio. Othello takes the bait and duly obliges Iago by becoming filled up with hatred of his wife which eventually leads to a tragic ending and a series of untimely deaths . The play lasts a little too long in my opinion.I never could quite figure out Iago's motivations for being so cruel, murderous and hurtful; was it pure sadism, racism, envy, frustration or a combination of all of these that turned him into such a destructive force ? The reader never quite knows. Othello ,on the other hand, clearly emerges from the play as an "honourable murtherer" , a noble dupe and a tragic fool. This Penguin Popular Classic edition is acceptable enough but I found the the notes and commentary to be somewhat limited.

Othello; William Shakespeare
A copy of one of the most influencial plays that Shakespeare constructed.

Fantastic, so relevant to today.
Despite the difficult language, Othello has to be one of the most moving tales of tragedy available ever, with such a complex web of spins. Iago is the 'baddie', and is fantastic at his role bringing the end to many lives, in more ways than just by death itself. Othello is every part the "valiant Moor", and Desdemona, his bride, is every feminists nightmare, along with every romantics heroine.

What should be recognised is that in Othello, we see so many aspects of life today, racism and sexism probably standing out the most. Othello is a fascinating read because of this, how Shakespeare could have understood racism as he does in his age is beyond the imagination. Also, the crudeness of the character of Iago, and the pathetic Roderigo in some parts is enough to make the censors go wild, along with its political incorrectness, is great! And all in the name of education and culture.