Montano tries to calm down an angry and drunk Cassio and this leads to them fighting one another, resulting in Montano being injured. Bigotry In Othello– Prices Estimate With Page Numbers. Othello murders her and, upon discovering Iago's deceit, kills himself. Cassio, distraught, is then persuaded by Iago to ask Desdemona to persuade her husband to reinstate him. [10] She notes Roderigo's description of Othello having "thick lips" was a racial stereotype used by 16th century explorers for Sub-Saharan Africans. Professor Arzola English 2322 5 July 2015 Outline. He then denounces Iago for his actions and leaves to tell the others what has happened. Cinthio describes each gruesome blow, and, when the lady is dead, the "Ensign" and the "Moor" place her lifeless body upon her bed, smash her skull, and cause the cracked ceiling above the bed to collapse upon her, giving the impression its falling rafters caused her death. The stunt renewed interest in Booth's tour. While Shakespeare closely followed Cinthio's tale in composing Othello, he departed from it in some details, particularly in the tale's depiction of Desdemona's death. [45] Subsequent performances took place on Monday, 30 April 1610 at the Globe Theatre, and at Oxford in September 1610. Shakespeare possibly wrote The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice in 1603 or 1604, as we know it was first performed on November 1, 1604, at court. Nicholas Burt played the lead, with Charles Hart as Cassio; Walter Clun won fame for his Iago. In Othello, Iago exploits the power of language to manipulate his “family” and “friends” and make them puppets for his revenge plan. He argues that interpretations attempting to change Othello from "black to brown" were due to racial prejudice during Reconstruction in the US and notes that Othello is described using similar language to Aaron in Titus Andronicus. I didn't have any lines at all. In an interview Gambon commented "I wasn't even the second gentleman in that. You couldn't do it today, you'd get shot. Desdemona's physical whiteness is otherwise presented in opposition to Othello's dark skin: 5.2 "that whiter skin of hers than snow". [27] His Othello was captured on record in 1964 with Jay Robinson as Iago and on video in 1981 with Ron Moody as Iago. [2] It also resembles an incident described in the earlier tale of "The Three Apples", one of the stories narrated in the One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights). The play is there attributed to "Shaxberd". When Laurence Olivier gave his acclaimed performance of Othello at the Royal National Theatre (UK) in 1964, he had developed a case of stage fright that was so profound that when he was alone onstage, Frank Finlay (who was playing Iago) would have to stand offstage where Olivier could see him to settle his nerves. Plot Summary and Analysis of Othello, the Moor of Venice. There, he is simply referred to as the Moor. Omitir Lo que aprenderás Develop a critical stance on Othello and its protagonist, the “Moor of Venice,” through the central motif of storytelling. In Cinthio, the Moor commissions his ensign to bludgeon Desdemona to death with a sand-filled stocking. In Elizabethan discourse, the word "black" could suggest various concepts that extended beyond the physical colour of skin, including a wide range of negative connotations. He thinks any man who seems honest is honest. Though the actual racial definition of the term is murky, the implications are religious as well as racial. The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor the Venice: The Fall of A Man for His Race by José Pineda. There is no consensus over Othello's ethnic origin. After being deployed to Cyprus, Othello is manipulated by his Ancient (pronounced Ensign) Iago into believing Desdemona is an adulteress. [9] An English translation by John Pory appeared in 1600 under the title A Geographical Historie of Africa, Written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More... in which form Shakespeare may have seen it and reworked hints in creating the character of Othello. Othello's "blackness" is referred to several times in the play, and Shakespeare was no stranger to Christian Negroes. Roderigo calls Othello "the thicklips", which seems to refer to European conceptions of Sub-Saharan African physiognomy, but Honigmann counters that, as these comments are all intended as insults by the characters, they need not be taken literally. Enraged and hurt, Othello resolves to kill his wife and tells Iago to kill Cassio. [1] It also resembles an incident described in the earlier tale of "The Three Apples", one of the stories narrated in the One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights). Black English actor Wil Johnson, known for his roles in Waking the Dead and Emmerdale, played Othello on stage in 2004. In 3.3 he denounces Desdemona's supposed sin as being "black as mine own face". In 1911, James Welton argued more evidence points to him being Sub-Saharan, though Shakespeare's intention is unknown. [22][23], The most notable American production may be Margaret Webster's 1943 staging starring Paul Robeson as Othello and José Ferrer as Iago. Modern notable performers of the role include Paul Robeson, Orson Welles, Richard Burton, James Earl Jones, Laurence Fishburne, Laurence Olivier, and Avery Brooks. When Emilia discovers the crime, she decries the Moor as a villain and at first refuses to believe that Iago has so evilly manipulated Othello. During the scuffle, Iago comes from behind Cassio and badly cuts his leg. Although characters described as "Moors" appear in two other Shakespeare plays (Titus Andronicus and The Merchant of Venice), such characters were a rarity in contemporary theatre, and it was unknown for them to take centre stage.[19]. There, he is simply referred to as the Moor. n. the protagonist of a tragedy by Shakespeare, Othello , a Moor who is tricked into believing that his wife Desdemona is unfaithful. Othello strangles Desdemona in her bed. Use primary sources, including sixteenth-century accounts of Africa and nineteenth- and twentieth-century performance artifacts, to evaluate the play in multiple historical contexts. Iago is Othello's jealous and bitter ensign who maliciously goads his master's jealousy until the usually stoic Moor kills his beloved wife in a fit of blind rage. [41] Many critics have noted references to demonic possession throughout the play, especially in relation to Othello's seizure, a phenomenon often associated with possession in the popular consciousness of the day. This production was the first ever in America to feature a black actor playing Othello with an otherwise all-white cast (there had been all-black productions of the play before). Othello (/oʊˈθɛloʊ/) is a character in Shakespeare's Othello (c. 1601–1604). Third Gentleman But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly, And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted 65: 262–272. Qiao shao z. Reticent, difficulty composing your marketing concept with basic software. I did all that. Iago convinces Roderigo to wake Brabantio and tell him about his daughter's elopement. In 1997, Patrick Stewart took the role with the Shakespeare Theatre Company (Washington, D.C.) in a race-bending performance, in a "photo negative" production of a white Othello with an otherwise all-black cast. [1] No English translation of Cinthio was available in Shakespeare's lifetime, and verbal echoes in Othello are closer to the Italian original than to Gabriel Chappuy's 1584 French translation. [59][60], Canadian playwright Ann-Marie MacDonald's 1988 award-winning play Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) is a revision of Othello and Romeo and Juliet in which an academic deciphers a cryptic manuscript she believes to be the original source for the tragedies, and is transported into the plays themselves.[61]. The first major screen production casting a black actor as Othello did not come until 1995, with Laurence Fishburne opposite Kenneth Branagh's Iago. The story revolves around its two central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and his treacherous ensign, Iago. The following plot diagram illustrates the main plot of Othello. 1, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Othello&oldid=1007292006, United States National Recording Registry recordings, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Lodovico – Brabantio's kinsman and Desdemona's cousin, Montano – Othello's Venetian predecessor in the government of Cyprus. Emilia calls for help. In 2006, Omkara, the Bollywood version of Othello, Othello née Omkara 'Omi' Shukla was played by Ajay Devgan. I stuck a pony tail on with a bell on the end of it. The "Ensign", however, continues to escape detection in Desdemona's death, but engages in other crimes while in Venice. This article is about the Shakespeare tragedy. Othello was written some time between 1600 and 1605. [13], Michael Neill, editor of the Oxford Shakespeare edition, notes that the earliest critical references to Othello's colour, (Thomas Rymer's 1693 critique of the play, and the 1709 engraving in Nicholas Rowe's edition of Shakespeare), assume him to be a black man, while the earliest known North African interpretation was not until Edmund Kean's production of 1814. In 1979, Keith Fowler’s production of Othello mixed the races throughout the company. Othello: Racism and the Moor William Shakespeare’s Othello uses the racial tensions of the period to enhance the execution of the play subtly. Develop a critical stance on Othello and its protagonist, the “Moor of Venice,” through the central motif of storytelling. Iago goads Cassio on to talk about his affair with Bianca, a local courtesan, but whispers her name so quietly that Othello believes the two men are talking about Desdemona. [2] Most modern editions are based on the longer Folio version, but often incorporate Quarto readings of words when the Folio text appears to be in error. [39] The assumed characteristics of black men, or "the other", were both instigated and popularised by Renaissance dramas of the time; for example, the treachery of black men inherent to George Peele's The Battle of Alcazar (1588). Companies have also chosen to share the role between several actors during a performance. The critics had mixed reactions to the "flashy" 1959 production which included mid-western accents and rock-and roll drumbeats but gave Robeson primarily good reviews. She has deceived her father, and may thee," (Act I, Sc 3). Othello, a Moorish general of Venice, has promoted Cassio as his lieutenant; Iago, who was hoping for the promotion himself, makes plots against both Cassio and Othello to exact revenge. She states that by 1604, accounts of Othello as deriving from farther south were not uncommon. His Othello was called by Harold Hobson of the London Sunday Times "the best Othello of our time,"[53] continuing: ...nobler than Tearle, more martial than Gielgud, more poetic than Valk. Doris Adler, "The Rhetoric of Black and White in Othello", Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun, "Othello by William Shakespeare directed by Jude Kelly", "Black or white? [27], Othello was frequently performed as an Arab Moor during the 19th century. Iago plants the handkerchief in Cassio's lodgings, then tells Othello to watch Cassio's reactions while Iago questions him. ‘The Moor is of a free and open nature, / That thinks men honest that but seem to be so; / And will as tenderly be led by the nose’ A1 s 3: The moor is open and straightforward. Othello, a noble Moor, is a courageous warrior with a decent personality and of undone jealousy and pride. From his first entry, slender and magnificently tall, framed in a high Byzantine arch, clad in white samite, mystic, wonderful, a figure of Arabian romance and grace, to his last plunging of the knife into his stomach, Mr Marshall rode without faltering the play's enormous rhetoric, and at the end the house rose to him. Desdemona's relatives eventually find and kill him. MONTANO … [15] Scholars differ in their explanation of these differences, and no consensus has emerged. Olivier used to lower his voice for Othello so I did mine. Lodovico appoints Cassio as Othello's successor and exhorts him to punish Iago justly. Desdemona may have the choice of many suitable matches, but she chooses Othello, even despite his racial difference. However, the version in the Folio is rather different in length, and in wording: as the editors of the Folger edition explain: "The Folio play has about 160 lines that do not appear in the Quarto. "[6][7] Various uses of the word "black" (for example, "Haply for I am black") are insufficient evidence for any accurate racial classification, Honigmann argues, since "black" could simply mean "swarthy" to Elizabethans. [20][21] Two Indian adaptations of Othello has been released. In marrying a Moor, Desdemona flies in the face of convention and faces criticism, which she handles unapologetically. [69], In September 2013, a Tamil adaptation titled Othello, the Fall of a Warrior was directed and produced in Singapore by Subramanian Ganesh.[70]. Cinthio's tale may have been based on an actual incident occurring in Venice about 1508. Ncaa college with hypothesis, winner, 192 series ya or allow them. In 2007, Othello opened at the Donmar Warehouse in London on 4 December 2007, directed by Michael Grandage, with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Othello, Ewan McGregor as Iago, Tom Hiddleston as Cassio, Kelly Reilly as Desdemona and Michelle Fairley as Emilia. It may be one index of the play's power that Othello was one of the very few Shakespeare plays that was never adapted and changed during the Restoration and the eighteenth century.[48]. The party arrives in Cyprus to find that a storm has destroyed the Turkish fleet. These include British performers Paul Scofield at the Royal National Theatre in 1980, Anthony Hopkins in the BBC Shakespeare television production (1981), and Michael Gambon in a stage production at Scarborough directed by Alan Ayckbourn in 1990. Desdemona may have the choice of many suitable matches, but she chooses Othello, even despite his racial difference. I was at the back like that, standing for an hour. [63][64], In June 2016, baritone and actor David Serero played the title role in a Moroccan adaptation featuring Judeo-Arabic songs and Verdi's opera version in New York. For knowledge of this, Shakespeare may have used Gasparo Contarini's The Commonwealth and Government of Venice, in Lewes Lewkenor's 1599 translation. The Revels account was first printed by Peter Cunningham in 1842, and, while its authenticity was once challenged, is now regarded as genuine (as authenticated by A.E. Gambon had been in Olivier's earlier production. Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes. [42] Thomas M. Vozar, in a 2012 article in Philosophy and Literature, suggests that the epileptic fit relates to the mind–body problem and the existence of the soul. The ensign escapes any prosecution in Desdemona's death but engages in other crimes and dies after being tortured. Othello was shown as jealous by his reaction to Desdemona, his wife, supposedly cheating. Othello reenters and, then being convinced by Iago of his wife's unfaithfulness with his captain, vows with Iago for the death of Desdemona and Cassio, after which he makes Iago his lieutenant. Othello and Desdemona's Relationship . There also have been over a dozen film adaptations of Othello. [25], Michael Neill, editor of an Oxford edition, notes that the earliest critical references to Othello's colour (Thomas Rymer's 1693 critique of the play, and the 1709 engraving in Nicholas Rowe's edition of Shakespeare) assume him to be Sub-Saharan, while the earliest known North African interpretation was not until Edmund Kean's production of 1814. He said, "Copy me." Enter OTHELLO and Attendants OTHELLO O my fair warrior! JSTOR 4135111. Othello, belatedly realising Desdemona's innocence, stabs Iago but not fatally, saying that Iago is a devil, and he would rather have him live the rest of his life in pain. "[57] British blacking-up for Othello ended with Gambon in 1990; however the Royal Shakespeare Company didn't run the play at all on the main Stratford stage until 1999, when Ray Fearon became the first black British actor to take the part, the first black man to play Othello with the RSC since Robeson. He first played it opposite a cast that included Peggy Ashcroft as Desdemona and Ralph Richardson as Roderigo, and would return to it in 1959 at Stratford on Avon.[24]. No one knew. The American actor William Marshall performed the title role in at least six productions. After time in Venice, Othello is appointed general in the Venetian Army. As critics have established, the term 'Moor' referred to dark-skinned people in general, used interchangeably with terms such as 'African', 'Somali', 'Ethiopian', 'Negro', 'Arab', 'Berber', and even 'Indian' to designate a figure from Africa (or beyond). Michael Gambon also took the role in 1980 and 1991; their performances were critically acclaimed. He said, "Do what I used to do." Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello, Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea, And is in full commission here for Cyprus. Except I had a pony tail. Othello defends himself before the Duke of Venice, Brabantio's kinsmen Lodovico and Gratiano, and various senators. "Leo Africanus's Descrittione dell'Africa and its sixteenth-century translations". In Elizabethan discourse, the word "black" could suggest various concepts that extended beyond the physical colour of skin, including a wide range of negative connotations. Similar products also available. [26] Honigmann discusses the view that Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun, Moorish ambassador of the Arab sultan of Barbary (Morocco) to Queen Elizabeth I in 1600, was one inspiration for Othello. He is arrested and dies after being tortured. Robeson played Othello in three separate productions between 1930 and 1959. While Shakespeare's play was written only a few years afterwards, Honigmann questions the view that ben Messaoud himself was a significant influence on it. When Edwin Booth's tour of England in 1880 was not well attended, Henry Irving invited Booth to alternate the roles of Othello and Iago with him in London. Othello (The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1603. [18] Othello was also frequently performed as an Arab Moor during the 19th century. There are those who also take a less critical approach to the character of Othello such as William Hazlitt, who said: "the nature of the Moor is noble ... but his blood is of the most inflammable kind". Cassio wounds Roderigo. The American actor William Marshall performed the title role in at least six productions. Ejiofor, Hiddleston and Fairley all received nominations for Laurence Olivier Awards, with Ejiofor winning. Desdemona was played by American actress Rachel Brosnahan, Cassio was played by Finn Wittrock, and Emilia was played by Marsha Stephanie Blake. Desdemona's physical whiteness is otherwise presented in opposition to Othello's dark skin; V.II "that whiter skin of hers than snow". Othello, a classic tale of love, jealousy and deceit, is considered one of the greatest dramas of Shakespeare. [10], While supplying the source of the plot, the book offered nothing of the sense of place of Venice or Cyprus. Racism seems to be a big issue in Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello. However, the language portrays the relationship between characters in different ways. [37] The 1982 Broadway staging starred James Earl Jones as Othello and Christopher Plummer as Iago. The play was entered into the Register of the Stationers Company on 6 October 1621, by Thomas Walkley, and was first published in quarto format by him in 1622: One year later, the play was included among the plays in the First Folio of Shakespeare's collected plays. With Orson Welles, Micheál MacLiammóir, Robert Coote, Suzanne Cloutier. Depriving someone of their name and referring to them solely in terms of their ethnic origin is a classic form of racism. Othello proceeds to make Desdemona's life miserable and strikes her in front of visiting Venetian nobles. Othello is referred to as a "Barbary horse" (1.1.113) and a "lascivious Moor" (1.1.127). Cinthio's tale may have been based on an actual incident occurring in Venice about 1508. Even though of powerful and eloquent character, he merely thought his manners and words to be rough and uneven. 492–507 from, Roy Proctor, "’Othello’ is Honest on Bare Stage,", Note also the character of Aaron the Moor in Shakespeare's play, http:/www.theculturenews.com/#!DAVID-SERERO-starring-as-OTHELLO-in-a-Moroccan-Style-this-June-in-New-York/cmbz/57282b750cf2051007a270c2, Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun, Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), "Cinthioʹs Tale: The Source of Shakespeareʹs Othello", "Othello by William Shakespeare directed by Jude Kelly", "The Times 9 February 2004 "Black and white more show, "Independent article 25 August 1993. Othello allows jealousy to consume him, murders Desdemona, and then kills himself. [67], In 2017, Ben Naylor directed the play for the Pop-up Globe in Auckland, New Zealand, with Māori actor Te Kohe Tuhaka in the title role, Jasmine Blackborow as Desdemona and Haakon Smestad as Iago. These two versions also differ from each other in their readings of numerous words. [32] Ground-breaking black American actor Paul Robeson played the role in three different productions between 1930 and 1959. Iago’s wife, Emilia was played by the popular black actress Marie Goodman Hunter. [43], There have been many differing views on the character of Othello over the years. [32] In the past, Othello would often have been portrayed by a white actor in blackface or in a black mask: more recent actors who chose to 'black up' include Ralph Richardson (1937); Orson Welles (1952); John Gielgud (1961); Laurence Olivier (1964); and Anthony Hopkins (1981). There is some debate amongst experts as to what race "Moor" refers to in Othello; however, the most common interpretation is that Othello was black and most likely of African descent. The book was an enormous success in Europe, and was translated into many other languages,[8] remaining a definitive reference work for decades (and to some degree, centuries) afterwards. Marshall also played Othello in a jazz musical version, Catch My Soul, with Jerry Lee Lewis as Iago, in Los Angeles in 1968. Iago now persuades Othello to be suspicious of Cassio and Desdemona. Othello sees this, and Iago convinces him that Cassio received the handkerchief from Desdemona. [68] The production transferred to Melbourne, Australia with another Maori actor, Regan Taylor, taking over the title role. The character's origin is traced to the tale "Un Capitano Moro" in Gli Hecatommithi by Giovanni Battista Giraldi Cinthio. The film version still holds the record for the most Oscar nominations for acting ever given to a Shakespeare film – Olivier, Finlay, Maggie Smith (as Desdemona) and Joyce Redman (as Emilia, Iago's wife) were all nominated for Academy Awards. ‘It is engender’s: — hell and night/ Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.’ Act 1 scene 3: With little help from … The Other is an interesting character that is seen throughout Shakespeare’s plays including Shylock in The Merchant of Venice and Caliban in The Tempest. Third Gentleman But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly, And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted With foul and violent tempest. In the past, Othello would often have been portrayed by a white actor in theatrical makeup. Othello explains that Desdemona became enamoured of him for the sad and compelling stories he told of his life before Venice, not because of any witchcraft. It ran for 296 performances, almost twice as long as any other Shakespearean play ever produced on Broadway. Unlike in Othello, in Cinthio, the "Ensign" (the play's Iago) lusts after Desdemona and is spurred to revenge when she rejects him. Othello, being not white, would therefore be even more likely to be singled out as the Moor of Venice. The former governor Montano arrives, with Gratiano and Iago. The first certainly known performance occurred on 1 November 1604, at Whitehall Palace in London, being mentioned in a Revels account on "Hallamas Day, being the first of Nouembar", 1604, when "the Kings Maiesties plaiers" performed "A Play in the Banketinge house at Whit Hall Called The Moor of Venis". [62], In March 2016 the historian Onyeka produced a play entitled Young Othello, a fictional take on Othello's young life before the events of Shakespeare's play. [15] It may also be that the Quarto was cut in the printing house to meet a fixed number of pages. "Edinburgh Festival, "Shakespeare's Othello | Cast & Creative – Lenny Henry", "Sephardic OTHELLO to Open in June at Center for Jewish History", "Review: Jealousy and Lies in a No-Exit Theater of War in 'Othello, "William Shakespeare's Othello : the fall of a warrior, 19th–22nd September 2013, Goodman Arts Centre", Othello Ballet Suite/Electronic Organ Sonata No. Othello, The Moor of Venice synonyms, Othello, The Moor of Venice pronunciation, Othello, The Moor of Venice translation, English dictionary definition of Othello, The Moor of Venice. As critics have established, the term 'Moor' referred to dark-skinned people in general, used interchangeably with similarly ambiguous terms as 'African', 'Ethiopian' and even 'Indian' to designate a figure from Africa (or beyond). CASSIO 'Tis truly so. His officer Iago tricks him into believing that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with his Lieutenant, Michael Cassio. We'll consider, too, how actors, directors, composers, and other artists tell stories through Othello in performance. At the start of the Restoration era, on 11 October 1660, Samuel Pepys saw the play at the Cockpit Theatre. The work is attributed to "Shaxberd." Essay on Shakespeares Othello, the Moor of Venice Uup faculty and innovation. Although it was never filmed, it was the first lengthy performance of a Shakespeare play released on records, first on a multi-record 78 RPM set and then on a 3-LP one. Iago refuses to explain his motives, vowing to remain silent from that moment on. [55] His Othello was captured on record in 1964 with Jay Robinson as Iago and on video in 1981 with Ron Moody as Iago. Brabantio, provoked by Roderigo, is enraged and will not rest until he has confronted Othello, but he finds Othello's residence full of the Duke of Venice's guards, who prevent violence.

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