Shakespeare: The English Poet and Playwright
William Shakespeare was baptized on the 26th of April, 1564 (his actual birthdate is unknown) in Warwickshire, England. He is considered by many as the greatest writer in the history of the English language which is why he remains in odes of admiration today.
He is also regarded as England’s national poet and the ‘Bard of Avon’. He married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18 and rose to be an actor, playwright and the owner of a theatrical enterprise which was later known as King’s Men.
He died in 1616 at the age of fifty two. Today, four hundred years later, his legacy is no stranger to conspiracy and controversy regarding the originality of his work, his appearance, his sexuality and his beliefs.
Setting and Main Theme of Othello’s Story: Portrayal of Love, Revenge and Jealousy and Their Disastrous Consequences
The play was set in Venice during the invasion of the Island of Cyprus by the Turks. Othello is shown as a general in the Venetian army and the play revolves around the roles of individual characters and their relationships during a time of incoming warfare.
The play also brings into focus, like most Shakespearian plays, the effects of love and betrayal. It portrays intricate, complicated, subtle and forbidden forms of relationships that are still prevalent in modern society.
Elements of Humanization
Through Othello, Shakespeare intended to humanize the perception of other racial groups and showed how they fitted into the virtues and ills of society just like ordinary locals did. As with most of his plays, Othello showed human passion and human weakness through tales of seduction, love, power and betrayal.
Othello’s Criticism
Shakespeare’s works always possessed a tinge of subtlety which was a double-edged sword. It beautified his writing prowess yet it also led to conflicting interpretations of his work. Several critics argue that Othello contains slurs of racist jargon which were prevalent in that society. Although it shows the helplessness of black men, it consistently shows the West as the beacon of rationality and the East as its irrational counterpart. Turks were not considered to be of equal mental ability and devoid of humane mannerisms in the eyes of the European characters, and arguably, in Shakespeare’s. His critics include A.C. Bradley and Anthony Gilbert.
Othello in the Modern Era
Despite the controversy, Othello survived the engulfing tides of time and is a part of modern theatricals and has been inscribed in literary history for all times to come. It has had several influences on modern works as well.
Adaptations
Film
The play has been adapted in multiple films which include:
Jarum Halus (2008) a Malaysian version.
Omkara (2006) a Bollywood feature.
Eloise (2002) set in Australia.
Kaliyattam (1997) a Kerala based production.
Othello (1995, 1982, 1965, 1955, 1914 and 1909) made in different countries all over the world.
The Tragedy of Othello (1952)
Plays
Othello has been performed in theatricals and operas all across the modern world which includes Naples and Milan based operas. It has also surfaced in the form of ballet in New York City.
Other Adaptations
The play has also been made into a few television series in 1981, 1990 and 2001 for various production houses such as the British Broadcasting Corporation. It has also been adapted into a graphic novel by Oscar Zarate.
Othello Today
The play is still taught and performed in modern schools and colleges and the legacy of William Shakespeare and his controversial Othello thrives on into the future alongside other memorable Shakespearian works such as:
The Merchant of Venice
Twelfth Night
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Macbeth
Romeo and Juliet
Famous Quotations from Othello
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly follow’d
-Othello ACT I Scene 1
You are one of those that will not serve God, if the devil bid you
-Othello ACT I Scene 1.
The robb’d that smiles, steals something from the thief
-Othello ACT I Scene 3
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