Shakespeare's Othello

I had the opportunity to read Shakespeare’s Othello last year while on exchange in South Africa--an experience which, given South Africa’s recent history, further elevated a play already filled with racial tension and sexual jealousy. Although given my previous experience with Shakespeare’s text, I still found it incredibly difficult and time consuming reading his words. The first thing that caught my attention was that Iago practically opens the play and within the first few moments has spoken two monologues—which set up his motivations and the play’s action (i.e. he wasn’t given the promotion he wanted by Othello, despite having worked for him for a long time. Therefore he seeks to destroy Othello as repayment). I guess one can say that, as an audience member, one is thrown into the action. I enjoy Shakespeare’s use of language when it comes to Iago’s speeches and his monologues—he’s so vile. For example, as Iago ensnares his second victim, Brabantio, Desdemona’s father “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe (90-93.1251)” he calls to her father’s window. It’s incredible to notice how calculating Iago is (he tells all of his plans to the audience)—he doesn’t waste time in carrying out his plan. He’s rather like an archer, who carefully hits each target accurately in a row (i.e. He ensnares Rodrigo, Brabantio, Cassio, Desdemona, and finally Othello). I guess, for me, reading it a second time is heartbreaking for I see through all of the lies Iago tells Othello and I want nothing more than to tell Othello of them.
Following along those lines I am fully seeing Othello’s own ‘tragic flaw’ as he is so vulnerable to Iago’s plan. He constantly in Act 1 and 2 refers to Iago as “honest” and can’t see what Iago proclaims himself to be: “I am not what I am (67.1250)”. In many ways I can relate to Othello’s ‘flaw’ of trusting too fully and being taken advantage of. I remember in high school one of my friends telling me that I was ‘too nice’ and needed to learn that people weren’t always what they seem; I don’t think I’ve learned my lesson yet. There are obviously other factors that made Othello an easy target for Iago (i.e. race and Othello’s position in society) and Shakespeare fully explores this concept in his character of Othello and in this play.

Here is a clip from the Globe Theater's recent production with Eamon Walker and Zoe Tapper, 2007.



In researching Othello I came across this clip of African American actor Paul Robeson, who was the first black Othello in the American Theater. It's fantastic interview, such a consumate and articulate performer!