We read Shakespeare’s Othello in English and while it wasn't one of my favorites, it was bearable. Personally, if you were planning on reading a classic play, I would suggest something from Chekhov. Shakespeare is confusing and I didn't really like reading his play, but I suppose it could have been worse. At least it wasn't Beckett.
I didn't like the main characters. Othello had anger issues, Desdemona was too naive, and of course Iago was evil. My favorite character in the play was actually Emilia. She was not very prominent in most of the play, but she held her own after Desdemona’s death. She stood up to her husband and sold him out for causing the murder. The fact that she stood up for herself and her mistress and spoke out against her husband defies gender rules of the time. She was brave for doing what she did but unfortunately she died soon after, murdered by Iago. It is true that Othello defied racial stereotypes of the time, but Emilia’s defiance of gender stereotypes is something I can connect with more easily.
Othello was a pretty cool play for the time. It challenged several social norms of the period and it was a bold choice for Shakespeare to write about. I’m sure it helped with some social movements or at least made it easier for some people to be accepted, but I would actually have no idea. Was Shakespeare even as popular then as he is now? His play might not have had as great an effect as it would if we were going through the same troubles now.
Even with all of the social aspects of this play, I still did not particularly enjoy reading it. It was very confusing and difficult to understand. We ended up analyzing the meaning of the words more than actually reading the story. It might be better if it was translated into modern language, but as it is, I didn't like it.
I didn't like the main characters. Othello had anger issues, Desdemona was too naive, and of course Iago was evil. My favorite character in the play was actually Emilia. She was not very prominent in most of the play, but she held her own after Desdemona’s death. She stood up to her husband and sold him out for causing the murder. The fact that she stood up for herself and her mistress and spoke out against her husband defies gender rules of the time. She was brave for doing what she did but unfortunately she died soon after, murdered by Iago. It is true that Othello defied racial stereotypes of the time, but Emilia’s defiance of gender stereotypes is something I can connect with more easily.
Othello was a pretty cool play for the time. It challenged several social norms of the period and it was a bold choice for Shakespeare to write about. I’m sure it helped with some social movements or at least made it easier for some people to be accepted, but I would actually have no idea. Was Shakespeare even as popular then as he is now? His play might not have had as great an effect as it would if we were going through the same troubles now.
Even with all of the social aspects of this play, I still did not particularly enjoy reading it. It was very confusing and difficult to understand. We ended up analyzing the meaning of the words more than actually reading the story. It might be better if it was translated into modern language, but as it is, I didn't like it.