Othello (Folger Shakespeare Library)

published	January 1st 2004 by Washington Square Press
first published	1604
binding	Paperback
isbn	0743477553 (isbn13: 9780743477550)
ebook
pages	368
description	Folger Shakespeare Library The world's leading center for Shakespeare studies Each edition includes: • Freshly edited text based on ...more [close] Folger Shakespeare Library The world's leading center for Shakespeare studies Each edition includes: • Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play • Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play • Scene-by-scene plot summaries • A key to famous lines and phrases • An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language • An essay by an outstanding scholar providing a modern perspective on the play • Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books Essay by Susan Snyder The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. [close]
date added	12-18-06 edit book

find at: Amazon | Half.com | Barnes & Noble | Abebooks | more...

discuss this book

topics	replies	views	last activity
Othello & Titus Andronicus	1	4	03/09/2008 07:23AM
othello-tragedy	1	1	11/26/2007 05:06AM

new topic

groups with this book

friend reviews (0)

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

lists with this book

11 people voted for it on
Best plays ever

94 books | 72 voters

6 people voted for it on
Best of William Shakespeare

23 books | 38 voters

More...

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 12018)

Yeshua rated it:

04/29/08

Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil
Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?
-Othello, end of Act V

When I was about 9 years old, I put a healthy, live mouse into my parents' microwave oven. It was a summer day and I was all alone. I had this devilish feeling inside me. I knew it was wrong, but I had to do it. I grabbed a kitchen chair, dragged it across the floor, stood on it, opened the door, and threw the mouse in. Then I hit start.

At first it was no big deal. The light turne...more Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil
Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?
-Othello, end of Act V

When I was about 9 years old, I put a healthy, live mouse into my parents' microwave oven. It was a summer day and I was all alone. I had this devilish feeling inside me. I knew it was wrong, but I had to do it. I grabbed a kitchen chair, dragged it across the floor, stood on it, opened the door, and threw the mouse in. Then I hit start.

At first it was no big deal. The light turned on inside, the mouse sniffed around, and I watched from outside, keen to see the first sign of distress. I felt exhilarated, euphoric, omnipotent. This living thing— this twitching, whiskered, beady-eyed creature— its life was mine for the taking, its fate mine for the making.

After ten seconds, I stopped the microwave and cracked the door. The mouse seemed unfazed and crawled toward me. I shut the door again and hit start: twenty seconds this time. It was just enough. When I cracked the door again, the mouse was visibly shaken. It crawled much slower and traced a clumsy arc across the microwave floor. I shut the door again and hit start. Another ten seconds. Then ten more. Then ten more.

I never felt any hate for that mouse. I wasn't seeking revenge for its past acts. I didn't even draw any specific pleasure from its pain or agony. Why then? Why would I, a young and well-adjusted child of God, a pillar of Cub Scout values and lover of mothers and cousins and little brothers... why would I nuke this helpless rodent in the mortal chamber of parents' microwave oven?

Why? Because I could, that's why.

And I believe Shakespeare's Iago would say the same thing to Othello's question above. Why did Iago ensnare the Moor's soul? Why did he devise, occasion, direct, and execute the collapse of the man's entire world? Why? Because he could, that's why. Rodrigo, Cassio, Desdemona, Othello... mere mice in Iago's oven. The fact that he can destroy them so cleverly, so precisely, so artistically functions as proof to him. It proves the superiority of his will over theirs, just as my minute-mice experiment proved the superiority of a 9-year-old's will over another creature's entire existence.

I find little mystery in the psychology of Shakespeare's Iago. His motivation is clearly all-too-human. The real mystery of the play and the play's deepest question is why that is so. Why do such beings like Iago, like the 9-year-old me, like the thousandfold prison guard, priest and parent who, seduced by omnipotence, inflicts terror and torment on a fellow living being... why do such creatures exist?

It’s a sublime question asked by a sublime play. Iago is evil, no doubt. But the kernel of his wickedness is commonplace among men. Be honest. If I were suddenly to place you at the almighty helm of mankind, can you really be so sure you wouldn’t inflict on man the kinds of calamities and catastrophes wrought by old Jehovah? Overflowing with power, knowledge and time, could you really avoid torturing man? Even if you were the only one watching?

Read this play, or better, watch it. I assure you, if you're honest, you will see a bit of yourself in Iago and a bit of him in you, and you will be properly horrified....less

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

5 comments

Corinne rated it:

06/13/08

bookshelves: the-nook-book-club

Read in June, 2008

This goes without saying: it's a tragic story. Othello is a quintessential tragic figure, falling prey to the lies and deceits of his inferior officer Iago, who convinces Othello that his wife, Desdemona is unfaithful. The jealousy and rage that result from Othello's belief that Desdemona is having an affair with his right hand man (Cassio) leads to numerous innocents being maimed and killed. I sorta figured it would end up that way somehow :)

At the crux of this story is Iago - the lying and...more This goes without saying: it's a tragic story. Othello is a quintessential tragic figure, falling prey to the lies and deceits of his inferior officer Iago, who convinces Othello that his wife, Desdemona is unfaithful. The jealousy and rage that result from Othello's belief that Desdemona is having an affair with his right hand man (Cassio) leads to numerous innocents being maimed and killed. I sorta figured it would end up that way somehow :)

At the crux of this story is Iago - the lying and conniving standard bearer who wants to improve his standing in the army and goes about purposely ruining the lives of all those around him in order to gain the post of lieutenant. Iago is, ironically, constantly being called "honest" and "true" by his companions, he almost has a split personality. Shakespeare lets us even hear his thoughts occasionally- how carefully and craftily Iago leads everyone to their doom. It was so painful to see Othello slip deeper and deeper under Iago's spell, knowing how pliable he was allowing himself to be under Iago's hands.

And poor Desdemona and her unlucky token. If only she'd kept that danged handkerchief in her pocket, she might've had a chance to prove her innocence. Well, possibly. It's hard to say if anything could've broken through Othello's belief that she was untrue to him. How sobering to watch something beautiful like the love between Othello and Desdemona twist into something so very ugly - a reminder to constantly take everything you hear with more than a grain of salt. Ulterior motives and hatred can breed misery for anyone not on his guard.

Shakespeare is a genius. The lyrical nature of the turns of phrase and the way the characters interact and react is fascinating. Let's end with a few of my favorite quotes:

Regarding getting drunk (one night of drunkenness for Cassio starts a whole chain of horrible events for him)
"O that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains!"

Regarding reputations
"Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving"

Regarding jealousy (ironically enough, it's IAGO saying this to OTHELLO!!)
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on."

Well said, William Shakespeare. Well said....less

Like this review? yes

title link
avg rating
small image
med image
large image

Othello (Folger Shakespeare Library)

discuss this book

groups with this book

friend reviews (0)

lists with this book

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 12018)

book data (includes all editions)

blog this book

popular shelves

other editions

quote

trivia question