Othello by William Shakespeare

The Folger Shakespeare Library edition provides an excellent introduction to the play, making it accessible to both newcomers and experienced readers of Shakespeare. The introduction and annotations are informative and enhance the understanding of the text, especially for those not familiar with the language of the Elizabethan era.

The character of Othello is masterfully portrayed, and his descent into jealousy and madness is both heartbreaking and thought-provoking. Iagos cunning manipulation is brilliantly depicted, leaving you questioning the depths to which human jealousy can drive a person.

The themes explored in "Othello" are as relevant today as they were in Shakespeares time, making this play a timeless exploration of human nature and the destructive power of jealousy and mistrust.

Whether youre a Shakespeare aficionado or just looking for a compelling read, "Othello (Folger Shakespeare Library)" is a must-have addition to your library. Its a powerful work of literature that will leave a lasting impression and provide plenty of material for reflection and discussion.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this edition of "Othello" to anyone who appreciates classic literature, intricate character development, and profound themes. Its a brilliant and enduring masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers of all generations.

Othello, or The Tradegy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, is a tragic play written by the illustrious William Shakespeare, who also wrote many more plays throughout his lifetime and is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. The first edition was written in approximately 1603, and the story is based upon a short Italian story called "Un Capitano Toro," or "The Moorish Captain." There have been many editions printed and to this day Othello is still performed in professional and communities today. Its impossible to shake the popularity of Shakespeares works, if not all, as Othello has spawned numerous movie, opera, and book versions. The edition that I am reviewing is the electronic Kindle version, published by Public Domain Books, with 182 pages and in playwright form.
Set in the beautiful city of Venice and the country of Cyprus, the story takes place in about the late 1500s, and the early 1600s. Othello, a courageous and skilled soldier, is married to the lovely Desdemona, with whom he is quite taken with. Though Othello has everything going for him there is one person who, unbeknownst to him, threatens to destroy that happiness. That person is Iago, Othellos appointed ensign. Hidden under a veil of honesty, Othello puts bestows great trust on Iago, though the latter is, in reality, a cruel and despicable man who will do anything to get what he desires. Including characters that simply add more thrilling drama and shocking intrigue, the play beautifully and darkly illustrates Othellos descent into madness, and leads up to the stunning conclusion that truly makes this a "tragedy."
After Othello secretly elopes with Desdemona, a wealthy man named Roderigo who is upset at this arrangement complains to Iago, a soldier that serves under Othello. Iago and Roderigo share the shame ire towards the former but for different reasons. After having promoted the younger and less-experienced Cassio to lieutenant over himself, Iago plots to manipulate Othello into thinking that his wife is cheating on him. Iago proceeds to use his guile to toy with Othellos mind, shattering the trust he felt towards Desdemona, and morphing him into a vessel filled with rage, doubt, jealousy. Effectively, he utilizes Cassio and even his own wife to spite Othello. In a rage of grief and jealousy, Othello chooses to believe Iagos words, and more than one person has fallen to his serpents tongue.
Othello demonstrates the importance of trust. For example, Othello trusted Iago, and was therefore easily swayed by his words. His trust for Desdemona shatters with each moment of evidence that arises in favor of Desdemona cheating on him with Cassio. Another theme is believing what your eyes see versus reality. The force of Iagos manipulations made a greater force on Othello, rendering him paranoid and green with envy. Despite her husbands odd behavior towards her, Desdemona does nothing more than try to reinforce her love for him, despite his harsh words. Because of that love, she still has faith in him. Sadly, that faith doesnt pull through in the end...
This play was nothing short of impressive. Beautifully written, nothing less from the great Shakespeare, it is a read that teens will find exciting, despite the year it was written. Though Othello is the title character, the one who shined the most to me was definitely Iago. He is the epitome of cruelty and manipulation, the kind of person that everyone loves to hate. Desdemonas love for Othello despite his mistrust of her was touching, and the ending left me deeply saddened, but had me cheering for its brilliance. This book is simply another gem from William Shakespeare and, dare I say it, possibly one of his best.

There is no other author like Shakespeare. Reading his plays can be challenging but also rewarding. Othello is a great one to read if you want to ease into his writing. The story is tragic, but satisfying without being too complex.

Very useful to use for "Shakespeare work shop I take part in.

Iago stole the show for me. A formidable foe that plays with the desires of all characters while having a facade of honest and trusty man, I have read stories with demons but no one seems to be on par with this delicious character. I love how Shakespeare makes everything inevitable, as if he himself would not exist but the world he writes would be so real and the characters, despite their best efforts, cannot avoid to be crushed by a doom heavy as an ocean. There is in the background a war with Turks but the story is so intense that that war pales in comparison with the passions of Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, Roderigo and Iago. An excellent reading that I am happy to have not been spoiled to read at school, institution that would ask us to memorize dates or analize names but not to enjoy the reading.

Also I found something curious. I have noticed in English speaking countries persons have the idea that Moors were a kind of black kingdom in Spain. Certainly the noble but unfortunate Othello is black, but he is not from Spain but from Morocco. The Moors were not an African culture but an Arabian one, over a native Spaniard population that mostly was Arrian rather than Catholic, so they felt closer to the Muslim world than the Catholicism that look them as heretics. Until this beautiful book I didnt know why that misunderstanding, of course being Othello such an amazing reading is natural that fantasy would alter the perception of reality.

In reference to the AmazonClassics edition it has X-Ray, mostly about the identity of the characters. It is not a book populated with footnotes and data; but I prefer it thus. There are no obstacles between the book and the reader.

Having read a number of Shakespeare tragedies while in high school, I was well aware that in any of them a whole bunch of people are going to die . Im not quite sure how but I had somehow missed Othello in my Shakespeare reading days, but of course one usually has an idea of what it is about even without reading it.

So the question remains, if I knew what it was about and how it was going to end, why should I bother to read it? Would the experience, be worth the effort expended, I wondered and finally after four decades, I decided that it would indeed. While knowing that Othello will be convinced by the evil Iago to kill his faithful wife, Desdemona, the experience of reading Othello is enjoyable for its lush language, and very human story.

Iago is perhaps king of evil manipulators. Weve all met some, I think and hopefully the experience has taught us to be cautious of those with a silken tongue, but poor Othello, although a general, is a bit of a gullible fool. The reader watches in awe as Iago weaves his web around Othello, to bring about his downfall. Warning Othello of the nature of jealousy, in an effort to further fan the flames Iago says:

"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on."

To tempt Cassio into drinking more Iago replies:

"Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used."

After reading Othello, I believe it was well worth it and would encourage others to do so as well.

"Put up your bright swords, or the dew will rust them!"

"Oh thou weed, that smellst so sweet that the senses ache at thee...Ill smell it on the tree..."

Paul Robeson not only has the most wonderful voice, but is a superb actor as well. His deep, flexible, expressive tones seem to be going exactly where they are inclined to go, instead of where a man writing over 400 years ago, in what we call "Shakespearian English" (closer to ours than middle English--but not quite there) dictated. Uta Hagen ("and I remain behind, a moth of peace...Let me go with him!") is also perfect.

When I first got the 33 1/3 RPM record (as close to 1950 as possible), I loved Jose Ferrer as Iago, with his India-rubber ball voice, best of all. He is great, but sometimes I find his scenes with Othello so insinuating (after he has begun to feed Othello his "poison" Othello: "Well then--I do believe-- Desdemonas honest." Iago: "Long live she so! And long live you to [very insinuating] think so." One sometimes wonders at Othellos gullibility [which is of course part of his character..but still...]} Iago floats over his "motive-hunting of motiveless malignancy" to perfection. Everything moves toward its inevitable conclusion, with Iago pushing, pulling, tacking, fashioning "the net/ that shall enmesh them all."

I was too young to see this performance (8 in 1943); its one of many things I wish I could go back in time for.

If you can enjoy listening to a Shakespeare play, instead of watching it--do yourself a good turn, and get this one!

The play is great. I have nothing to add about this version that hasnt already been said. My gripe is with the physical book. Its falling apart. Pages keep falling out. At this point, Ill have to order a second copy to use in class. Very frustrating.

it’s the original play only, no translations or dictionaries.
Good for price

I yield to no one in my respect for the new, third series of the Arden Shakespeare. I own about 25 of them and treasure every one--until I came to buy this Othello. This is simply Honigmanns edition from the second (1997) series, with a new introduction (2017). The second series is far more scantily annotated that the third, so the retreaded text here is a bit disappointing. Now certainly Honigmann is a highly reputable scholar, but his edition still needs redoing and fleshing out to the new standards. However, the new introduction by Ayanna Thompson is indeed superb. I just wish the entire volume were this good.

Arden needs to man up and admit that their Othello needs a completely new edition. I would recommend that purchasers wait for it. On the other hand, the price is modest, so if youre impatient by all means buy this one. But dont over-expect. Ill be on the lookout for a thoroughly revised edition; I hope its sooner rather than later.

(PS, if you havent bought the Arden two-volume, three-text (Q1, Q2, F) Hamlet, wait no longer. It is superb, all but indispensable in my judgment. The introduction was even further revised in a 2016 update.

(PPS: Likewise, Arden should have prepared a two-text Lear (F, Q) to go with the Hamlet. Splendid as Prof. Foakess introduction and apparatus are (and he is one of our very best Lear scholars), two texts are now virtually required by most publishers for the tangled editing of this sublime play. Time for Arden to get on board with it and revisit this 1997 edition).