Hamlet is my third Shakespeare book after King Lear. Since Hamlet is my reference point and the one that I rate the highest, I inevitably made comparisons when deciding on the next books. Othello is a much better and more organized book compared to King Lear, but it cannot approach Hamlet. The core theme of the book seemed a bit too small to me, so it felt like it wandered around a bit too much.

I really liked the translation. Özdemir Nutku did a very proper translation. The little notes about Shakespearean English were very enlightening. It's interesting to see how the language has evolved over time. Shakespeare's works are so rich and complex that they require careful study and analysis. Each character has their own unique personality and motives, and the plots are full of twists and turns. Reading these plays not only gives us an insight into the human condition but also allows us to appreciate the beauty and power of language.

Perhaps someone wants to get to know Shakespeare's genius, so he must read this tragic play. It is one of the most famous works written by Shakespeare, and its text, genius, and the depth of its artistic, psychological, and character portrayal, as well as the great drama that Shakespeare presents here, remain eternal. In fact, he presents a diverse and complete work with a deep tragedy like that presented by Sophocles in King Oedipus. It is a living and mature continuation of every tragedy written and a strong and solid link to the future works that will be written by the hand of tragedy..

Othello is a very noble person who falls victim to jealousy. He falls victim to suspicion, haste, and the inability to give the benefit of the doubt to the closest people to him in heart and emotion, (Desdemona), whom he loves and marries despite her father. That pure, chaste humanity with a loving heart, which (Othello) did not protect in the face of the first true test, is overcome by his true grief. Some people are not because they are not worthy of love, but because they do not know how to love or how to protect their good relationships from cunning and deceit. Shakespeare here presents the conflict between truth and illusion and how illusion can easily control a person more than we expect. In fact, we find that the cunning and despicable (Iago) himself was amazed at the naivety (of Othello) and his haste in judging the affairs of cunning. Thus, everything beautiful can be destroyed in front of a bad suspicion and a wrong idea, and the end remains a tragedy that cannot be endured..

When we encounter envy and benefits with stupidity, then we deserve all the misfortunes that fall on our heads.

A Bedouin military leader from Morocco retired to Benghazi. He fell in love with a beautiful Italian girl named Diedemona. He replaced his love with a greater love.

They got married.

But is there anyone who would believe that they lived happily ever after? Of course not, because we are with Shakespeare here.

His envious and evil friend Iago succeeds quickly in sowing the seeds of doubt in the weaker side, Othello!

In a tragic scene that no one will forget, Othello listens to his voice and only his voice. And with his hands, he strangles his beloved and chaste wife, who never believed that a fair beauty like her could love a black-skinned man with coarse hair and in his forties.

And as a result of his stupidity, which we see often throughout the ages, he soon discovers that he has strangled his happiness with his own hands.

All because of his lack of trust in himself. Truly, this is one of the most beautiful things written about envy and its effect on the fools.

Once again Shakespeare and once again the observation of human downfall.

"There is nothing more delightful than watching your downfall."

A sentence that one of the characters in the TV series "Inheritance" utters, a sentence that perhaps all of you would deny in the depth of your being, but whether you like it or not, in the darkest and most inaccessible aspects of your being, you take pleasure in watching the fall of people far and around you, especially if you have had a petty quarrel with them and not a single particle of compassion has remained in your being towards them. Be sure that if such a situation confronts you, you will stand and watch from a distance, with a smile on your lips, the downfall of those who perhaps until yesterday you considered your close friends.

The truth is that there is darkness in each of us humans. According to Stephen King, there are hyenas and demons, and sometimes they prevail over us.

One of the most essential concepts in the play "Othello" is the examination of the concept of jealousy, and a step further, the paranormal jealousy of the kind of jealousy in "Othello" is the lack of loyalty in one's beloved. The classic characteristic of Shakespeare's plays lies in this human tendency through the devilish bridges and crossings. Othello is so paranormal that he attributes a systematic and controlling significance to every detail and coincidence. Freud, who wisely knows the concept closest to the paranormal, knows the essence of both as the love of knowledge and knowing, a passion that ultimately leads to a sick obsession that is always in pursuit of uncovering a hidden truth or a secret.

In fact, when talking about paranormal jealousy, it must ultimately lead to sexual jealousy, a point that governs Othello's mind. In his mind, the whole world has turned into the female genitalia. The female sexual desire is either one or the same, either in the possession of a man, here referring to Othello, or everywhere.

In other words, it is either nothing or everything.

Unfortunately, Othello suffers from a kind of hysterical Hermeneutic tumor that has turned him into a simple-minded receiver. He easily believes whatever is said and strongly resists when hearing words contrary to it with reasons that have roots in his heart. He simply makes great speculations with the little information he has and concludes everything in his mind. Sadly, at one point in the play, he cries out: "By heaven, I think my wife be honest, and think she is not; I think that thou art just, and think thou art not."

Shakespeare does not want to prove in the play "Othello" that jealousy is a kind of sexual desire, but rather he tries to say that sexual desire is a kind of jealousy. At the beginning of the story, Othello had won the heart of Desdemona with his war stories and many exaggerated bravadoes, but he never showed her the sexual desire as much as he thought she had betrayed him. I think that a human can never have complete lust for something that he owns, and we always need to see something that we have a lot of lust for as something out of our reach. Therefore, we must mention that Desdemona found her ultimate value for Othello when she turned into an independent identity, outside of possession, and of course, a devilish one (from Othello's point of view).

Finally, the point that exists is that a woman is someone that a man can never bring into his possession. A woman is someone who flees from his tight grip and establishes a separate being, a being that in most cases also greatly affects the existence of men and makes them aware of a point. This point has only one subject to tell, and that is that the existence of a man and a woman is from the same foundation and base. A man and a woman have differences with each other, but dwelling on their differences and highlighting issues that do not cure any pain is not in the interest of any human. Humans should be measured regardless of gender, nationality, religion, and all their distinguishing characteristics.

Oh, Othello, thou art truly a great disappointment. By this, I mean the character and not the play itself. I was rather surprised to discover that Iago was the actual "protagonist" of the play, or at least the character who was in the spotlight and whose scheming we were closely following. While Iago was somewhat sensible and intelligent, Othello was just the dumbest fellow ever. Honestly, my friend, you did not deserve Desdemona. And although I'm furious that she "had" to die (after all, it's Shakespeare, and all of his female characters either die or end up with strange men), I'm actually quite glad that Othello also kicked the bucket.

This guy was such a bore. Othello allowed himself to be manipulated by Iago so easily, and the lack of trust he had in his "one true love" Desdemona was simply laughable. Iago came up with the most random accusations against Desdemona, basically claiming that she was cheating on him with Cassio, and Othello believed it, despite the fact that Iago's only "proof" was a handkerchief. I could almost cry. Othello didn't even go to Desdemona to hear her side of the story (like any reasonable person would), no, he just accused her of being a "whore" (his exact words, not mine) and whined about how women are so evil and make life so difficult for men. Boohoo, cry me a river, baby.

However, Othello was not the only idiotic character in this play. Roderigo also let himself be easily manipulated by Iago. There is literally a scene where Roderigo threatens to drown himself (he was miserable because he also had a crush on Desdemona, what a surprise!), and Iago gets him all fired up again by appealing to his "manliness" and telling him "to drown blind puppies" instead. I can't make this stuff up. Iago is a toxic mess, but I still support him. The whole comedic weight of the play was carried on his shoulders.

Iago actually stabs Roderigo to death in the end (how classy!), and I had to pretend to be shocked. It was all quite predictable, but that didn't matter at all. I was rooting for all of those characters to die. Except for my precious Desdemona, they really did her wrong. Ugh. First, her strange father who accused her of "treason of blood" because she fell in love with Othello without telling him. I mean, looking at Brabantio's reaction, can you blame her? Her father was crazy. [I find it kind of funny that he died off-stage and Shakespeare didn't feel the need to expand on that. Brabantio was really a useless character. Bye Felicia, get your overly dramatic self out of here.] Then she got screwed over again by Othello and his lack of trust in her. And even Shakespeare did her wrong by not using her to her fullest potential. I really didn't need another "obedient wife" who would literally die for her stupid husband.

I also didn't have any sympathy for Cassio. He was drunk the whole time and treated the prostitutes badly, so he can basically choke. And he almost did, if only Roderigo had been more accurate with that sword. But oh well, Roderigo was good for nothing, so why am I even surprised that he couldn't successfully stab someone to death? The only character who kind of redeemed herself was Emilia, Iago's wife. I loved that she constantly called out the sexist nonsense of the men in her life, especially when she realized that her husband was behind it all and Desdemona's death. Emilia snapped, and I was cheering her on:

  Let husbands know
Their wives have sense like them: they see and smell
And have their palates both for sweet and sour,
As husbands have. What is it that they do
When they change us for others? Is it sport?
I think it is: and doth affection breed it?
I think it doth: is't frailty that thus errs?
It is so too: and have not we affections,
Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?

It was much needed for a female character in this play to stand up like this because some of the male characters were just so delusional. I love that a sister put them in their place. I mean, at one point, Othello is actually feeling sorry for himself because he no longer has a wife, and I'm just like, DUDE, YOU LITERALLY STRANGLED HER FIVE MINUTES AGO? What is wrong with you? The fact that Iago stabs Emilia in the end is just sad. I wanted my queen to live.

So, all in all, Othello is full of unlikeable characters who make one stupid decision after another and generally trust the wrong people without thinking for themselves... and it's just amazing. I know it's supposed to be a tragedy, but I found it so entertaining. I laughed my head off the whole time. Iago is just such a snake, and it was really funny to see how he so easily tricked everyone and basically got everyone stabbed in one way or another. On top of that, I really appreciate the ending of the play because I thought I had it all figured out, with Iago coming out on top and ruling over Cyprus in the end, but no, Shakespeare envisioned a different ending for this character, and I enjoyed being surprised like that.

Lastly, it's worth noting that Shakespeare used the word "trash" to refer to a character in the play (#relatable #me), made countless allusions to sex (like seriously, this was sex galore, "lie with her? lie on her?" who knows, right?), and also used the word "swagger" unironically. I really support a timeless queen.

Shakespeare's plays are constantly challenging the moral dimensions of human society. Treachery, lies, betrayal, and so on.

The Western story is also no exception to this rule, and its central theme is precisely these issues. Shakespeare's works explore the depths of human nature, revealing the complex and often dark side of our emotions and actions. Through his vivid characters and engaging plots, he makes us question our own values and beliefs.

His plays have endured for centuries because they speak to the universal experiences and struggles of humanity. Whether it's the tragic downfall of a hero or the comical misadventures of a group of characters, Shakespeare's works continue to captivate audiences and inspire new generations of writers and thinkers.

In conclusion, Shakespeare's plays are not only a source of entertainment but also a powerful tool for understanding the human condition and exploring the moral and ethical dilemmas that we face in our daily lives.

I read this article for my English class and I have to say it was pretty swag.

However, I'm not entirely sure what rating to give it. There were some aspects that I really liked, such as the unique perspective it presented and the engaging writing style.

On the other hand, there were also a few areas where I thought it could be improved. For example, some of the arguments could have been more developed and supported with evidence.

Right now, I'm about to start writing a presentation on this article. I'm really excited to explore it further and share my thoughts with my classmates.

I think it's going to be a great opportunity to learn more about the topic and improve my communication skills.

Overall, while I'm still undecided on the rating, I'm definitely glad that I had the chance to read this article and engage with it in my English class.

The trust, the office I do hold of you
Not only take away, but let your sentence
Even fall upon my life.

Act I, Scene 3.

This is the Othello the reader encounters at the start of this tragedy. He is the embodiment of the Renaissance ideal, an archetypal hero. Confident in himself, valiant and honorable, he remains in complete self-control when falsely accused of coercing fair Desdemona, the daughter of a nobleman, into marrying him. When facing the Duke, his defense plea is a masterpiece of splendid poetry, calm dignity, and the voice of reason, charming all who listen to his refined soliloquy.

However, Othello is also a black African, known as The Moor. He is a General in the Venetian Army and a Christian. He is the epitome of many stereotypical paradoxes that coexist within him, foreshadowing disaster. There are evil forces at play that tempt the gullible man to give in to the savage instincts of his dual nature.

Ironically, in Act I, Othello's word is accepted at face value, no sentence is imposed on him, and his life is spared. But his vows become darkly prophetic when, in the brutal Act V, he fails to grant innocent Desdemona the same just treatment.

“O perjured woman! Thou dost stone my heart,
And mak’st me call what I intend to do
A murder, which I thought a sacrifice.”

Act V, Scene 2.

This is the other Othello, the barbarous beast that takes hold of the man and transforms him into a “civil monster”, the opposite of his former self. The good Christian “turning Turk”, the “forked-animal”, blinded by rage and jealousy, kills his wife Desdemona, believing she has been unfaithful to him with lieutenant Cassio.

At the root of this violent transformation lies the malignant Iago, the most villainous of villains. His whole “raison d’être” is wickedness. Never has a character been so duplicitous in his machinations, his “direct and honest” glib moralizing so overtly treacherous, and his misanthropy so sublimely revealed in the perpetual flow of verbal splendor that blossoms in his lines, filled with rhymed oaths, sexual puns, and degrading animal imagery.

“To show the love and duty that I bear you
With franker spirit. Therefore, as I am bound,
Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.
Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio.”

Act III, Scene 3.

“Love and duty” are in conflict and radically opposed in this strangely powerful and moving tragedy. They can be seen between father and daughter, husband and wife, General and official. But as is often the case in Shakespeare's plays, the dramatist's main intention remains elusive. Beyond the Christian myth of the temptation scene and the devil's ploys that influenced centuries of sermons, legends, and fables, and beyond the crime of passion, there is a pattern of interacting opposites: black vs white, Christian vs Pagan, civilized vs dehumanized, honest vs two-faced. This pattern denotes a superb psychological realism that echoes with racial prejudice and inequality in gender relations.

Shakespeare makes virtuous use of symbols, such as the allegoric storm that separates Othello and Desdemona at sea, anticipating Iago's “foul and violent” designs, or the macabre incantation of Emilia's summoning of the General “My Lord, my lord!” when she enters the bedchamber where Desdemona has just pleaded for her life, screaming “O Lord, Lord, Lord!” before being mercilessly smothered to death. Shakespeare's language mesmerizes with its stylistic brilliance, intricate syntax, and inner rhythms. It is this sumptuous style, oscillating between majestic control and wild rage, that reflects Othello's double nature and his tormented love for noble-hearted Desdemona, giving imaginative veracity to the action that will surely moisten the eyes of the most detached audiences. When the fallen hero, consumed by “pure grief”, seals his own fate with anguished lines that will pierce the heart of anyone whose love has reached extremity, enough to temporarily madden the most lucid of minds, words have never felt more unjust and sublime than in Shakespeare's tragedies.

“Cold, cold, my girl,
Even like thy chastity.
O cursed, cursed slave! Whip me, ye devils,
From the possession of this heavenly sight!
Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur!
Wash me in steep-down gulf of liquid fire!
O Desdemon! Dead Desdemon! Dead! O! O!”

You've heard of the classic breakup line "it's not you, it's me." Well, now get ready for a whole new and rather unique variation: "it's not you, Shakespeare or Othello or the thematic significance of honesty versus deception, it's one horrible professor I declared my enemy 5 years ago."

Maybe this new line doesn't have quite the same catchy ring to it as the original, but believe me, it's every bit as true.

This is part of a series I'm undertaking where I review books that I read a long time ago. I have a sneaking suspicion that I will probably end up rereading this particular one someday.

It's interesting to look back on these old reads and remember the various experiences and emotions that they evoked.

Who knows what new insights I might gain from rereading this book and reflecting on that encounter with the professor all those years ago?

Stay tuned as I continue this journey of literary reflection.

**The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice, William Shakespeare**

Othello is a profound tragedy penned by William Shakespeare around 1603. It draws inspiration from Cinthio's story "Un Capitano Moro" (A Moorish Captain), which was first published in 1565.

The narrative centers on two key figures: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and his deceitful ensign, Iago. With its diverse and timeless themes such as racism, love, jealousy, betrayal, revenge, and repentance, Othello remains highly relevant. It is frequently staged in both professional and community theaters worldwide. Moreover, it has served as the source material for numerous operatic, film, and literary adaptations.

Othello's journey is filled with adventure and peril. He has traveled far and wide, encountering many wonders and dangers in deserts and jungles. At one point, he was captured and sold into slavery, but managed to escape and join the Venetian army. His bravery and valor in battle led to his promotion, ultimately making him a general. Then, an unexpected event occurred. Othello fell in love with a young and beautiful woman named Desdemona, who was the daughter of a Venetian nobleman named Brabantio. Desdemona, in turn, also fell in love with him. Years of military service had left Othello unprepared for marriage, but it seems that his emotions got the better of him.

This tragic tale continues to captivate audiences and inspire artists across different mediums, making it a classic work of literature that endures through the ages.

References: The information provided in the original text about the various translations and publications of Othello.

Othello is yet another highly popular Shakespearean tragedy. The central themes of jealousy and treachery are prominent, but race also plays a crucial and significant role. Othello, a Moor, marries the Venetian Desdemona against the wishes of her father. He is a trusted general of the Duke of Venice, and thus the only obstacle to the union of Othello and Desdemona is race. It is truly remarkable to consider that people are willing to bestow honors on a man based on his merit regardless of his race, yet are ungenerous when it comes to allowing a marriage alliance. Othello's race becomes a part of Iago's jealousy as he feels that his superior is inferior to him in terms of race.

"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster with doth mock." Iago utters these famous lines, the very man who plants the seed of jealousy in Othello's mind. The irony lies in the fact that he who warns Othello is himself driven by jealousy and turns traitorous. By using false accusations, Iago poisons Othello's mind against Desdemona. The consequence is that a once blissful and loving marriage ends in tragedy.

Iago is undoubtedly one of the most wicked villains in Shakespeare's works. His despicable actions and far-fetched accusations are almost too painful to read. However, I find that I disliked Othello even more. He is so gullible, a "credulous fool" as Iago aptly calls him. Indeed, he is a fool and a weakling who fails to honor the trust that Desdemona places in him for love and protection. He destroys the woman who comes to him, sacrificing her family and country. Unfortunately, we witness too many Othellos in the world today, and Iagos in both male and female guises.

Reading the play was a harrowing experience. The injustice inflicted upon poor Desdemona is simply too much to endure passively. The only way to relieve my frustration was to curse the villain, Iago, and his feeble-minded victim, Othello, which I did with great gusto. Having said that, I did enjoy the play as it is filled with drama and beautiful poetry. Othello is both a thing of beauty and a tragedy. Can a tragedy be beautiful? Read Othello, read Romeo and Juliet and decide for yourself.

More of my reviews can be found at http://piyangiejay.com/.

Rewrite of the article:

In 2024, when one engages in the act of re-reading, it becomes evident that Shakespeare is truly at his best. His works are a treasure trove of literary excellence, filled with profound characters, complex themes, and masterful use of language. The plays and sonnets of Shakespeare have withstood the test of time, captivating audiences and readers for centuries. Each re-reading reveals new layers of meaning and beauty, as if uncovering hidden gems within the text. Whether it is the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet, the political intrigues in Julius Caesar, or the comical misadventures in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare's works continue to resonate with us. They offer insights into the human condition, exploring emotions such as love, jealousy, ambition, and betrayal. Shakespeare's ability to bring his characters to life and create vivid and engaging stories is truly remarkable. In 2024, as we re-read his works, we are reminded of his genius and the enduring power of his literature.