Othello

Director Oliver Parker’s Othello is a play of tragedy, where all are betrayed in some way.

Othello’s theme is that jealousy can corrupt a person. This resounding theme is seen through

Iago, who ruins Othello, because Othello was promoted over him. Then there is Othello who

kills his wife out of jealousy, thinking she is cheating on him. The idea behind this is simple.

People are not complacent and do not trust their status and this unease becomes jealousy. This

theme is universal. Jealousy can be found in everyone, in little and big ways.

Othello’s individuality can be found in the fact Othello is black and Desdemona is

Venetian, or to be clear; he is black and she is white. Interracial couples were not common in

their time. The distaste for their union is evident throughout the movie, in the reactions their

public displays of affection get. Desdemona’s lady’s maid, Emilia, even tries to talk badly of

Othello to her. Iago blatantly hates him for being a moor and having what he considered his post

as commander. An opposite effect to Othello’s being African, was that he was also revered and

loved for his conquests in battle. He was considered a hero. Another thing unique to this

production was the love scenes between Othello and Desdemona. They are not in the original

written play.

This play has great verisimilitude. While it’s evident that all is pulling negatively in the

play, the way it plays out is believable. People are swayed and commit jealous acts. There are

truly evil people like Iago, who hurt others on perceived slights. The performance quality was

also believable. I felt awful when Cassio lost his post as lieutenant. One could feel his shame and

horror at his actions, at having attacked a fellow soldier. The one thing that is nearly unbelievable

in its verisimilitude is Iago constant attack and contrivances against Othello. He’s against Othello
from the very beginning, manipulating everyone to achieve his goal. It’s scary, but truly possible.

I learned Othello was epileptic and prone to seizures. I wasn’t aware of that. This scene is

seen when Iago gives him “proof” against Cassio. He makes Othello believe Desdemona is

sleeping with Cassio. Something else that was new to me was the way Othello smothered

Desdemona. I was under the impression he strangled her. I remembered later the passage, where

Othello speaks of not wanting to bruise her or mare her body in any way.

The main antagonist of this play is Iago, in his continual vendetta against Othello.

Another antagonist is Roderigo, who hates Othello for having Desdemona. He envisioned he

would someday have her and is crushed when he learns her marriage is accepted by her father

and court. The prime protagonist is Othello. The play is named after him and it’s all about him.

He’s also his own antagonist, in his constant delusions Desdemona is cheating on him. His right

hand man, Cassio, is another protagonist. He’s a nice guy, who cares only to serve well and be a

good person and soldier. The main conflict is between Iago and Othello, despite Othello not

being aware of it. Iago hates Othello for having the promotion of commander. He believes the

post should have been his. In addition, his hatred stems from racism. Othello has a lot going for

him. He has a wife who loves him and high status, while he just so happens to be African. This

really gets to Iago.

The climax of the play is when Othello gets his tangible and visual proof from Iago. Iago

finally gives a blatant lie to Othello; the other times he poisoned Othello against Desdemona, he

was vague. He was careful not to implicate himself. Iago let Othello’s doubt sway him and

poison him. This time is different, because he tells Othello Desdemona has slept with Cassio.

While Othello is convulsing, Cassio comes to them. He tells him to come back, saying Othello is

fine, but needs to let his seizure run its course. Iago hides Othello, so he can witness Cassio’s
supposed betrayal. Iago then speaks to Cassio, but of his girlfriend Bianca, leading Othello to

believe they speak of Desdemona. Bianca happens to come down with Desdemona’s

handkerchief and there is the second solid proof. Othello now believes Desdemona gave the

handkerchief to Cassio. This is the climax, the turning point.

This play begins in Venice. The period is late 1600’s. Venice is at war with Turkey. It later

moves to Cypres, Turkey, where the majority of the play unfolds. The play unfolds her, the more

important aspects of it happen at night. Desdemona marries Othello at night. Their fate and

Othello’s promotion are decided at night. The majority of these important happenings are at

night, including the final scene, when Othello murders Desdemona. Iago murders Emilia and

Roderigo and is also killed. The total mise en scene is well done. The scenes are believable,

because the production was filmed abroad. The soundtrack was apropos of each scene. It was

light when Desdemona dances for Othello. It’s passionate when there are love scenes. It’s dark

when showing Iago and Roderigo. The music is a great transition for the occurrences of the

movie.

Othello, the main protagonist, is played by Lawrence Fishburne. No other could have

done this role justice, because Lawrence is a strong presence. His physical aspect is appropriate

for the role of man who has achieved recognition through his prowess at battle. His feelings are

sometimes over dramatized, but the play wouldn’t hold as much impact, if he didn’t react

strongly to everything.

Othello’s chief antagonist is Iago. Iago is played by Kenneth Branagh. It’s a revolutionary

role for Branagh, in that he’s never played the villain in Shakespearean roles. He’s always

played light roles. This one is his darkest and he does amazingly well. Kenneth is able to portray

Iago’s hatred and machinations. It’s shocking and very believable.

 Desdemona is Othello’s wife and is played by Irene Jacob. Irene understands

Desdemona’s gentle sensibilities and is able to play the role well. I was able to believe her

distress at not being believed by Othello.

One of the secondary antagonists is Roderigo. Roderigo is Michael Moloney. Micheal is

able to embody the foolishness and jealousies of Roderigo. Roderigo is an impressionable man

and falls completely into Iago’s traps. Moloney does a great job of acting this role.

The secondary protagonist is Cassio. Cassio is played by Nathaniel Parker. Parker does

well in portraying a noble, kind, but sometimes foolhardy persona. This behavior is seen when

Cassio is demoted. His actions in fighting Montano demonstrate his impulsive and passionate

nature. Parker embodies this.

Othello’s director is Oliver Parker. His interpretation of Othello is passionate. He follows

closely to the play, but adds and omits language and scenes. Parker takes out some of the original

text, but manages to keep the integrity of the play. He humanized the play, in that he added

Othello’s personal viewpoint and love scenes. He let the viewer see what Iago’s lies were doing

inside Othello’s mind.

The set change from Venice to Cypres worked well. None of what happened would have

been feasible in Venice. This is noted by Lodovico, Desdemona’s cousin. He points this out when

Othello slaps her before him. He notes that behavior wouldn’t have been born back home.

Othello’s killing Desdemona, himself, and Iago wouldn’t have gone over well in any

circumstance, but it was facilitated on alien land.

The costumes went well with the production. They were according to the period the play

was set in, late 1600’s Venice and Turkey. Othello’s costumes were the most interesting to me.

He wore a lot of white and black coverings. This may have been to indicate his state of mind and
or vulnerability.

Overall, I was captivated by this movie. I don’t actually seek out tragedies, but this one

was interesting. Tragedies have a tendency to be bloody and this one was. I didn’t try to see good

and bad, fairness or injustice, because the line is blurred in this movie. I sat back and watched,

really just taking it in. It’s a good movie.